i have a 4210 garmin gps mounting problem maybe you can help me with. i purchased a large chartplotter with a screen that i can see and hoped i would be able to mount it in a way down below that would allow me to swing in into the companionway for cockpit viewing. alas, mounting it is a problem. the first “ram mount” purchase was a failure. any pics of chartplotter mounting solutions would be appreciated, whether they be sliding, swinging or even bulkhead mounted in the cockpit.
thanks in advance for taking the time to reply.
I am not there yet but her is an idea that I’m going to try on my project boat.
Mount the display on a board roughly the same size as your top companion way drop board. On the inside of your drop board guides install a pair of heavy duty lift off hinges and on the other side a pair of push catches (name?). When in place your display/drop board is secure on the inside of the guides and your Garmin is on centerline at eye level.
To go below swing the gate open and then close it behind you. If the weather is a bit sketchy, open the gate, drop the bottom board in and close the gate. Find a spot below to stow it, ideally close by so you don’t have to unplug. You could duplicate the hinge and latch arrangement you have on the inside of the drop board guides somewhere down below so you lift it off the companionway hinges and drop it on the stowage hinges.
Hope that makes sense. Probably would be easier to diagram than to explain.
Hello Jo Anne,
On Terrier I have a Furuno 1723 plotter, 7 and halfinch screen, that I mounted with RAM unit bolted to a stainless “T-track slider” that I removed the eye allowing the RAM unit a flush fit. I have a short section ~ 1.5 feet, of T-track which the unit slides on and allows me to do programming of routes in cabin comfort and also position it to be viewed from the cockpit. The T-track is screwed into the Cabins cross beams. At some idle moment in the future I would like to change the track and slider to bronze! Otherwise all is good.
Hello Jo Anne,
On Terrier I have a Furuno 1723 plotter, 7 and halfinch screen, that I mounted with RAM unit bolted to a stainless “T-track slider” that I removed the eye allowing the RAM unit a flush fit. I have a short section ~ 1.5 feet, of T-track which the unit slides on and allows me to do programming of routes in cabin comfort and also position it to be viewed from the cockpit. The T-track is screwed into the Cabins cross beams. At some idle moment in the future I would like to change the track and slider to bronze! Otherwise all is good.
Hi Jo Anne,
On Terrier I have a smaller Furuno (7.5in diag) that I mounted to a RAM unit bolted to a Schaeffer T-track slider with the eye removed to allow for full contact to the RAM base. The whole thing is suspended on T-Track (1.5ft) screwed to the cabin’s cross beams. Very solid and reasonably unobtrusive. It allows me to program routes in cabin comfort and also able to move unit on track to be viewed from cockpit and also out of sight when in port. In an idle moment I might change the track and slider to bronze!
i’m not sure i understand the mounting scenario you are talking about. i think i would be better off with some sort of track or swing arm that will put this rather large chartplotter out of the way and stowed all when not in use.
on Terrier, how far away is the track mounted from the companionway? i need almost 14" to be able to rotate the garmin 180 deg to allow me see it from either down below or cockpit. seems like that’s going to make it tough for me the use the chartplotter from the cockpit.
Sorry that I do not have a picture to show you, but I have a Furuno GPS/radar/sounder mounted on a RAM swing arm mount. It works exactly as you want yours to: it stows against the bulkhead when not needed and then swings out to a position on the starboard side of the companionway when in use. There is enough room for people to go up and down the companionway when the display is in position for cockpit use.
In order to mount it, I did have to fabricate a teak mounting block, which I installed on the bulkhead with #14 SS screws (concealed with plugs). When building the mount, I laminated two pieces of teak together (thus providing a mounting block about 1-1/4" thick), which allowed me to create a channel within the mount for the various cables. The cables disappear in the hanging locker, so the whole thing is a very neat installation (at least, I think it is).
I keep my BCC at my island property, so I do not have immediate access to take a picture for you.
Hi there,
The track runs towards the inside edge of the cabin, parallel to the Terrier’s long axis. The movement of the RAM arm allows for rotation and would need to have ~ 1/2 of plotters clearance for rotating thru your desired range. Enclosed is a poor photo and you may be able to make out the track and RAM unit with plotter.
thanks for the pic. when i read the original post i thought the track was running athwartships. the picture is extremely helpful. also, nice pooch in the photo
I don’t remember specifically which RAM mount I have. I checked both the 2010 and 2011 West Marine catalogues and it appears that their product offerings have changed. My recollection is that when I bought the RAM mount, West Marine offered a small, medium and large mount - I’m quite sure I got the medium mount, which has a base (to which the electronic unit is attached) of about 2" by 6" or maybe 8". The base that attached to the bulkhead is about 3" x 4". The current West Marine catalogue states that the RAM mounts can support 65 pounds - I don’t doubt that. They are very solid mounts that should easily support the Garmin 4210 (the West Marine catalogue says its shipping weight is 20 lbs; therefore, the weight of the display is easily within the capability of the RAM mounts). In my opinion, the RAM mounts are solid units.
Hi,
When you buy a used boat, as I have, you have to live with the previous owner’s projects too. Some good, some bad.
For example I am not quite sure whether this radar setup is pure simplicity or a Rube Goldberg contraption.
Will it work? Will it get wet? Will you step on it on the way down?
