Which iPad holder for chart table?

[Iain C]

I'm looking for an iPad holder (old iPad 2, standard size, on the old style 30 pin Apple connector) permanently mount at my chart table. The ideal item would have the following:

Must have:

• Not too obtrusive
• Sturdy, won't wobble around
• Capable of being screwed to the vertical bulkhead behind the chart table, under the pen pots (just got the boat...those are going!)
• Some adjustment, however just a simple tilt in one axis is fine
• Not silly money

Nice to have:

• Would fit an iPad in a slim protective case or without
• A built in 30 pin plug or perhaps some cable routing to keep things tidy

Any suggestions? Nav station is here...

 

[mbroom]

I use Ram Mounts for a similar set up. Rock solid in all weathers so far!

 

[ctva]

You will find that all the commercial ones are bulky and not pretty. I made a small one for an iPod but the same style would do for an iPad. A simple u shaped bit of wood with a groove to slip the bottom of the iPad in. Made of teak or stained similarly and it would be unobtrusive. For tilt etc., you could mount it on a car gps mount. Just a thought.

 

[lampshuk]

I made an arrangement similar to the one Chris mentions. Even simpler, if anything: just a section of teak bar (1" x 1.5" or thereabouts" with a slot routed into it, screwed to the top of the chart table "cubicle". The slot is large enough to easily accommodate the ipad (also phones and similar) while stopping it from flopping around. I think it has once fallen out, under extremely bouncy conditions (eg Egypt Point wind-against-tide) but a strip of draft excluder on the inside of the slot would hold it a little more tightly.
I will see if I have a picture somewhere. Cheap and (IMHO) not unsightly.

 

[Tranona]

www.kjhowells.com have nice teak holders of the type described in post#2

 

[Iain C]

To be honest a teak one will look nice but be a faff to mount, plus 99% of the time I'll be on board, the iPad will be in it and pretty much hiding the bracket anyway. The iPad will be sat at 45 degrees between the chart table itself and the bulkhead with the pen pot and will hide what's under it. I really don't want to screw anything to the horizontal part of the table and compromise it's ability to hold a big chart.

I was after something like this but I don't think these are available any more...

 

[Neeves]

To be honest a teak one will look nice but be a faff to mount, plus 99% of the time I'll be on board, the iPad will be in it and pretty much hiding the bracket anyway. The iPad will be sat at 45 degrees between the chart table itself and the bulkhead with the pen pot and will hide what's under it. I really don't want to screw anything to the horizontal part of the table and compromise it's ability to hold a big chart.

I was after something like this but I don't think these are available any more...

With only limited imagination you could make something very similar from stainless steel. You could make it such that it clamps onto the upturn/bulkhead at the back of the chart table - and then make it so that it flops over and can be seen from the saloon seating.

Jonathan

 

[lampshuk]

I realise this is an old question, and probably not what Iain's looking for, but just to offer an alternative and simple (also cheap and - to my eyes at least - aesthetically superior) solution please see the photos below.
I simply routed a slot in the side of a wooden bar, then added some draft excluder to stop the ipad flopping around too much. I've done wall-mounted versions where you can feed the power cable in from below to allow it to charge while in portrait mode, but that's a bit of a faff, and not necessary.

It's not 100% secure in extreme conditions, but you could always fit a removable shock-cord to act as a "gonzo strap".

The second photo shows the holder in use. I didn't have my ipad with me, but the booklet works the same way.

 

[ashtead]

Is it not simplest if you want a holder with a degree of flexibity to buy one with a suitable clamp on the bottom much like the clamps used for attaching in front of the wheel . You could then fix without drilling any unslightly holes in the chart table surround and have the ability to clamp elsewhere e.g. Under the sprayhood or say to the shelf in the stern cabin etc. I would have thought a module system whereby the iPad and holder could be attached to either clamp system or a fix point would be readily available from those making iPad protection cases so maybe finding a suitable casing might lead to a suitable clamping system ? As a iPad user below I just store ours in the chart table though and take it out when needed.