I'm considering replacing my factory-installed C80 chart plotter this winter, and think it's worth revisiting the standard MK II navpod layout because the instruments are so high. I noticed that the C355 layout addresses this by putting the instruments below the plotter -- but the pedestal is a whole different animal. Has anyone reconfigured their instrument layout? Pictures would be great, or links to examples or articles. Thanks.
I have a MkI so things may be different. I did a complete re-instrumentation with a 12-in B&G Zeus multifunction touch screen in the cockpit. To solve the infamous instruments blocking the view forward issue, which could have been particularly bad with a 12 inch panel, I purchased a new angle guard and then had it modified locally (cut bent and re-welded) to get the large Navpod out forward and low down to the binnacle. I am 5 ft. 9 in. And visibility is good. To explain the photos further: the multifunction display was quite thin and there was a lot of depth/wasted space inside it. So as I was rewiring everything on the mast at same time--switching to all LED-- I installed a Blue Sea Weather Deck switch panel in the back of the Navpod. It controls my deck level Nav light, spreader lights, steaming light, tricolor Nav light and strobe---all from the cockpit. I have this panel on a breaker labeled binnacle on my main distribution panel. Feeling rich, I also installed an 8 in. Zeus touch screen at the Nav Station. You only live once!
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Love the smile, Noah
My wife says I smile too much behind the wheel, says it makes me look retarded.
Old..and retarded... But I'd rather be smiling behind the helm than frowning behind my desk!
I wasn't implying that you looked retarded.
You look like a 6yr old.
As others have implied. How you have your instruments set up is a very personnel choice. I personally like redundancy. The chart plotter died last winter on the trip south. Paper charts and what the old analog instruments told me got me from VA to Fla. If everything was tied into one display, the trip would have been much harder. Your boat your choice. I got a steal on a 12 in chart plotter many years ago. The only way to make it fit and still have forward visibility was to cut and weld the pedistel guard. Find a good shop that builds dogers/enclosures or fishing towers for power boats. The can make your dreams come true for less money than you think.
Ken has a good point. Putting all your eggs into one basket can be a bit risky. With respect to looking over the pedestal, I'm just curious how many people sail from a position directly behind the wheel on a regular and continuous basis. I know that I do stand then ocassionally, but I must say that I usually either stand or sit on the side one way or another. That central position just doesn't give me the view under the genoa, or of the sail trim, and when motoring I'm more comfortable sitting to the side. I actualy like all the instruments on the central pedestal and easily accesible from either side. Definitely personnal preference is everything.
We have the speed, wind and depth across the top, the plotter below and the compass directly infront. I'm planning on moving the remote VHF mike beside the plotter, and add a holder for the horn at the top. In that cade I may not be able to see over the top at all. I'm 5'-7" tall.
One thing I found unfortunate, was that the cup holder placement right behind the compass was a bit unfortunate. Seems we need to be careful what people put into the holder, because sometimes I find my compass readings are a bit off, and then I realize someone has placed something metalic into the holder, i.e. Water bottle, binoculars, etc. I think I may be place cup holder number two, higer up closer to the Navpods and away from the compass.
This is our setup. I installed this last year after having a miss mash of different set ups. I really like how clean and organized everything is. I can clearly see over the an pod, I am 5' 10''. All devices are integrated and I run a iPad with navionics for backup
Hi Frederick,
You don't have autopilot? I see you only have 3 units across the top. Maybe you have it mounted elsewhere?
Thanks everyone, this is really helpful to hear of different approaches and considerations. Keep 'em coming. Cmain, where did you get the 5-unit pod? Is it readily available?
Steve, I got the Nav pod from defender last winter. I think it is model GP1171. Not sure if it is still in production or not. If you go to the nav pod website you will find just about any combination or size you want. It was a perfect fit for a C80 and 4 ST 60's. The usable surface is available for each modal, then you get to figure out what layout you want. I printed out the templates for each of my units and arranged it how I wanted on my kitchen table then found the mount to fit. I had to have a new pedestal guard made $175 and the nav pod was around $450. If you have the guard off ditch the crappy plastic guard feet that edson uses get some stainless ones and remove the core material from the cockpit sole and seal it with epoxy at the same time. We have been working on removing all potential exposed core material from every fitting on the boat. This will be the winter I will have the rest of them done. I have done over 70 holes so far, I think we have about 80 more to go.
Cory, that's a sweet setup. I can imagine the fun of pulling all the cable up throught the guard pipes. It was work enough for the plotter connections.
Roc, yes we have an autopilot, located on the port cockpit side, with the remote VHF mike. That is why I want the mike relocated, but I not as fussed about "Auto", as we affectionatly call him. :D
Hi,
I have same setup as Frederick got.
My wife does not like it when we are motoring to get to mooring or to drop the ancor.
She has trouble to see over, she say there is to much stuff in front of her ......
When sailing or motoring distance, I also sit on the side.
So I was wondering why do we install all this equipment on pedestal if we can't see them most of the time ???
I was looking at maybe relocating on top of cabin entry under the dodger. Somewhere it can be seen from everywhere.
Cory,
You say you had to have a new pedestal guard made. There wasn't a "stock" guard available to fit that NavPod, or what you wanted? If it was custom, where did you get it made? I seem to think there are lots of stock pedestal guard configurations available......
To further add to this fun discussion (and the opportunity to show off my toys) I agree, instrument selection and placement is definitely a "personal thing". When I purchased my C34 at the beginning of this year I embarked on my extensive upgrade quest. I decided that this would probably be my last boat and that I would set it up "right", the way I wanted it--cost be dammed. After six months of projects and spending, I am now the proud owner of what is probably the most expensive C34 around...and not so sure how wise my "cost be dammed" strategy was.....Oh well, at least the boat is indeed now set up the way I like it.
Having done a lot of long distance passage making over the years, I am a firm believer in redundancy in systems and having backups for when things malfunction. I planned for the possibility that my "cool" 12in. multifunction display might crash or smash, and for this reason, I installed an 8 in. Zeus multifunction display at the chart table too, which also provides the convenience of monitoring state of the boat from below when off watch or not at the helm and for trip/course planning. Both multifunction displays have the same functionality and can display read outs from all my instruments including wind, depth, chart plotter, 4G radar overlay, my AIS transceiver info and control my Smirad below-deck hydraulic autopilot. I also have two 4in. B&G T41 Triton read outs in the cockpit, on either side of the companionway. These can display all instrument data, except radar and charts. Convenient to have one showing depth the other wind while charts a radar are on the 12in screen. I haven't fully explored all combos yet to have a favorite or most used. These are very functional toys, offering all sorts of wiz bang functions like Sail Steer, auto tacking shortest route to windward waypoints, even when on autopilot. It can all be operated from my IPad as well, except the autopilot steering function. Rumor has it B&G's insurance carrier made them disable this function so someone doesn't sue them after crashing their yacht while steering from their bunk down below!
It will all take some (enjoyable) getting used to. Meanwhile, for costal cruising I have a self-contained pocket-size battery operated Garmin GPS tucked in a drawer as "plan B" if all systems meltdown. And, if I ever decide to go really far offshore (doubtful) I would consider pulling my old sextant off the shelf, although I haven't used it since the 1980s. I remember at that time I was all excited about my new "high-tech" Tamaya NC-77 celestial navigation handheld calculator! The state of the art keeps moving forward...
One more thing. I purchased my pedestal angle guard from Navpod. It was cheaper than Edson, a bit taller and very nice quality. I then took it to a local marine welder to have it cut and bent to get the angle and distance to compass binnacle the way I wanted, to maximize forward visibility. Also it was mentioned that you have to be wary of magnetic disturbances around the binnacle compass. I agree. Not only putting errant metal gear and electronics around it but some multifunction displays (like my B&G) have magnetic catches on the simm card door or that can effect the compass. Fortunately I tested my placement before hand and it caused about 10 degrees of error, which was corrected using the compass's internal magnets. Anything more than 15-20 degrees could be a problem. Of course if you have an electronic rate compass integrated with your autopilot, the magnetic compass effectively gets relegated to the "back up compass". However, I think it would be disconcerting to have it not match your other data.
Here's my relatively low budget setup. I have a Standard Horizon CP300i chartplotter that I mounted to an extra VHF antenna mount that is in turn clamped to the pedestal. I remove the chartplotter when away from the boat and I have a separate power cable in the salon that I sometimes use in the evening to do course planning for the next day. The chartplotter swivels so it can be seen from either the port or stbd seat. I pivot it parallel to the cockpit seats when at anchor to maximize the clearance when walking by. In this condition, it is no wider than the teak cupholder. No issues with seeing over the binnacle guard. It's easy for me at 6'2" but my wife is a foot shorter and she does fine. (although I really like Cory and Noah's setup)
I took these pictures to show Raymarnie that my new autopilot was messed up. You'll notice on the virtual rudder indicator is showing the rudder hard a port but I'm still falling off to stbd. Raymarine agreed and replaced it. All is well now.
Dave- I really like your wheel cover work! Very nice!
In my experience, when considering a bigger Navpod both height and width need to be "tested." When I was noodling my set up I tried (simulating) positioning the two 4 in. Triton displays on either side of my 12 in. display with a larger Navpod, but it restricted my side-to-side and forward view. Bad "chi" as they say. So I mounted them up on the cabin bulkhead on either side of companionway. The displays have very large clear readouts so are easy to see from anywhere in the cockpit, even with my old eyes.
Roc, I had the guard made locally by Stainless outfitters in Barrie Ontario. The standard Edison guard was two inches shorter. I needed the extra couple of inches to allow the table wings to unfold and still clear the cup holder. I also try and use local guys whenever I can. They have made me a couple of sets of Davies, and lots of odds and ends over the years and have fair prices.
I do like the options others have used to allow them to rotate their plotter towards there seating location. I had this for years and do miss this option at times. I am still exploring different options to mount my iPad.
The revised layouts that you all have shown on this chain involve changing the pedestal guard. How big a deal is it to either find a replacement guard that has dimensions that would fit a lower profile, or find a welder who can modify the guard and have it come out looking okay? Thanks.
As far as I know Edson and Navpod make several different height pedestal guards in a couple of tube diameters. If you are not able to find one that is just right for your needs, it is not too expensive to have them modified by a local welding shop. That is what I did with my Navpos pedestal to adjust the bend and height to accommodate my 12 in. MFD at the height and angle I wanted it. Pretty simple.