Installing a Garmin 7215 Touchscreen

[BigMoe]

Hello fellow sailors:

Has anyone installed the new Garmin 7215 touch screen chart plotter at the helm. I am toying with ripping out my complete Raymarine system and upgrading to a Garmin touch screen. I only sail my 49 in the Chesapeake Bay, so I am not concerned about rough seas interfering with my ability to find the correct button on my plotter.

I would love some input!

Big Moe

[chef2sail]

Big Moe,

I installed this myself. I replaced the straight pedestal gaurd with the angled configuration. The charplotter is in the bottom Navpod and the wind, autohelm, depth and remote for the ipod and radio in the top one. This sits behind the binacle, no interference with compass detected. Great angle for viewing the chartplotter from the helm. no glare in this position either off the water since it is tilted up and under the bimini. Wires are all led up internally through the gaurd tubes fron under the deck.

I also have a fold out leaf teak cockpit table with four holes in a rack on the top for drinks ( bottles are sitting in it in the first picture with my wife) and this attaches to the pedastal tubes a before with no interfenece from the Navpods.

[talbot]

Hi Moe, I have lots of experience with touchscreens in rough seas and the Garmin touchscreen displays as I'v been using a 5008 for 3 years now on my own sailboat with great satisfaction and helped design the touchscreen system for Sea Ray a few years ago. Concur with all the advice from chef2sail plus:
When demonstrating touchscreen at a boatshow or other stable ground the index finger is typically used and that's the way first timers typically attack the screen. But in rough weather I find it much more precise to stabilize ones hand on the bezel with your three middle fingers and use your thumb for poking precisely. When it's real rough you grab with both hands on either side and thumb poke. You will find hardcore users who refused to believe a touchscreen can work in rough conditions and many manufacturers ride the fence offering both methods. My hats off to Garmin for making and supporting the best way to offer a touchscreen presentation ie. Offering the largest screen size in the smallest footprint, with only a power button. It's simple and works!
Talbot