Radar/Chartplotter Display Location

Bill Cochrane · Post by **Bill Cochrane** » May 25th, '06, 03:32

I'm adding a radar/chartplotter and wrestling a bit with the display location. For the coastal/bay sailing we do, I'm about convinced that the helm is the best place for it, but am curious where you put your display, and why. Seems as if the choices are:

Nav station
Swing mount at companionway--usable in cockpit or from below
Under dodger, or on aft bulkhead of cabin house
On pedestal guard or other Helm location

The last is the only place where controls could be manipulated from the helm...but with an autopilot/wind vane, the person on watch may be forward in the cockpit, so this works both ways. Ideas?

Russell · Post by **Russell** » May 25th, '06, 04:52

I put mine on a swing mount at the companionway, for the reason you stated, so its viewable from below. But also I am rarely at the helm even when in the cockpit, I am ussually sitting tucked under the dodger as it is most comfortable. The swing mount also lets me see the radar from my berth with is very nice for single handing on the longer trips. So the helm location was not ideal for me. Though I did look at putting it at the helm, but if I was to do that I was going to put it on a pivot so I could turn it around and see it from anywhere in the cockpit I might be. I looked at under the dodger as well, but with CDs narrow cabintop it just did not work, though it may work with a smaller unit(I have a raymarine E80).

Though as you pointed out, for the kind of sailing you do at the helm is probably best and I agree. If you ever change to doing a lot of offshore you can always move it. If you go with a dodger or companionway mount though be sure you get one with a large enough screen you can read it from the helm.

Joe CD MS 300 · Post by **Joe CD MS 300** » May 25th, '06, 05:51

I'm always messing with the settings, zooming in and out, checking the tides, adjusting the radar settings, etc. The helm was the only location I considered. Maybe I'll add a repeater down below at some point. I'll sometimes use the handheld for an anchor watch alarm during a rough night.

Parfait's Provider · Post by **Parfait's Provider** » May 25th, '06, 06:46

I can't imagine trying to use the display and controls if it were out of reach. Even in the ditch I tend to mess about with the controls. With RADAR, I doubt you could pick up the crab pots if the display was 6 ft away, but maybe its just my eyesight.

Our display is mounted atop a kludgey block of 2x4s that clamp to the pedestal guard. I could have put the bracket on a swivel, but since I don't spend much time forward of the helm, I haven't found it necessary. I thought the kludge was temporary, but it is into its second season and I am still happy. i did paint them and round the corners. The routing you can't see is wonderful.

Leonard Lookner · Post by **Leonard Lookner** » May 25th, '06, 06:49

Have you looked at sail boats with helm mounts? There is something to be said about esthetics. Are you out to sail or watch T.V. Perhaps a small hand held, like a Garmin 276 that doesn't look like you're watching the latest episode of American Idle. Keep the big one down below.

Bill Michne · Post by **Bill Michne** » May 25th, '06, 07:58

I have a chartplotter mounted at the helm. Since we draw 5'8" and sail in some rather thin water (sailors have gone aground in the Pamlico Sound completely out of site of land) the helmsman needs to know at all times where the bumps on the bottom are. I don't stare at the thing, just pay attention to how close I'm getting to the shoal water. Clearly this is a different situation than sailing in deep water most of the time. My radar is separate and mounted on a swingout in the companionway. That is acceptable for us as in this area fog is an infrequent problem. So if your use requires immediate access to the information by the helmsman then place it at the helm. Otherwise place it where it's convenient to the user, companionway, nav station, etc.

Cathy Monaghan · Post by **Cathy Monaghan** » May 25th, '06, 10:29

Hi Bill,

I don't know if this will help you with your deccision or not, but take a look at Realization's helm. That white box above the binnacle in the photos below houses a Raymarine RL70RC radar/chartplotter. It is an Edson Vision Series housing. The two pods on either side of the compass/binaccle house the knot meter/knot log and depth meter. I replaced the old straight pedestal guard with a new double-angled guard but a single-angle guard would have also worked. Anyway, in order to install the display at the helm you'll need to replace the guard.

<a href="http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y117/C ... .jpg"><img width="540" src="http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y117/C ... 3.jpg"></a>

<a href="http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y117/C ... .jpg"><img width="540" src="http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y117/C ... 7.jpg"></a>

Cathy
CD32 Realization, #3
Rahway, NJ
Raritan Bay

Parfait's Provider · Post by **Parfait's Provider** » May 25th, '06, 12:41

something to the top of the guard as we did on Parfait.

I agree with the earlier comment about the aesthetics, but if you need the information then having it at hand and being able to mess with the controls is not a luxury.

I am reminded of the useless engine control panel that cannot be seen without leaving the helm and then only from the port side of the cockpit. The alarms just aren't that loud as compared with a Perkins 4-108.

chuck carmichael · Post by **chuck carmichael** » May 25th, '06, 15:13

I replaced the 15 year old radar on GALATEA with a combination radar & chartplotter by Raymarine. I installed independent 8"displays in the nav station and at the helm. The displays both operate off the radome and off the same Furuno GPS through a switch that was made by Marine Electronics in Hartfield, VA. I have always (since 1982) had my autopilot controls at the nav station, and the radar/plotter is handy downstairs at night and when the weather is cruddy or off shore. At other times the helm is the perfect location.

Bill Cochrane · Post by **Bill Cochrane** » May 25th, '06, 19:37

I think most of you have confirmed my initial instinct, to mount it at the helm. I'm also the type to keep fiddling with switches, and I don't think any other location would do as well. I'm also considering the second station below.

Cathy, not only do I need to replace the pedestal guard, I need to replace the support for the guard to move the guard forward 2". On the CD36 (at least mine) the guard feet are on top of the steering sheave box beam. Don't want to cut a 1" hole in that for cables...but Edson made a part that moves the feet forward enough to clear.

Aesthetics...yes, I agree with you, Leonard, it's a traditional boat..that's why I bought her...but safety of navigation trumps even that.

Best regards, Bill

Russell · Post by **Russell** » May 25th, '06, 20:16

Bill Cochrane wrote:but safety of navigation trumps even that.

Just remember, trusting a chartplotter is not safe navigation! They can often be off, never fully trust it. I the Bahamas the chartplotter was worthless (that was a wasted $200 on those electronic charts) in the Caribbean its better, but still not 100%. In the Chesapeake Bay it was far better, but still not perfect, since shoals move. When going into those nice secluded creeks never trust the plotter, turn it off and instead stare at the depth sounded. But you being a Chesapeake sailing know that drill already. I just wanted to point out there plotters are very far from perfect. In places like the west coast, or new england where most water is very deep you can have more confidence in them. But when you get into the thinner water of rivers,or near shore where rocks may be, which is where most problems happen, never rely on the plotter.

I am curious as well, why are you getting a radar? In new england radar was great for the fog (cruising up there is where I really learned how to use it! crash course), offshore its great for seeing ships, but in the chesapeake bay I see little use for it. You can save yourself $800 or so by getting a plotter that can take rader, but do not buy the dome, then add the dome later when you venture someplace when it really helps.

Russell

Bill Cochrane · Post by **Bill Cochrane** » May 26th, '06, 03:41

Hi Russell,

Simple...planning a cruise to Maine in the next year or two, and want to get comfortable with the radar on the bay where I can compare visuals with the screen and learn what it's telling me. Even on the bay, there have been occasions where we wanted to poke our nose out of a gunkhole, found the fog worse on the river...GPS and chartplotter/charts tell us where we are but don't do much to let us know about the other guy.

As for trusting GPS and chartplotters...agree 100 %. Old rule applies, use every input available and weigh the information you're getting with a strong dose of common sense.

I'm using a gps with plotter software on a PC...diff gps at that...was coming into the Rhode river one afternoon and having done it a few dozen times wasn't paying much attention to the plot; glanced at it to see that I was about 1/4 mile inland (north and east of my true position). Nice accurate plot of course and speed but the pos was just a bit off!

And you're certainly not the first to remark about the value of charts in the carribean. Wonder when the national hydro offices are going to correct them...it's been well known since GPS came out that the datum was off.

Best regards, Bill

Dean Abramson · Post by **Dean Abramson** » May 26th, '06, 07:07

I am pondering this same issue for my new 31.

Cathy, did you find a new, taller pedestal guard that fits in the same "feet" as the old Merriman one? Mine is 12 1/2" wide (centers), and I have found none available in that width. I would just as soon not drill more holes/fill old ones in the cockpit sole.

Dean

Parfait's Provider · Post by **Parfait's Provider** » May 26th, '06, 10:21

Bill,

I am interested to hear that Edson has a part to push the guard forward. It never occured to me to look. I wonder if they also offer a larger guard? I was able to sneak the cables by the underpinnings, but it was a tight fit; would have been much easier with a straight shot from the guard. I ran cables down both legs for the Raymarine set up and it wasn't a lot of fun.

Cathy Monaghan · Post by **Cathy Monaghan** » May 26th, '06, 10:40

Hi Dean,

Dean Abramson wrote:I am pondering this same issue for my new 31.

Cathy, did you find a new, taller pedestal guard that fits in the same "feet" as the old Merriman one? Mine is 12 1/2" wide (centers), and I have found none available in that width. I would just as soon not drill more holes/fill old ones in the cockpit sole.

Dean

Unlike the CD31, the CD32's steering system is all Edson, so it was easy to replace the guard. That's being said, I purchased a new guard from Ocean Equipment (the folks that make the NavPods) rather than from Edson. So you may want to take a look at their pedestal guards. The new guard was very tall and I had the boatyard cut a few inches off the bottom of it. Other than that, it fit perfectly into the old feet of the old guard.

Merriman Yacht Specialties went out of business in 1989, so I don't know if you'll be able to find parts or not. You may have to replace the entire system if anything goes wrong with your Merriman system.

Good luck with your search.

Cathy
CD32 Realization, #3
Rahway, NJ
Raritan Bay

The Cape Dory Board

Radar/Chartplotter Display Location

Radar/Chartplotter Display Location

Radar / Chartplotter at helm

helm mount

Keeping off the bottom

Photo...

Or Clamp

Thanks, all...

Re: Thanks, all...

Why radar / chart & gps accuracy

In same boat

Edson Part

Re: In same boat