Wiring GPS: pedestal or pedestal guard?

[geary126]

Hey, at the risk of overstaying my stupid question quotient (sqq), I'm going to add the Garmin on a homemade NavPod, connected to the pedestal guard.

Would you guys suggest running wires into the guard...or over the the pedestal?

If into the guard, does this require drilling a hole in the cockpit sole, with adverse consequences?

Merci, as always.

[Freesail99]

I would go up Thur the pedestal. Where your other wires are run. Be sure to twist your wires to cut down on interference with your compass.

[sailingdog]

Wiring it through the pedestal guard minimizes the chances that you'll snag the wiring and accidentally rip it out.

Most likely, you won't have to drill any holes, since there's a pretty good chance that the wiring for other things already passes through the pedestal guard. You do want to twist the wires to minimize the interference with your compass and check to see that it doesn't cause your compass to alter its readings.

[Jotun]

What do you all mean by "twisting" the wires?

[Freesail99]

I mean don't run the wires straight up the pedestal. Interwind or twist the wires.

[BarryL]

Hello,

I am trying to neatly install and run the wires for Lowrance GPS / SONAR unit. The problem is that the SONAR plug is big, about 1", and you can't cut the plug off, run the wire, and splice the plug back on.

The SONAR plug is too big to fit in the pedestal, and may even be too big to fit in the pedestal guard. From checking the web I see that Edson and Navpod make bigger pedestal guards - 1 1/8" that I may have to buy. Of course, the new guards are expensive - $200 - $300 depending on which one you buy. And then you need a navpod or someother way of mounting the unit. It ends up costing more to run and mount the unit than it did to buy it!!

[Cruisingdad]

Barry,

Same thing with solar panels. I think my arch costs more than the panels and charge controller added together!!!!

- CD

[geary126]

I've got big plugs on the Garmin cables, too. Oh, boy.

[captlar]

Those units are not made for ped install and you are correct about not cutting. Warranty goes away ! You can bulkhead mount and fish wires or get different unit if what you have is returnable. Raymarine will work. Then your unit will cost more than the install but both will be higher. Even if you run wires external on ped with mucho zip ties, you will still end up drilling big hole in cockpit. Another option is sounder in bulkhead and portable GPS with 12v charger jack @ ped.

[sailingdog]

Some of the Garmins come with plain wire on one end of the cable... so you can probably get wiring with just the plugs on one end from Garmin... and then can run the wires through the pedastal guard.