Chartplotter Install

[slideruleracer]

That's the same spot I'd like to install mine, but when I held it in place, there really was no room for an additional mount like a ram. On mine it looked like only a flat plate would or could be used to mount it it to the top of the gunwale just beside the windshield. Let me know if you come up with anything.

[Driller]

That's the same problem I had. I couldn't find a spot with enough room to use a RAM Mount. I ended up with a flush mount in the cubby.

[Ytmsn]

The stereo shop said I could bend a 90 in a piece of aluminum and run it in between the fiberglass and the side panel, but till kicking that idea around. I'm going to try mounting to the glass first and see if I can configure the ram to make it fit.

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[Ytmsn]

I moved my Simrad over to the right and hung it off the windshield. From my view it works pretty good but I don't like all of the mounting crap behind it. I'll see how it gets along for now... And I may end up just screwing the durn thing into the dash.

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[Driller]

But I think the position is more useable where it is mounted now. Doesn’t look bad at all.

[Ytmsn]

Yes, very much so. Thanks Driller. I hated it where it was, it was like putting a billboard up on the windscreen.

I definitely like where it is now, but the Simrad mount itself may be the weak point. If the thing keeps sagging or falling down I'll probably just bite the bullet and mount it on the dash for a much cleaner install. When I sell the boat it'll go with it anyway, so it's not like I have to worry about screw holes in the dash.

[slideruleracer]

Well, I finished machining my bracket to mount my Raymarine a78 in that same spot. I'll probably mount it tomorrow.

[slideruleracer]

Got mine mounted yesterday. Drilling those holes was a pain with the windshield in the way and it ended up a little closer to the windshield than I intended, but it looks good for now and is super secure. I think I'm going to change the mounting thumb screws to security torx bolts to help ward off any thieves at the town docks around the lake, then I won't worry about just leaving it in place.

[Driller]

Looks great SR, but the wiring leaves a little to be desired.

[Driller]

Just arrived today. I'm going to try the Navionics charts and see how they compare with the Insight charts that came with my Simrad unit. Free chart updates for a year.

[Ytmsn]

Looks good SR. I think I'm going to end up screwing the Simrad mount into the dash for a cleaner install. Probably next winter. And Drillers right. You should at least zip tie those wires to the side of you steering wheel just to tidy up..

[slideruleracer]

Looks great SR, but the wiring leaves a little to be desired.

Yikes, tough crowd. I decided to attempt to address the peeling paint on my switch panels for the season.

Next winter I'm planning to redo the dash/switch panel with NMEA 2K guages and Bocatech switches, but for now I added the O2 guage and Rockford Fosgate remote to the switch panels as well as re-wire the top 2 (unused) accessory switches for the Transom/Underwater lights and the LED lights respectively. So the switch panels are out on my workbench for a little tweaking - hence the wiring.

[Driller]

Looks great SR, but the wiring leaves a little to be desired.

Yikes, tough crowd. I decided to attempt to address the peeling paint on my switch panels for the season.

Next winter I'm planning to redo the dash/switch panel with NMEA 2K guages and Bocatech switches, but for now I added the O2 guage and Rockford Fosgate remote to the switch panels as well as re-wire the top 2 (unused) accessory switches for the Transom/Underwater lights and the LED lights respectively. So the switch panels are out on my workbench for a little tweaking - hence the wiring.

Just pulling your chain.

So you think it is possible to pull NMEA data from a 2004 engine? Does it take a lot of add-one?

[slideruleracer]

In 2004, the VP's were still using MEFI-4. There's a company called Fox Marine that makes a converter box to pull data straight out of the diagnostic port of the MEFI-4 computer and post it on the N2K bus:

http://fox-marine.com/index.php?route=p ... duct_id=56

I bought one and it is one of the items going on my new electrical panel in the engine compartment. One really nifty element of the Fox Marine Gateway is that it can pull a bunch of data off the MEFI-4 in which there are no NMEA2K identifiers, so they developed an iPhone and Android app to also allow you to monitor engine data.

[Driller]

That's great information SR. I was wanting to do this and have the info displayed on my GPS, but didn't know about this setup. Let me know how it works out and I am interested.