GPS for 220 Sundeck

K

kaz

New Member
Oct 21, 2006
8
New Jersey
Boat Info
Sundeck 220, 2004
Engines
265 HP, Mercruiser outdrive, 5.0 liter
I am a new owner of a 2004 220 sundeck and hoping to get some advice on navigation systems. Some have advised me to just get a handheld. It seems as thought the instrumentation area does not have much room for a fixed or removable GPS. Has anyone out there found a good way to mount something such as the Garmin276c without it getting in the way? Would you advise this? Thanks in advance for your reply.
Kaz
 
I just installed a Garmin 172C in my 210BR. I have the same problem with not a whole lot of dash room and I also didn't like the idea of drilling holes in the dash cover. What I did was use the driver's side cup holder.
  • Cut the bottom out of the cup holder (they are cheap)
    Cut a plastic top for the holder (local plastic store very cheap)
    Mount the GPS bracket to the top (I used a gromet for the cord)
    Glue or silicone the top to the holder
    Connect the wires
On my boat it is in the perfect spot for the driver and works great with the internal antenna. Minor drawback is losing the cup holder, but I have plenty of those close by. I plan to go out tomorrow. I'll take a picture and post.
 
Thanks

Clayton and Chuck,
Thanks for your advice. Looks like it is possible and I will try to hold out for the 276c over a handheld. Thanks again,
Kaz
 
Here's a pic of my GPS mounting. It's in a good spot. Best part is that you can just unplug it, replace the cup holder and it's like it was never there.
 
Picture

Clayton,
Missed the pick. Thanks again for the reply.
Kaz
 
Kaz..............I used a handheld Garmin GPSMAP 76 on my 240 Sundeck. I bought a flexible mount on ebay. I attached the mount low on my windshield and positioned it to rest on top of the dashboard. That way it was out of the way and took up no space on the instrument panel. It was also at eye level for viewing. That same mount could also be used in my car. Sorry I don't have any pictures to show you.
 
I use a megellen marine mounted in front of my helm wheel. Works well for a hand held and does not take up a lot of space. I just added a picture of it to my marina pictures under mods.
 
GPS Question

Thanks for the replies. It seems as though either a handheld or fixed would work. I am looking for something easy to read but that can be removed at the end of the day. Stihlbolts and Dave S are you happy with the readability of the handheld screens? Clayton, creative setup, do I understand that you take yours out of your cupholder and disconnect it also at the end of the day? Thanks again,
Rob
 
Actually, the 172C unplugs in the back and disconnects from the mounting via screw knob. Takes less than a minute to do this if I think I need to (e.g. docked for lunch somewhere). I mostly store it in the bracket with the GPS cover on.

The cup holder comment was only that this is not a permenent change to the boat. It can be undone by simply replacing the cup holder. I still haven't gotten to the point where I can drill holes in my dash to mount electronics. I'm sure I will after a few more years.
 
Well to be honest I wish I had the color screen. That version came out about 6 months after my purchase. The screen size is adequate and very readable for a gray screen version. It is basically right there at my face and even closer than the Smart Craft window which is ok to see. I would love a larger unit but don't see spending 8-9 hundred dollars for a unit on a sport boat, I don't have a need for that kind of investment. But who knows, maybe the Admiral might see my Christmas wish list and leave a nice 7 inch Garmin color GPS under the tree. :grin:

The positives to the hand held are that it is portable, water proof, floats and when I leave the boat and take the unit with me I then use it on my PWC.
Down side is gray screen, small screen.
 
Rob,

The portable 276C has a great screen, and like Stihlbolts said nice to be able to take it on the PWC or in the car. Works Great. By adding the sounder unit works good as a fish finder too :thumbsup:
 
My Garmin unit was OK but could have been better from a readability standpoint in bright sunlight. Keep in mind too that all of these units will either require you to buy a chip or purchase software for your computer so you can upload detailed maps to your GPS. Garmin requires the latter and I encourage you to look at those costs as well before purchasing your unit.
 
As Dave S said the only draw back is the cost of the Garmin Maps. Personally I've got both the Preprogrammed chips and the CD versions for the computer. The CD version is a better product IMHO seems to have more details and allows you to layout your route on the PC.
 
Good point on the chart software. I bought the Garmin blue chart card with the GPS. It is pretty detailed for my area, California delta, which is good news. It's pretty easy to get lost or run into some very shallow water without a GPS. The admiral insisted we get one after 2 somewhat misguided adventures.

Overall, I’m pretty happy with the Garmin weighing cost (< $500 for everything), ease of use, features and readability. One of my better purchases.
 
Gps

I have a 2005 Sundeck 220. I mounted a Navman gps on the top left side of the dash close to the wind shield. Used it since4 and it has not been in the way. Also connected it gps to a Navman radio :smt001
 
Welcome to the board. Glad to have another 220SD owner on the board. Post some pictures of your install, would love to see it. :grin:
 
Sundeck GPS

I own a 240 Sundeck, purchased new in 2003, the first power boat I have owned. The first thing I added was a Garmen 182C chartplotter with external antenna, found that this worked much better than the attached antenna. Mounted it on a stalk at the left of the helm, couldn't bear to part with the cup holder. It can be easily removed for security, which I take full advantage of. Best add-on I could have gotten, prevented many an embarrassment. Easy to read even in direct sun, provides tide tables too (rather helpful in Barnegat Bay, NJ). Highly visible from this position, the mount allows swiveling the unit to optimize visibility. Had an opportunity to use it to navigate at night and the location worked great to monitor progress and location with peripheral vision. A tad expensive, as are the Blue Charts. Only liability for the location is passengers can bump it. Need to find a way to hide the wires, but, hey, it works. This spring I added a Standard Horizon Phantom radio with the RAM mic connecting inside the small storage area by the helm, and then wired the instruments together for DSC capability.
 

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