Navpod Install

[Bob S]

I am installing a new chartplotter/radar combo and decided to locate it on a Navpod mounted on the pedestal guard. I have snaked the appropriate wires and am ready to mount the pedestal and I am having concerns about drilling down through the deck. It looks like it will break through the Edson mount housing. Also it will come through the aft cabin and I'm concerned with leaks. I've looked everywhere for a good way to do this. Any suggestions?I'm the rookie, but I frequent this sight and have learned so much. Thank you all!

 

[Bill Roosa]

Go through the pedestal

I'm not sure this will work for you either but on most pedistals (binical for the salty dogs) there are other instruments that get there wires run into it and then down the binical to the cockpit sole where they pass through. The hole is then in the vertical plane on the binical and can be grometed easily. The hole through the cockpit sole is protected by the binical itself and you don't have as many leak issues.You can gain access to the binical insides by removing the compass.

 

[KorculaChris]

In a little house

Apropos of absolutely nothing, I found out just the other day that binnacle means "little house". Where better to store stuff like your nav instruments!>>Before 18th century bittacle, through Span. bitacula, from Lat. habitaculum, a little dwelling.

 

[Bill Roosa]

Binnacle proper

In a "real" binnacle the compass is enclosed in a glass topped box to protect from the weather. Course now all compasses have their own micro-binnacle so we don't see those much anymore.

 

[Gary Kunkel]

Here's what we did

I had the same concerns, but finally just drilled a hole through the overhead in the quarter berth that passes up into the pedestal guard. After drilling, we did the epoxy fill then re-drill smaller so there could be no intrusion into the core of the overhead. Although we were concerned that now we have a hole that penetrates the sole of the cockpit (overhead of the quarter berth) we filled the hole and about 3 inches of the pedestal guard and wires with boatlife caulk and things are fine. No leaks after more than a year of washdowns, downpours, spilled drinks, etc. I would not hesitate to do the same again. I'd also add that once installed, the wires - and there are lots of them including the radome cable, power conductors, transducer feeds, etc - don't show at all from inside the boat. We routed them along the corner of the housing for our steering gear, then into the aft lazarette, then to wherever they needed to go. Bottom line, a very clean installation that we're quite proud of. Your mileage may vary.Gary

 

[DPatrick]

Alternate NAVPOD location

I saw an interesting set-up and was reminded of it from your post. There was a unit mounted to a track which was mounted inside of the cabin. This allowed the screen to viewed from the nav station, or slid along the track to be viewed through the companionway from the cockpit. I think they used a track from some track lighting and modified the light fixture to act as a support.