Mounting a Garmin 441s on Pearson 303

[rpearlberg]

We just got a Garmin 441s for a Pearson 303. Where is the best place to mount this? I'm thinking right on the rail in front of the wheel for the greatest visibility. If I can find a mount to put on the rail and then run the wiring down the post...

Any suggestions, advice, pictures.....

Thanks

[nickmerc]

I mounted mine in my Pearson 30 (tiller steering) in the companionway on a RAM mount. I was very happy with the mount as it is very sturdy and easily adjusts for viewing from any position in the cockpit. I can also turn it around for when I am at anchor and see it down below. And, it is compliant enough that when someone goes down the companionway and forgets to avoid the GPS it will move when they hit it.

[arf145]

If you've got a guard bar on your steering pedestal, I think that's the best place for a chartplotter. If the pedestal is Edson, and I'm pretty sure yours is, they have several mounting systems available. $$ of course, but well made. I installed a Garmin 545s on our Pearson 28 and had to add the guard bar myself, but it was worth it. Love having the unit in front of the pilot.

[delite]

I have done the same thing as nickmerc. Can be seen easily from the cockpit and down below.

[rpearlberg]

How hard is it to run all the wires, once I have a mount....

[SVCarolena]

We mounted our GPS chart plotter on the rail in front of the pedestal on our Pearson 303. I ran the wires down the inside of the pedestal with a fish wire. I then drilled a hole on the front side of the plastic spacer in which the compass sits for the wires to exit (hole is just a big bigger than the width of the plugs). I covered the hole with a small clam vent to keep water out. We then mounted the chart plotter to the top of the rail with a RAM mount. For the base, we have the removable RAM mount that clamps to the rail. The nice thing about our setup is that we can remove the chart plotter very easily when we are away from the boat. I also like having it right in front of me rather than all the way over at the companionway. Our install also avoided drilling into the stainless rail, and we didn't need to drill any new holes in the cockpit (i.e., under the rail feet). If we or a future owner ever want to reverse the procedure, a new plastic ring under the compass is all that is needed. I'm always looking for ways to avoid drilling permanent holes in the boat. PM me if you want me to take some picks next weekend.

[rpearlberg]

Pictures would be VERY helpful!! What is a RAM mount?

So I found the RAM mounts....what do you use to hold it to the rail??

[SVCarolena]

We use this clamp from RAM with a ball mount on the base of our Chartplotter that mates up with the clamp.


The clamp makes it easy to remove the unit when we are not on the boat. The piece that is similar to the one on our Chartplotter looks similar to this (RAM makes different bases to allign with the holes on the bottom of the various GPS plotters, including Garmin).


Basically, the clamp mount is clamped to the rail just before it start to make the curve at the top (i.e., on the highest point of the verticle section). The ball on the clamp fits into the ball socket at the bottom of the articulating arm inbetween (in the second picture). And the plate on top of the articulating section screws into the base of the GPS. I'll try to get some pictures of our setup this coming weekend.

[celenoglu]

In my opinion the best place for a chart plotter is the chart table. Mounting a chart plotter more than 3 ft in front of the wheel is not a good idea. You will loose all your visibility in dark. Keeping it below 3 ft helps. If it is higher even the lights are dimmed night vision is nearly impossibile.

[rpearlberg]

spoke to Rick from RAM Mounts and this is what he suggested...

1. RAM-202-G2U: RAM BASE & BALL W/ GARMIN MNTING HDWARE
2. RAM-201U: Double Socket Arm - 1.5" Ball Double Socket Arm - RAM Mount
3. RAM-235U: RAM Double Stainless Steel U-Bolt Base with 1.5" Ball