Edson Binnacle Guard size

[Bob Ohler]

I am getting ready to add a NMEA 2000 system that will connect to the chartplotter at the wheel. If I replace the 33 year old 1" diameter tubing with an 1 1/8" diameter guard (Edson # 1600-45-58S), will the extra diameter of the tubing allow me to run the NMEA2000 wire through it?

Thanks.

[Steve Laume]

Possibly.

When I installed the chart plotter at the helm on Raven, I bought a new pedestal guard. It was the larger diameter tubing with the curve and increased height. It looked huge in the boat. It cost a fair bit for the stainless but then I would have had to change the feet and the binnacle bracket as well. This not only, increased the price but would have also necessitated rerouting all the existing wires as well. Things still would have been pretty crowded in there. I returned the giant and went to my consignment shop for another 1" guard. I made up a cage that bolts onto my original guard as shown. What doesn't show in the picture is the additional 1" tube that runs up in between the original guard that serves as a wire way. The auto pilot wire still runs in the original guard but all the rest run straight up and out the top of the added tube. It makes it very easy to run wires without messing with the guard.

http://www.capedory.org/board/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=29591

[Bob Ohler]

Steve,

That's a great-looking installation. Thanks. Does anyone else have any suggestions or photos of their installations on the binnacle guard? I am especially interested in advice about running the NMEA2000 wire through the binnacle guard.

Thanks!

[Frenchy]

Hi Bob, - I don't forsee any problems for you. I upgraded to the 1-1/8" dia. guard and ran 14 ga. duplex plus autohelm,
wind meter and chartplotter wires through. - Jean

[Skylark]

The 1" tube can fit more than you'd expect. I have the NMEA, power and network cables (3) for my Simrad MFD inside. The trick is to think about the order that you insert them. Start with the largest end connector. In my case that was the Network cable (a modified cat-5 cable), followed by the NMEA cable, then the power which had no connector. Also be sure that the steel pedestal support is not in the way, the starboard side of mine was blocked and I could only go on the port side.