Hi all, So I bought the Garmin 276c I was lusting after. Now I have to figure out where the heck to put it. Little boat! I had a few thoughts, and would like the benefit of the wise and experienced opinions of the gang. This unit is smallish but as the screen is horizontal, not really a handheld, it has a mount, and it would be running off batteries, no need to wire it. My ideas: 1.) Get a RAM mount to attach to the leading edge of one of the stern rails with an "elbow" joint (two arms with a ball joint in the middle) to pull in or out to view it. (I'm wondering if that's sturdy enough and whether it will get in the way when I switch sides.) 2.) Attach the mount to the sliding cabin top & keep it closed while in use. 3.) Attach a mount to the inside of the bulkead to swing out of the hatch. I haven't put many holes in the boat yet ... will the screws pierce the outside of the bulkhead? Would epoxy or glue be sufficiently sturdy instead? 4.) Attach the mount to the outside of the bulkhead and listen to the crew complain about the bump in their backs while they sunbathe. 5.) Attach the mount directly to the hatchboard and keep it in when the GPS is in use, or, alternately, make a separate half-height board and put the mount on that . Better ideas, opinions, heckling, rants—all welcome! Susan p.s. Are any Jersey sailors here going to the Rendezvous in Newport in August?
Where the heck to put GPS on a Capri 22??
- Thread starter Moondancer
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Velcro
Try using velcro. Buy the strips, industrial strength. Put one patch on the hatch, or one on each side of the bukhead. The idea is to see what works best for you before you make it permanent. The problem with bulkhead mounting is that your passengers will inadvertantly get in the way. The bulkhead patches will eventually become sun damaged and a residue remains when you remove them (don't worry, acetone will remove it.) Anyway, the velcro is convenient and you can take the unit off and hand hold it or lay it in the seat if you like. I don't use the velcro anymore, because I mounted the current unit on the hatch. See the attached pic. When I buy a full blown chartplotter it will be mounted on a swivel platfore attached to a swing arm mounted on the inside bulkhead. This will allow the unit to be stored or used inside the cabin and brought outside when it's needed at the helm.
Try using velcro. Buy the strips, industrial strength. Put one patch on the hatch, or one on each side of the bukhead. The idea is to see what works best for you before you make it permanent. The problem with bulkhead mounting is that your passengers will inadvertantly get in the way. The bulkhead patches will eventually become sun damaged and a residue remains when you remove them (don't worry, acetone will remove it.) Anyway, the velcro is convenient and you can take the unit off and hand hold it or lay it in the seat if you like. I don't use the velcro anymore, because I mounted the current unit on the hatch. See the attached pic. When I buy a full blown chartplotter it will be mounted on a swivel platfore attached to a swing arm mounted on the inside bulkhead. This will allow the unit to be stored or used inside the cabin and brought outside when it's needed at the helm.
Capri 22 vs. Catalina 22
Susan: Joe's boat is a Catalina 22, not a Capri 22 like yours. On a Catalina 22, the traveler and usually mainsheet line are located on the transom. A helmaperson on a Catalina 22 with a tiller extension, can easily move back and forth in the cockpit. Thus, getting close to the GPS mounted on the sliding hatch cover is easy. On a Capri 22, like you have, the traveler and mainsheet are mounted amidships of the cockpit. The helmsman normally sits behind the traveler and therefore would be too far away from the slidding hatch to easily see a GPS. So for you, I think your best bet is to consider mounting it onto one of the stern rails which are actually called stanchions.
Susan: Joe's boat is a Catalina 22, not a Capri 22 like yours. On a Catalina 22, the traveler and usually mainsheet line are located on the transom. A helmaperson on a Catalina 22 with a tiller extension, can easily move back and forth in the cockpit. Thus, getting close to the GPS mounted on the sliding hatch cover is easy. On a Capri 22, like you have, the traveler and mainsheet are mounted amidships of the cockpit. The helmsman normally sits behind the traveler and therefore would be too far away from the slidding hatch to easily see a GPS. So for you, I think your best bet is to consider mounting it onto one of the stern rails which are actually called stanchions.
Susan, my boat is a C27, not a C22...
To answer your question, yes. I experimented with my old GPS 48 by using the velcro method. At first I tried hardwiring it and using a fixed bracked, but that proved inadequate because the display was unreadable at distance and it was difficult to remove it from the mount with the cable attached....So the velcro method with battery power proved much more convenient since I could quickly grab it and use it as a handheld device or leave it fixed to whichever side of the bulkhead allowed me the best view. When the 48 crapped out, I bought the GPS 76. This unit is far superior to any other similarly priced unit. For one thing, it uses much less power, offers more features, is WAAS enabled, it floats, has more memory than the 48, however the two greatest improvements are the larger display and the fixed mount setup. The new mount allows the user to simply clip in and out of the bracket without unplugging the power cord. These features allowed me to put the bracket in a location that could be seen by everyone in the cockpit. When sailing, I am usually concerned with speed and direction, so I will set the display for maximum size...two data sets. I like a center location, at eye level, so I can monitor my course and speed without taking my attention off the horizon. (My friends have a chartplotter mounted on the pedestal of their wheel equipped Island Packet, and it's very easy to become mesmerized, staring at the boat's progress on the chart display and forgetting to look ahead.) If I need to change the data settings, display or waypoints I can either reach up with my hand on the tiller, or for more complicated adjustments, pop the unit out of the bracket and hold it in my hand.
To answer your question, yes. I experimented with my old GPS 48 by using the velcro method. At first I tried hardwiring it and using a fixed bracked, but that proved inadequate because the display was unreadable at distance and it was difficult to remove it from the mount with the cable attached....So the velcro method with battery power proved much more convenient since I could quickly grab it and use it as a handheld device or leave it fixed to whichever side of the bulkhead allowed me the best view. When the 48 crapped out, I bought the GPS 76. This unit is far superior to any other similarly priced unit. For one thing, it uses much less power, offers more features, is WAAS enabled, it floats, has more memory than the 48, however the two greatest improvements are the larger display and the fixed mount setup. The new mount allows the user to simply clip in and out of the bracket without unplugging the power cord. These features allowed me to put the bracket in a location that could be seen by everyone in the cockpit. When sailing, I am usually concerned with speed and direction, so I will set the display for maximum size...two data sets. I like a center location, at eye level, so I can monitor my course and speed without taking my attention off the horizon. (My friends have a chartplotter mounted on the pedestal of their wheel equipped Island Packet, and it's very easy to become mesmerized, staring at the boat's progress on the chart display and forgetting to look ahead.) If I need to change the data settings, display or waypoints I can either reach up with my hand on the tiller, or for more complicated adjustments, pop the unit out of the bracket and hold it in my hand.
Swing Mount
I built a swing mount for my Humminbird Matrix 67... it is very easy to see from the cockpit and swings out of the way for easy access to the cabin. I've been very happy with this setup. See the attached picture.
I built a swing mount for my Humminbird Matrix 67... it is very easy to see from the cockpit and swings out of the way for easy access to the cabin. I've been very happy with this setup. See the attached picture.
And that traveler is killing my shins...
It's true. I hate the traveler being amidships and have gotten more than one bruised shin by kicking into it. It's the one reason I might try the stern mount instead of the hatch mount first. Ram mounts sent me this link (below) showing a rail mount, although I wonder still about my ability to knock it right off the boat....that's what concerns me about a beanbag mount, too. On the inside bulkhead mounts: the screws don't pierce though to the outside? Thanks!
It's true. I hate the traveler being amidships and have gotten more than one bruised shin by kicking into it. It's the one reason I might try the stern mount instead of the hatch mount first. Ram mounts sent me this link (below) showing a rail mount, although I wonder still about my ability to knock it right off the boat....that's what concerns me about a beanbag mount, too. On the inside bulkhead mounts: the screws don't pierce though to the outside? Thanks!
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