Where can I get a customized mount like this?

[tawcat]

I am wanting to mount my new RC435 on the left side panel. If I just cut a template and install the GPS/chart flat, it is difficult to see easily while underway. So what I would love to do is mount it similar to the pic I have attached. By the way, I rotated the pic so as to show how I'd need it mounted. Pic is not perfect, but I hope it gives an idea of what I'm looking for. Need the unit to be canted to the right so I can see it from the helm. Anyone have any ideas? BTW, this is not something I can make myself, I know my limitations!!!! Thanks for any ideas, Stan.

 

[boatmailster]

You could make something similar from good ply-wood wrapped in vinyl.

 

[fwebster]

If you are going to the trouble to make something then use teak, mahogany or even Starboard.

 

[tawcat]

Thanks guys, however, I think ya'll missed the important piece to this puzzle, "this is not something I can do!!!!" I bought a table saw thinking that would help me cut better lines, I'm still having trouble cutting a straight piece of wood!!!! Hey I'm Polish, thats my excuse and I'm stickin' to it!!!!

 

[Sundancer]

It's a piece of cake! Start with the hole for the RC435 in an oversized piece of wood because that will be the hardest part. Once mounted in that piece of wood, determine the angle you need to cut to get it at the proper viewing angle. Cut those triangles and mount to the sides. Then cut a piece for the back to cover it, or maybe two pieces. Add any required holes for wires if they don't drop through the bottom and then glue, screw and reinforce the corners from the inside with trim scrap or trim pieces. Varnish or cover with vinyl. It's really a whole lot easier than you think. If you can't cut straight, then cover all the edge joints with a 90 degree trim piece that will cover the bad cuts and reinforce the joints. By the time you find one and have it shipped (assuming you CAN find one with all the unusual angles!) you could have made two or three! I'm on my third piece of wood for a closet with very complicated angles! :grin:

 

[tawcat]

Thanks for vote of confidence Sundancer. I may play around with some scrap and when I feel comfortable, I may just go ahead and give it a shot. Would love to use a material similar to the standard wood grain that the panels are made from.

Half of this battle is convincing the Admiral thats it's gonna look okay!!!! Will keep you posted.

 

[Morpheus]

Thanks guys, however, I think ya'll missed the important piece to this puzzle, "this is not something I can do!!!!" I bought a table saw thinking that would help me cut better lines, I'm still having trouble cutting a straight piece of wood!!!! Hey I'm Polish, thats my excuse and I'm stickin' to it!!!!

"How many polock's does it take to cut a straight line with a table saw?"

So your saying more then 1 :grin:

I agree with frank, plywood and water don't go well together and you're better off getting something done in teak, mahogany or even Starboard.

There was a thread on here somewhere of a guy that redid dash's and gauges I bet he could make something for you as long as you can use a measuring tape :grin:

 

[tawcat]

"How many polock's does it take to cut a straight line with a table saw?"

So your saying more then 1 :grin:

I'm thinkin' at least four; two to hold the piece being cut and two to move the saw back and forth!!!!


I'm going to look into starboard, hate being inland, I don't know anywhere local where I can just walk in and buy a piece of starboard. Anybody know where I can get a 24"x24"x1/2" of sandshade starboard? I don't think 1/4" would work.

 

[tmhudson2]

If you are having trouble figuring out your layout, try mocking it up in cardboard first. You can cut and tape and try again and again until you are sure it will work, then use that as your tempplate to cut the teak or whatever.

 

[Mick & Denise]

I can make the mount for you if you cannot find it. It would be fairly easy made from starboard or similar. I have made panels and custom mounts before for freinds that need something you can't buy off the shelf. Not looking to advertise here but if you cannot get it elsewhere let me know.

 

[Nehalennia]

Use mahogany and stain and varnish it up nice.
Tawcat, as you recall I started making a mahogany face in efforts to do something similar

I just ran out of real estate on the dash.

I'd help you too but would need the components and it'd be better to be on the boat for the angles you're describing.
A local custom cabinet shop may be a good start.
I still have the pieces if anyone needs them for a Garmin 545s

 

[skibum]

Thanks guys, however, I think ya'll missed the important piece to this puzzle, "this is not something I can do!!!!" I bought a table saw thinking that would help me cut better lines, I'm still having trouble cutting a straight piece of wood!!!! Hey I'm Polish, thats my excuse and I'm stickin' to it!!!!

That would be easy to make if you had bought 2 saws, a table saw and a compound miter saw.

First, use the TS to cut the wood or Starboard into a board the width of the base pieces (the bottom of the triangular parts, where they sit on the panel). Make it longer than you need so that you can cut it in half and end up with 2 shorter boards that are still long enough to cut safely with the CMS (less than 8" or so means that you have to put your fingers too close to the blade in order to hold the boards while cutting). Start with a 2 foot board if you think you only need to cut once or twice to get the correct wedges that you need. If you can't do it in 2 tries, start off with a 3 or 4 foot piece.

Next, use the CMS to cut the board you just made in half. Set one half on top of the other, line them up, and screw them together (Polish tip: be sure NOT to put the screws anywhere near the end where you will be cutting the wedges off). Then, set your CMS to the proper angle and cut a wedge off of the end of the board, making sure that the cut starts at the corner of the board (or else the end of the triangles will not be pointy, they will be flat on the end). Since you have 2 boards attached to each other, each cut will produce 2 identical wedges. If the angle is not correct, set the CMS to 90 degrees, cut the end of the boards square, and then try again with a different angle.

This will give you the side pieces that you need. The back and top are just rectangular pieces. Use the TS to cut your stock into strips. Since you are an amateur (and Polish), do NOT try to use the TS to make both the rip cut (long cut) and the crosscut (short one). Cutting short but wide pieces on a TS can result in a kickback. Think large, purple, bruise wherever the flying piece hits you. Use the TS to cut long strips, and then use the CMS to cut them off to the length you need.

Now, if your TS is not cutting straight as in one end is wider than the other, you need to align the fence to the blade. If it not cutting straight as in wavy, then you need to ask a non Polish friend or relative to help you out :smt043.

I'll leave how to use a router to shape the egdes and cut the hole in the top to another CSR member. That could take a while.

Good luck,
Michael

 

[tawcat]

Michael,

That is too funny and don't think for a minute that I haven't experienced kickback! First time it happened so fast, I couldn't figure out what I did wrong; second time I did it slower, hurt just as much as the first time, but at least I'll never do it again!!!!!!

BTWone of the board members HenryBoyd, is fashioning up a mount out of teak for me!!!! Yep might be a little more costly, but at least the $$$$ will not be going to buy another piece of wood I screwed up!!!

Ya know I had a carpenter friend talk me into buying a table saw and a band saw. Buying stuff like that is like buying exercise equipment!!!!!

 

[Henry Boyd]

That is not true, you can't hang clothes on a bandsaw.

 

[skibum]

Michael,

That is too funny and don't think for a minute that I haven't experienced kickback! First time it happened so fast, I couldn't figure out what I did wrong; second time I did it slower, hurt just as much as the first time, but at least I'll never do it again!!!!!!

BTWone of the board members HenryBoyd, is fashioning up a mount out of teak for me!!!! Yep might be a little more costly, but at least the $$$$ will not be going to buy another piece of wood I screwed up!!!

Ya know I had a carpenter friend talk me into buying a table saw and a band saw. Buying stuff like that is like buying exercise equipment!!!!!

Hmm... I'll bet that carpenter friend will be trying to talk you into selling a table saw and a band saw cheap next.

I'm glad you weren't offended. A couple of my cousins in Mass. married Polish men. They taught me every Polish joke in the book. Great sense of humor, those guys.

Of course later on in life when I lived in Ohio, same jokes with Michigan as the butt. Then in Georgia, it was NC as the butt. :huh: