gps mount on pedestal question

[mainesail]

FWIW I have had no less than three customers mount hardwired plotters atop a pedestal guard so they can spin it, usually against my advice, only to have them ripped out by the roots, broken or destroyed when crew or a line snagged them. The top of the guard is meant as a hand hold... It you want a rotatable plotter I'd suggest using a iPad or android as a a helm display repeate" or redundant plotter. Try to keep any mounts keep it below the curve of the guard hand hold & try not to place it in the way of crew reaching to break a fall by using the pedestal guard.. I suppose the good news is one customer, who would not take no for an answer, is getting a new Raymarine in a few weeks and I get to bill the job all over again only this time all the hard work has been done. He's still putting it back in the same spot... (grin)

Another two customers mounted pods that rotatet and never kept track of the "wind up" and ripped plugs out of plotters by the roots. "Hmm this thing is getting tough to turn, I'll just force it. Oh $hit!"Both plotters were ruined and had to be sent back for factory repair.

When installing plotters always imagine you are in rough seas and now imagine you are falling and where you will reach to break a fall first.. Bingo! 8 times out of 10, when you're in the cockpit, it's the pedestal guard is what you'll reach for...

[KWKloeber]

My problem is sticking ANYTHING that you don't need to (NO LESS SHOULDN'T BE) looking at 100% of the time SMACK DAB in middle of the helm person's line of sight. 

Why don't we stick a GPS smack in the middle of your windshield line of sight?  Well, passing vehicles at interstate highway speed, I've seen some BOZOs come very close to that.

kk

[Stu Jackson]

My problem is sticking ANYTHING that you don't need to (NO LESS SHOULDN'T BE) looking at 100% of the time SMACK DAB in middle of the helm person's line of sight.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

So true:

http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,4232.msg24252.html#msg24252

One of my mantras is to "avoid being a slave behind the wheel."

[Jon W]

By using the "ball" type RAM mounts, when the tablet is moved to under the dodger only the ball remains as seen in the attached photo. The ball on the pedastal is angled slightly toward the wheel.

[Noah]

Jon- I am thinking, in a good seaway, you will grow to hate that ball on the top of the angle guard.

[Jon W]

Only one way to find out, but that is the beauty of this mount. Loosen two nuts and rotate it to a different spot, or put it somewhere else. No holes or wires to worry about. Maybe put overhead on the Bimini (when I get one).

[Mike and Joanne Stimmler]

Here's an idea for you

[kerk fisher]

Thanks for all these fabulous suggestions. I hope these ideas have been helpful for others as well.  Kerk

[Ron Hill]

All : I made my Garmin Chart Plotter clamp on to the pedestal guard with a simple 1" rail clamp and a cigarette lighter plug for 12v power.

I found this handy so I could remover the unit from the steering station and take it below to program a route at my leisure!  Also to secure it below when in the slip and not in use!!

A thought