How do you mount your electronics in your sport boat?

M

mbw

New Member
Sep 15, 2013
81
Dubuque, Iowa
Boat Info
2005 240 Select
Engines
350 mag w/ bravo 3
I put my boat in storage for winter and then had the bright idea of buying electronics for my boat without having actually measured how much room I had. I just went from some pictures and 'memory'. Well. I ended up buying some cool stuff, and I think I am happy with how I will mount it... well you tell me if im crazy.

How does everyone mount GPS/Sonar/VHF stuff on Sea Ray sport boats? I figured my 240 Select would be plenty big for my Garmin 840 and Standard Horizon GPS GX1700. The VHF is pretty small, but the Garmin is friggen huge. I should have gone with the 741, but its not a huge amount smaller even then.

Lets see some pictures. Maybe I am just crazy. I dont have my VHF mounted yet, but I think it will just go to the right of my Garmin. I made a mount out of some mahogany, bolts up through the fiberglass in two spots. Removed the compass. I have a little cover with a grommet in it that the cabling can go through. I think it ended up pretty clean.

emp_2_zpsd5049673.jpg


emp_zpsdb25655d.jpg
 
I like the way you have your Garmin mounted, looks pretty slick.
I just got a new Sport 190, and already had a Garmin 531S. The dealer went ahead and installed my Garmin for me.
He mounted it in a similar location, however using a ram mount and attached to the windshield support pole ( station?)...

I have not taken the new boat out yet, will be another month or so, will see how that works out for me. I am concerned it is going to want to twist that pole and
just move around, but will see.
I would grab a picture but boat is covered right now, next time I uncover it I ill be sure and grab a shot of how they mounted it.
 
Thanks. I would like to see how thats mounted. I was thinking of doing the same thing, but then I figured out that I went a little overboard on the chart plotter. I worked with my dad and we figured out that I could just get a different compass and that would give us room for that mount, plus a nice place to route wiring.

I think the windshield support is pretty solid. I am curious to see how far aft your 531 comes with the ram. I assume you can move it around and adjust it though?
 
mbw said:
I think the windshield support is pretty solid. I am curious to see how far aft your 531 comes with the ram. I assume you can move it around and adjust it though?
Click to expand...

Yes I think so anyway, next time I pull it up to the driveway and uncover it I will attach the unit to the mount and take some pics.
I need to do it soon anyway as I need to take some measurements and do some planning...
 
Hey Don,

i'm interested in seeing how you have the Garmin mounted as well. I really couldn't figure out a good set up on my 190. Last year was our first year boating so we didn't really venture to far. Hoping to explore a little more this year. I was looking at the Garmin 531s as well.

Thanks!

Darren
Tilghman Island, MD
 
Sure thing, may be later this week or even Saturday before I get a chance to, but will do so.
 
Those are neat, but I would run into it at that location. And I know my kids would, and anyone walking through to the front.

I should have gone with a smaller gps/screen. I am sure I will enjoy the big screen though.

Thanks for the pictures. Anyone else want to share?
 
Finally got around to pulling the boat into the drive and uncovering it.
Here are a couple of pics how I have my 531s mounted using a ram mount.
That ram mount arm is 6", think I am going to order a shorter one - 3" - and see if I like that better.

Only thing I am concerned about is that windshield support rod that it is mounted to, twists around so don't know how much of a pain that might be when on the water. I think the shorter ram mount arm will help.

Garmin 2.jpgGarmin1.jpg
 
Ya, I think I like how mine is setup. I know its big, but its all the way tucked under the windshield and its really solid. I want it far back away from my face and gauges.

Those ram mounts are nice though. Looks like you could just adjust it and move it around easily.
 
Quick follow-up question on this thread....

With my 190 Sport, I think I'm going to follow Don's set up with the short 3 inch poll. My windshield support rod doesn't twist. I'm not sure why mine doesn't, but Don mentioned his does...

Rookie questions...What do I need other than the Garman device? Do I need a new transducer installed? Obviously, the unit needs to be hooked into a power source on the boat as well. Is that just done through the 12 volt outlet on the boat or does it need to be wired into the boat's electrical system. Thanks!


Darren
 
DCrozier190 said:
Quick follow-up question on this thread....


Rookie questions...What do I need other than the Garman device? Do I need a new transducer installed? Obviously, the unit needs to be hooked into a power source on the boat as well. Is that just done through the 12 volt outlet on the boat or does it need to be wired into the boat's electrical system. Thanks!

Darren
Click to expand...

No need for a transducer, unless you have a Garmin that has the depth gauge and you want to use it. I have the 531s which does have the depth gauge, however my boat has a depth gauge already, so I don't use that option on the Garmin. If I did, that would require it to be mounted to the transom and a hole, and the wiring run up to the Garmin, which I would prefer not to have.

In my old 1990 180 BR, I put a plug on the Garmin and used the 12v outlet. On my new 190 Sport, the dealer went ahead and hard wired my Garmin into the boat's electrical system for me.

I did receive my 3" ram mount arm this week, to replace the 6" arm, and hopefully will be trying it out this weekend for the boat's maiden voyage.
 
Thanks for the update guys. Please post photos when you get the units mounted up. I am going to pull the trigger on a Garmin 531 or 536 this week and will also be ordering mounts (I have a ton of the smaller RAM mounts I have used on my motorcycles but hear for marine you want the larger)
 
I am going to be working on all my gadgets this week.

For the Garmin 840xs, I have the all in one down vu transducer, to give me a nice side by side screen, chart plotter and down vu. I plan on wiring the garmin and the VHF to the accessory switch on the dash.

I am going to try and take pictures and maybe a couple of videos, but I am no expert so im not sure those will have a ton of value. Maybe just to document how I messed something up for later.. *shrug*
 
when i bought my boat the PO had mounted a large GPS/chart plotter on top of the dash.....i did not like how it blocked my view out of the windshield when seated and it was outdated....so i removed that unit altogether....now i use my smart phone with the Navionics app....i mount it in a suction cup mount to the left of the steering wheel....it is out of the way and it works great.....
 
ok, thanks all....

My main purpose for adding the Garmin is for navagation and the charts, etc...So no transducer needed, since the 190 Sport already has a depth finder. Sounds like the device can be powered by the 12 volt or hard wired in. I'll assume the gps antenna is built into the device. Is that correct?

I'll get it powered and be able to use the gps and charts to navagational purpose right out of the box it sounds like....

Thanks.

Darren
 
That's the same thought I am having. I will use the Garmin for navigation only to start and don't plan to install the transducer. They all have antenna built in but allow you to add external if you wish.
 
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