Need some ideas on where to mount Lowrance

[akorcovelos]

I'm pulling the Lowrance HDS7 out of my old boat and installing it in the 252. I love the unit and it has all my navigational routes, markers, and way points from the last 7 years of boating stored on it.

Problem is, there doesn't seem to be a great spot at the helm to mount it where it won't be covering factory gauges or look awful...

Anyone mount a 7-10" chart plotter on a 252 dash that looks decent, and is in a functional position?

You can see the unit in this pic, mounted in my other boat:

jasewebb.jpg

This is what I have to work with:

252Helm.jpg

This is the only spot I can come up with. It will cover the factory temp and depth gauges, which is fine because the Lowrance does both, but it would also cover the toggle switches for the running lights and such. All I can think of is to move the switches somewhere else.

HDSmounting1.PNG

Are the dash panels hard to remove? I wouldn't mind getting them hydro dipped wood grain anyway. I should mention, I'm no novice in the shop, I've built race cars, muscle cars, motorcycles, rebuild outboards, etc. so I'm not afraid of a challenge.

[Ytmsn]

I'd move it up. Mount it on the shelf above the switches to the side of your other gages right there in the curve.

[akorcovelos]

You mean here:

HDSmounting2.PNG

If it fits that would certainly be better than what I was planning. I'll have to mock it up and see if it clears the windshield.

[tgrace98]

Completely different dash layout but I mounted my simrad here and I love it. Easy to read while cruising. From the picture it looks like it is blocking some gauges. But when at the steering wheel it’s not.

[akorcovelos]

That looks very functional, I like it. I could probably do the same, looks like it would still clear the far left gauge. Hardest part will be drilling holes in the pristine dash pad, which is why I was considering the lower dash panel. Certainly wouldn't be as easy to read down there though...

I'm winterizing my other boat tomorrow, and I'll pull the Lowrance so I can mock up a couple options and see what fits best. I'm guessing your location will be the most functional, and look good if I go that way, but I'll cry a little inside when I drill the first hole. Wouldn't be so bad other than it's an older unit, and if I upgrade eventually I'll have to hope the new mounting bracket at least covers the old mounting holes I drill.

[tgrace98]

That looks very functional, I like it. I could probably do the same, looks like it would still clear the far left gauge. Hardest part will be drilling holes in the pristine dash pad, which is why I was considering the lower dash panel. Certainly wouldn't be as easy to read down there though...

I'm winterizing my other boat tomorrow, and I'll pull the Lowrance so I can mock up a couple options and see what fits best. I'm guessing your location will be the most functional, and look good if I go that way, but I'll cry a little inside when I drill the first hole. Wouldn't be so bad other than it's an older unit, and if I upgrade eventually I'll have to hope the new mounting bracket at least covers the old mounting holes I drill.

This was a for sure Measure 15 times drill once approach. I had kicked around a few locations. I thought about going the route you did but after talking with Driller he mounted his there and said it was hard to see while driving. I had considered a Ram mount like what YT did but he said he didn't like his location either. So I sat there for a better part of a day just moving it around trying to find the right spot. I ended up there and I love the location. I use the depth finder of the Simrad and the forward scan a lot when I am trying to find a place to anchor. Never once have I wished it was somewhere else.

[akorcovelos]

Wow, this is what I was hoping for! Ram mount is exactly what I need, thanks!


https://www.rammount.com/part/RAP-111U

This should let me mount to the dash panel but have it high enough to be easily read, can't believe I never saw these before.

[Ytmsn]

If you use that on a dash panel you'll want to put a backing plate in. Otherwise with the weight and leverage I'd be worried about cracking or breaking the panel.

[akorcovelos]

Probably a good idea. Looking to see tomorrow how hard it is to remove those panels. I'd like to get them hydrodipped. I'll fab a smal backing plate and epoxy it in place. Thanks.

[Big Block Power]

Probably a good idea. Looking to see tomorrow how hard it is to remove those panels. I'd like to get them hydrodipped. I'll fab a smal backing plate and epoxy it in place. Thanks.

I think it's only 4 Alan head screws. T5555555000000 used some cool material to cover the panels. It's in his fix up thread.

[akorcovelos]

Spent some time driveway boating yesterday and started playing with spots to mount my Lowrance. Came up with this:

BB5CD038-092C-49BC-A105-C72CD3C3723F.jpeg

1C833B79-1A88-4B14-8D1B-56014F4AF2F2.jpeg

0392D463-4FCB-4533-B6C8-40E1F16F3134.jpeg

It’s a little unconventional, but I kinda like it. It can be tilted to be visible both seated and standing as seen in the pics. I can get a nice bulkhead fitting to run the harness, and doesn’t kill the sleek look of the helm.

I’ll need to fabricate a shorter mount as the original pushes the screen out too far and interferes with steering, but the small brackets see on the pic put it at the perfect backset.

Thoughts?

[slideruleracer]

I made a mount for my 250 that moved it off to the side (like your previous boat). I'm very happy with where it is.

[jhnmdahl]

Sliderule, nice metal work there! I'm handy enough with wood, but I don't think my router would round over the edges on a steel plate.

[slideruleracer]

It's actually aluminum.... and you'd be surprised. You actually can run aluminum through most woodworking tools when they are equipped with carbide tipped tools... In fact, that's exactly how I added the fillet to the edges in that mounting plate.

[akorcovelos]

Nice work Slide! I looked at putting it there on mine, but it did't fit too well and look a bit out of place. Being an older unit it's pretty deep in the Z axis. I'm mocking up a bracket to get the dimensions right, then I'll create a Solidworks file and have it 3D printed.