H34 GPS/Depth Updating and Mounting

[Dave19957]

Milky Way's Data Marine Depth and Speed instruments have self-retired after 31 years of service. They still light up and show numbers, but none are nearly correct or useful. I've cleaned up the contacts with no success. I'm not going to waste time/money on possible reconditioning of such old tech - time to leap into the 21st century!

I'm not a tech wiz, nor do I need lots of bells and whistles. I just want to be reasonably comfortable with how much good water I have beneath me, and have a decent GPS/Chart display. Soooooo:

Thing 1: I've looked at two that may fit the bill. 1) Garmin 441 or 441S - hopefully with transducer that will fit in the existing datamarine transducer round hole cutout located in the V-berth under a round white plastic access hatch in the cabin sole; or 2) SI-TEX Marine SI-TEX SDD 110. Do any of you have either of these units, and/or have recommendations on something else comparably priced?

Thing 2: My preference is to mount it somewhere in front of the wheel on the binnacle area - so wires up through there (note: I have used a very old portable Garmin 48 hand held which I rigged up that way with a neat little plastic mount that wrapped around the stainless grab hoopy thing - that's a 20 plus year old GPS). Any ideas for HOW to mount the instrument so I can easily read it/remove it for safe keeping when I leave the boat?

Thing 3: Since my Datamarine instruments are shot, I'd like to remove them. Any thoughts on what to do to fill the holes where they've been mounted? Cover them up with something?

Below are pics, although most of you probably have/had the same or similar set-up(s). Thanks in advance! Dave.

 

[Saillife]

I went with a garmin 's' model chart plotter and a shoot thru transducer. This will give you speed over ground and depth. The shoot thru meant no worries about holes. I left the old transducer in so I didn't have to futz with the hole.
You'll also need an extension for the transducer if you put it in front of the keel. You need to get the 's' model if you want depth! The other option is to buy a black box garmin sells to translate if you don't get the 's' model.

As to where the old gauges are there are three options:
1. You can just leave the gauges in.
2. You can replace the gauges with Plexi.
3. You can glass them over and paint

I chose number two. I went to the glass store bought a cut off and used a hole saw to get the right size disk. I painted the back side black since I didn't want to see in. I also put a 12v plug in the center of one since I had power there.

The other question is where you'll be putting the chart plotter. If you want it at the binicale you'll have to run a cable.
Brian

 

[kloudie1]

Another covering option would be an oval wood cover that would cover both holes on the outside. Some synthetic teak stock or real teak or ipe (epay) wood.

 

[Dave19957]

Thanks Brian and Claude. Brian, I got your note and will give you a call to chat about that transducer, and also how to mount the unit once I've run the cable up the binnacle. Dave.

 

[PGIJon]

I replaced mine with 4" speakers.

 

[Tim Welsh]

Here's how I did mine, Luckily before mine were in Pods. So I didn't have to repair any holes.

 

[splax]

Tim,
That looks nice. I would rather have my displays on the bulkhead so I am able to see what's going on without having to be behind the wheel.
I am in a similar situation since my instruments are kaput except for the depth. I would like to find a similar set so that water speed and depth are displayed on the bulkhead. The GPS displays SOG, and that is sometimes misleading. The chartplotter is a great tool, but I want to have the independent redundancy of the compass, depth transducer, and speed through the water.

 

[ice breaker]

I installed a garmin 546s about 5 years ago and have been very happy with it. It integrated well with the ray marine instruments/autopilot, and with dsc vhf.

 

[Claude L.-Auger]

Like Splax, I like to have the instruments where I can see them from anywhere in the cockpit. So I installed them above the companionway. As for the chartplotter, I installed a shelf on the pedestal, above the compass and routed the wiring through the pedestal. The boat used to have Data Marine and I replaced with Raymarine years ago. I used the same hole where the transducers were installed in front of the keel. access under the V-berth where the shelves are set-up with removable pieces. Good luck with the project