chartplotter location?

[Tim Houston]

Just received a Garmin GPS/chartplotter for my 260. I'm thinking about locating the unit down in the cabin rather than on deck. (I also have a handheld unit which I thought I'd use on deck.) Of course, the question is where to mount the fixed unit? I'd be interested in any opinions about placing the unit in the cockpit or down below - as well as specifically where others have mounted theirs.Tim HoustonHunter 260 - "Squirt"

 

[Jim]

Antenna

If you mount inside, Your reception will not be good unless you also mount an external antenna

 

[Andy Howard]

Chartplotter Mount

Mounted ours in the cockpit right at the binnicle using RAM ball and socket rail mount fittings.Having the plotter in the cockpit allows immediate feedback for the helm. We now spend more time out on the water at night, love those moonlight cruises, and we now anchor out in a couple of creeks with very difficult unmarked entrances, also the comfort factor goes way up when negotiating unfamiliar areas.As a semi-temporary solution you might want to consider the stern/side rails, if you've got a 12 volt plug in the cockpit, you could mount the antenna and plotter without drilling a hole, just to try it out.

 

[Michael Bell]

On my H26....

Mounted my Garmin 180 (now the 182) on a swing arm just inside the cabinway door on the port side (the head wall). That way the GPS is inside, but you can swing it out to see it from the cockpit. Even if it rains, you can arrange it so that it’s visible, yet protected.Antenna runs through the head and wet locker, through the rear lockers (in the H26 anyway – were the batteries are stored), and out above the transom. The antenna head is fixed to the stern rail. You can tap power from the head light.A larger chartplotter may take up to much room there. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a navigation station – along with the extra 10 feet of boat that would go with it?

 

[Tim Houston]

swing arm?

The extra ten feet would be great - at least until it was time to pull out! The arm is a great idea - where did you get it?Tim