Pedestal guards and instrument pods

[Pub911]

I'm about to relocate my instruments to the helm and have a bunch of basici questions. Thanks all in advance for your insight.

Which is better and why: NavPod or Edson?

Do these two have any other competitors?

Has anyone tried to adapt the "top plate" of an Edson guard to a non-Edson helm station?

Do these set-ups allow you to run intrument wiring up inside the tubing - out of site?

Can you leave the instruments (with covers on) out in the weather indefinitely?

[xort]

I have an old edson pedestal. Won't work with the navpods.
didn't want to replace the pedestal.
So I bought some RAM mounts: RAM Mounting Systems, Inc.

They have TONS of variety to configure anything you want.

Yes, you can run wire into the edson pedestal guards, they are designed for it. You should have an access hole below decks for it. Are there no electronics run into the guard yet?

[chef2sail]

Pub,

I did this exact project 2 years agoon my C&C 35 MKIII. I replaced the Straight pedestal Edson Gaurd with one that had two angle bends and got the 1" which exactly replaced my old one, which fit exactly into the "feet holders" bolted to my cockpt floor. I drilled a hole in the cockpit floor in each feet holder and made sure i used gel coat to seal it from leakage. the wires were run through the hole up into the legs of the new pedestal guard

Attached the grad prix series Navpod for a Raymarine C-80 Chartplotter and a 4 ST60 instrumet Navpod above it for Wind, Autopilot, Tri-Intrument repeater, and remote for my Audio Changer located in the cabin and also an I Pod jack remote.

I was had large hole in the stainless for all the wiring to exit after comming up inside each of the legs of the pedestal gaurd. I fished the wires by using a lead fishing sinker attached to fishing wire. You must smooth out all rough edges and put rubber grommets on the exit hole as well as the bottom two leg holes. I also had the attachment holes drilled for each navpod and used self tapping screws to get them exactly correct. The bottom of the navpod boxes get bolted onto the pedestal gaurd, Each bottom of the navpod box had a large diameter hole for the wires which exited the pedestal gaurd . Since I used all raymarine I was able to gir all first into the Chartplotter and then one seatalk cable into the 4 instrument navpod and daisy chain them.

The cheapest.marine outfitters wanted 3000 for materials and supplies pruiced at 3 places. I was able to do it for 650 including hace a profession drill the holes in the pedestal gaurd.

Think it out....draw diagrams for you wires and instrument....you will be suprised how easy it is and you know how to fix anything if there should ever be a glitch. It took me 4 hours and the hardest part was tying the wires up and leading them up to the pestal gaurd under the cockpit.

I do leave my instruments out in the weather with the covers on, bit under a wheel pedestal sumbrella cover. For winter layup, I take home the top of the navpod boxes which have the chartplotter and have all the instruments seated in them.

Dave

[WinterRiver]

Thanks for the question, and thanks for the detailed responses to a question I hadn't asked yet.

This project is on my spring list also. It would help a lot to see people's solutions as I design mine.

Chef, xort, and others, may we have pictures please?

[T37SOLARE]

I tossed this project around in my mind for quite some time. Ended up deciding that the instruments are better placed above the companionway so they can be seen by everyone in the cockpit (especially myself if I'm not at the helm). The old ones were on the port bulkhead, so there was always either a person or a sheet blocking them.

Here's the "pod" I ended up with, ya more bright work, but it matches the look of the boat better than the glass pod.



I did put the chartplotter at the helm, that involved a new guard and a few new holes in the cockpit deck, but it was a rather straight forward project with no major surprises.

[WinterRiver]

That's just a little bit more elegant than our current solution. The autopilot was there. We added the chartplotter, and didn't want to do anything permanent until we knew what we wanted.

Pub, I do recommend mocking up your intended solution before buying parts and drilling holes. We have decided that we like the chartplotter here, but may move the autopilot to the side depending on how everything fits.



Instruments are above the companionway and will stay there.

[Maine Sail]

This is how I skinned the cat. I replaced the pedestal guard top plate with my own instrument table made of Starboard.

[Faster]

MS - how is the starboard standing up to UV? I want to build a cockpit pedestal table but am shying away from starboard (mostly due to it's weight) but I don't want a wood/teak one.

[chef2sail]

Pictures of setup

http://i572.photobucket.com/albums/s...l/IMG_0437.jpg
http://i572.photobucket.com/albums/s...l/IMG_1082.jpg
http://i572.photobucket.com/albums/s...l/IMG_1183.jpg

[ecsimonson]

A bit overkill for my boat, but pretty similar to what i want to do. I may try to make knockoff navpods to save some cash and better fit the instruments we have. Anyone have any info on making something like this? I am pretty good at woodworking and have access to a decently equipped shop, but don't have much experience with fiberglass. Thanks in advance for any help.
-Erin