Where should we put our instruments

[ifoxwell]

We have bought ourselves a Red Fox and have ripped everything out to rewire it and replace things... among other things.

So ignoring for a second the holes in the cabin top I have a clean sheet of paper for all the shiny new boxs (Nasa depth and wind plus a small Garmin chartplotter)

Where would you fit them

Ian

 

[sailorman]

over the hatch garage

 

[vyv_cox]

over the hatch garage

Yes. Nowhere better.

 

[pvb]

Agree for depth and wind, but not sure I'd put a small plotter there.

 

[RupertW]

Wait 3 years and sync to whatever comes from Google glasses.

I think the swanky boat of the near future will appear to have no instruments at all, but you will be able to see everything from wind speed and depth to curve of the sails and the tension in every sheet and shroud.

 

[macd]

Wait 3 years and sync to whatever comes from Google glasses.

Have they any idea how many times I've put my specs down 'safely' only to tread on them? Or lost them over the side when they pinged off a shroud? And no doubt everything you'd see before that blessed relief will be © Google Inc.

Sorry, Luddite rant over.

To the OP: put them where the sun don't shine. Not being rude, but above the companionway and under the sprayhood, is good.

 

[vyv_cox]

Agree for depth and wind, but not sure I'd put a small plotter there.

That's my view too. My plotter is at the chart table but mostly viewable from the tiller. NASA do a good data repeater that will show the important plotter info, COG, SOG, distance and bearing to waypoint. This is the ideal arrangement for us and our B&G version of it is probably the most used instrument of our collection.

 

[TSB240]

over the hatch garage

+2

 

[JumbleDuck]

My repeaters are fitted to the port of the companionway. I like that fine - they are old B&G synchro ones, so superbly readable, and I like being able to see over the hatch.

 

[The_man_from_ABBA]

Where should we put our instruments

Somewhere where they can be seen from the helm at all times.
Preferably sheltered.
Apart from maybe the echosounder - how many instruments are really essential?

 

[sailorman]

Mine are either side of the companion way as the designer / builder fitted them

 

[FWB]

As per sailorman, they are where they can be seen

 

[ifoxwell]

Ive seen people fit them to a hinged panel, that lives inside the cabin but that you can be swung around so that you can see them from the helm. seems to tick a lot of boxs but are there any downsides?

Ian

 

[sailorman]

Ive seen people fit them to a hinged panel, that lives inside the cabin but that you can be swung around so that you can see them from the helm. seems to tick a lot of boxs but are there any downsides?

Ian

In the way of the hatch, what do you do on wet rough weather. prone to damage

 

[pvb]

Ive seen people fit them to a hinged panel, that lives inside the cabin but that you can be swung around so that you can see them from the helm. seems to tick a lot of boxs but are there any downsides?

Ian

I've seen a depth sounder mounted that way many years ago, and some plotters mounted that way more recently, but haven't ever seen modern instruments mounted that way, and can't see why anyone would want to.

 

[ianj99]

Ive seen people fit them to a hinged panel, that lives inside the cabin but that you can be swung around so that you can see them from the helm. seems to tick a lot of boxs but are there any downsides?

Ian

Its popular if your chart table is near the hatch so you can swing them in and view them from there - save on repeaters.

 

[alahol2]

The thing to remember about the cockpit bulkhead is where people sit. There's nothing worse than having the instrument but not being able to see it because the crew are huddled up against the bulkhead to keep out of the wind and rain.

 

[JumbleDuck]

The thing to remember about the cockpit bulkhead is where people sit. There's nothing worse than having the instrument but not being able to see it because the crew are huddled up against the bulkhead to keep out of the wind and rain.

If the weather's that bad I am generally alone in the cockpit. If I'm using the tiller pilot I sit in the companionway with only the top half of my head above the hatch ... another good reason not to block the view forward.

 

[jwilson]

We have bought ourselves a Red Fox and have ripped everything out to rewire it and replace things... among other things.

So ignoring for a second the holes in the cabin top I have a clean sheet of paper for all the shiny new boxs (Nasa depth and wind plus a small Garmin chartplotter)

Where would you fit them

Ian

On a small light boat like a Red Fox somewhere to be visible from the tiller. If you have a sprayhood and always use it then under it, but you see lots of Red Foxes without sprayhoods. A nicely built hinge-out bracket on the inside of the companionway bulkhead would also work - this has considerable merits for a small boat. On bulkhead itself, as others have said, fine if singlehanded but if crewed always obscured just when you want to see.

 

[LadyInBed]

In the way of the hatch, what do you do on wet rough weather. prone to damage

I've not found that to be the case. Triple (brass door) hinge allows the instrument (chart plotter) to fold round the frame and sit flat at the side of the entrance.