Winter project: Electronics upgrade on '05 320

[topgun1185]

My boat came with a raymarine c70 so and after 4 years I am a fan. Last year I bought a used c120 on ebay for $1000 and raymarine upgraded and installed a new screen for free under warenty. I then sold the c70 for $750. I bought a blank panel and moved the sc5000 from the center helm postion to the side pod on the port side (where the factory c70 was). The c120 is now mounted front and center and I love it. Bigger is better. I have a 2k dome and also installed a 6001 auto pilot (highly recommended safty item on long cruises, for releif from fatiuge) and will this year and AIS. NY harbour is busy and AIS will help. I plan on using the raymarine ais 500 so I can see and be seen.

 

[sb in gp]

I have the 5208 on my 05 320 and that was the biggest display that would fit. You might be able to find a way to squeeze a larger one in, but I'd get the width and height and double check before you buy..

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Thanks Barry. Great point. All the 10" Garmins are at least 13" in width. I have seen pictures of the Raymarine C80 which fits with a small amount to spare and it is has an 11.14" width. The 5208 has a 10.1". I'll take some measurments next time at the boat (can't find any dimensions in the manuals).

Do you have any pictures of your install?

I'll post a question on the 320 thread to see if someone has the measurements for the dash panels.

Scott

 

[barryg]

scott, send me an email and I'll email you back some photos..

Barry

 

[sb in gp]

My boat came with a raymarine c70 so and after 4 years I am a fan. Last year I bought a used c120 on ebay for $1000 and raymarine upgraded and installed a new screen for free under warenty. I then sold the c70 for $750. I bought a blank panel and moved the sc5000 from the center helm postion to the side pod on the port side (where the factory c70 was). The c120 is now mounted front and center and I love it. Bigger is better. I have a 2k dome and also installed a 6001 auto pilot (highly recommended safty item on long cruises, for releif from fatiuge) and will this year and AIS. NY harbour is busy and AIS will help. I plan on using the raymarine ais 500 so I can see and be seen.

Many have mentioned that they are very happy with their Raymarine products. I'm sure they are great, and Raymarine is going to survive financially. Looks like the pricing is pretty similar, and both products have passionate supporters.

My boat currently has a small Garmin and I am hoping to reuse the transducer and the Garmin GPS antenna on the arch. I also have Garmin chartplotting software for the PC and a lot of routes and track data that I'd like to reuse. I don't love the Garmin user interface (as a long-time computer programmer, I find it fairly non-intuitive), but I am use to it. So I will probably stick with Garmin for these reasons.

I welcome feedback and rebuttals. I am an admitted novice when it comes to Radar and larger Chartplotters.

Thanks,

Scott

 

[sb in gp]

Thanks Barry. Great point. All the 10" Garmins are at least 13" in width. I have seen pictures of the Raymarine C80 which fits with a small amount to spare and it is has an 11.14" width. The 5208 has a 10.1". I'll take some measurments next time at the boat (can't find any dimensions in the manuals).

Do you have any pictures of your install?

I'll post a question on the 320 thread to see if someone has the measurements for the dash panels.

Scott

The dash panels on the 320 will only accommodate Garmins in the 8" family. I am leaning now towards the 4208, which is almost identical to a 5208 without the touchscreen. Having trouble justifying the touchscreen with an added cost of almost $900.

Here is my current configuration:

Garmin 4208
Garmin GSD22 Sounder module
Garmin GXM51 XM Radio module (for XM Weather)
Garmin GMR18 HD RADAR 18" 4KW

Total cost is about $3400

I am going to try to reuse the existing transducer (not sure the model), and Garmin GPS antenna.

Would appreciate feedback on this configuration.

 

[sb in gp]

Just to close out this thread, I purchased the following configuration from Boe:

Garmin 4208
Garmin GSD22 Sounder module
Garmin GXM51 XM Radio module (for XM Weather)
Garmin GMR18 HD RADAR 18" 4KW

Any recommendation on where to position all these dang appendages on the arch? I realize the Radar will be centered. Documentation states that the GPS and XM antennas should be 3' from the radar. I also have the Glomax frisbee up there.

Any advice would be appreciated before I start drilling holes.

Scott

 

[La Maddalena]

Can you post a photo of your helm/dash? I also have the original Raymarine C70 radar/chartplotter and am interested in upgrading in a similar way. I would like to relocate the 4 large circle guages to each side and install a chartplotter display in the center of the dash, similar to what you have described. I realize our dashes are slightly different.

 

[tobnpr]

No problem with the gps and sirius antennas. They're only a few inches tall so will be well below the rf energy from the radar ( I think you meant 3' and not 3").

The Glomex won't interfere significantly with your radar returns, but it would probably help if you took it off the extension and placed it directly on the mount, same with the gps and sirius antennas.

Get a 4" mount with the LTB (light bar option) which will handle your nav light.

 

[sb in gp]

No problem with the gps and sirius antennas. They're only a few inches tall so will be well below the rf energy from the radar ( I think you meant 3' and not 3").

The Glomex won't interfere significantly with your radar returns, but it would probably help if you took it off the extension and placed it directly on the mount, same with the gps and sirius antennas.

Get a 4" mount with the LTB (light bar option) which will handle your nav light.

Thanks Tobnpr. Yes I meant 3'. I edited my post.

Didn't realize the Glomax could mount lower. I'll look at it.

Is a 4" mount necessary? If yes, then can anyone recommend a mount and the appropriate angle for a 320?

Scott

 

[tobnpr]

4" is the smallest mount I've seen. They generally come with a 4 degree down angle, which is close enough for most boats. You can get forward, or aft leaning.

No, you don't "need" a mount, but I think your arch is too narrow to mount direct. If you can, you still need a wedge, unless SR built-in a mounting pad with it at the center of your arch.

 

[Alex F]

No, you don't "need" a mount, but I think your arch is too narrow to mount direct. If you can, you still need a wedge, unless SR built-in a mounting pad with it at the center of your arch.

Yeap, there should be the mounting pad. Here's mine. Please excuse the black streaks, these pics were taken at the end of the 2008 season. Last season I had the radar polished and it looks very clean.

 

[sb in gp]

Yeap, there should be the mounting pad. Here's mine. Please excuse the black streaks, these pics were taken at the end of the 2008 season. Last season I had the radar polished and it looks very clean.

Big thanks Alex! Very helpful pics.

Have you noticed any issue have the all-around light right in front of the radar?

Scott

 

[Aficionado]

Check out www.battlewagonmounts.com. They have a 4" mount with the down angle at no extra charge.

 

[Alex F]

Big thanks Alex! Very helpful pics.

Have you noticed any issue have the all-around light right in front of the radar?

Scott

Scott,
I'm not a radar expert, but from my experience it works just fine. I don't think it makes a huge difference between how mine is installed vs. the lights being installed with angled bar in the back of the radar. I think it's just done this way if the light is blocking the mounting of the radar, not that it's blocking the signal. In either case the distance between the light and the radar is close enough. So, if you're able to mount your new radar like mine I wouldn't look for additional mounts, it's just a waste of money, IMO. I would love to hear an opinion from our radar experts to explain if there are any issues with this installation. IMO, the light is very minor obstruction for the radar signal, which is a different case when you have KVH mounted right next to it on the same level.

As you may know, the light is adjustible and can be layed in horisontal position when you need to put a cover or shrinkwrap.

 

[tobnpr]

Small vertical obstructions, like the light mast, are not problematic. It's the horizontal obstructions that have the most effect- like my KVH as mentioned above. The dome itself is not an issue (like the radome) but the dish inside is. My "blind" spot usually isn't too bad but varies, I guess depending on the orientation of the dish at the time.

 

[Alex F]

Hey tobnpr,

I hope you didn't take my comment about KHV the wrong way. I just noticed that what I questioned was exactly your setup...LOL. I've seen many boats done this way and always wondered what's the impact is, b/c that looks like a big piece of obstruction for the radar signal. I understand your point about dome not being an issue rather the actual dish inside, makes sense. So, from your exeprience do you find the "blind spot" being a permanent mark or due to the fact that the dish is constantly moving the "blind spot" is very minor?

 

[sb in gp]

Scott,
I'm not a radar expert, but from my experience it works just fine. I don't think it makes a huge difference between how mine is installed vs. the lights being installed with angled bar in the back of the radar. I think it's just done this way if the light is blocking the mounting of the radar, not that it's blocking the signal. In either case the distance between the light and the radar is close enough. So, if you're able to mount your new radar like mine I wouldn't look for additional mounts, it's just a waste of money, IMO. I would love to hear an opinion from our radar experts to explain if there are any issues with this installation. IMO, the light is very minor obstruction for the radar signal, which is a different case when you have KVH mounted right next to it on the same level.

As you may know, the light is adjustible and can be layed in horisontal position when you need to put a cover or shrinkwrap.

Does the Glomax being on the same level cause any noticeable interference?

 

[tobnpr]

Hey tobnpr,

I hope you didn't take my comment about KHV the wrong way. I just noticed that what I questioned was exactly your setup...LOL. I've seen many boats done this way and always wondered what's the impact is, b/c that looks like a big piece of obstruction for the radar signal. I understand your point about dome not being an issue rather the actual dish inside, makes sense. So, from your exeprience do you find the "blind spot" being a permanent mark or due to the fact that the dish is constantly moving the "blind spot" is very minor?

Oh, hell no...
You made a very good point that's extremely important. Thanks for pointing it out.

Mounting the dish posed some issues on my particular boat. I had intended to use one of the over/under mounts (sheesh... they're $$$) but after looking at the what the finished assembly would weigh, and the forces that would be placed on the arch, I didn't feel comfortable going that route.

My arch is very narrow- and wide (14' beam). It flexes quite a bit, and there are some stress cracks in the gelocoat at the upper radius corners . It's not as much the weight as an open array would weight about as much as the two domes- it was mounting the 20 lb sat dish on a 12" mount. That creates a lot more stress on the mount, and I wasn't confident the arch would take it. It wouldn't be a problem for lake boating, but more often than not I'm running in seas offshore.

I'd really like one of these (even with a dome below), but I'd need to find one with a narrower footrpint.

http://www.seaviewglobal.com/en/products/120

As far as the blind spot, I find it's not much of an issue. With the blind spot at a right angle to the boat, it would be impossible for another boat to enter- and remain- in the same location relative to my boat. Meaning, it can't be moving directly at me at a 90 degree angle- and forward at a speed identical to mine- at the same time. So, I'll alway see another boat even if it disappears into that area briefly. Now, if the dish were mounted in front of, or directly behind the radar, that would be a different story...

 

[Russ Calasant]

Oh, hell no...
You made a very good point that's extremely important. Thanks for pointing it out.

Mounting the dish posed some issues on my particular boat. I had intended to use one of the over/under mounts (sheesh... they're $$$) but after looking at the what the finished assembly would weigh, and the forces that would be placed on the arch, I didn't feel comfortable going that route.

Yes! I still complain about the $$. But I had to, to be honest it had absolutely nothing to do with not wanting to block the radar. I could not stand the thought of having it offset on the arch:smt101 And it would have been worse to put a dummy dome on the other side to balance it out. So I had no choice :huh: I used http://www.seaviewglobal.com/en/products/90

My arch is very narrow- and wide (14' beam). It flexes quite a bit, and there are some stress cracks in the gelocoat at the upper radius corners . It's not as much the weight as an open array would weight about as much as the two domes- it was mounting the 20 lb sat dish on a 12" mount. That creates a lot more stress on the mount, and I wasn't confident the arch would take it. It wouldn't be a problem for lake boating, but more often than not I'm running in seas offshore.

Although our arches are different and my beam not quite as wide it was also a concern of mine. Speaking with Seaview, they assured me that the balance of the two antennas offsetting each other played a roll in reducing any added stress of "hanging" the antennas out there. Who knows, he could have been full of sh#$ but it was all I needed to hear!

I'd really like one of these (even with a dome below), but I'd need to find one with a narrower footrpint.

http://www.seaviewglobal.com/en/products/120

I looked hard at this one too but couldnt find one narrow enough either

As far as the blind spot, I find it's not much of an issue. With the blind spot at a right angle to the boat, it would be impossible for another boat to enter- and remain- in the same location relative to my boat. Meaning, it can't be moving directly at me at a 90 degree angle- and forward at a speed identical to mine- at the same time. So, I'll alway see another boat even if it disappears into that area briefly. Now, if the dish were mounted in front of, or directly behind the radar, that would be a different story...

I have had mine for a little more than two years and in some pretty big water with no signs of stress:thumbsup:
Maybe I have been lucky:huh:

I have the smaller Garmin HD closed array and an M-3 on it.

 

[Alex F]

Does the Glomax being on the same level cause any noticeable interference?

I think tobnpr answered your question in more details. I agree with this and from my experience I didn't notice Glomex creating a blind spot for me. Considering the fact that Glomex has very small mounting leg and the actual antenna is flat and thin, so it doesn't create any more obstruction than the light. Looking at the image bellow you can see how the signal would be easily go sort of through Glomex.

As far as the blind spot, I find it's not much of an issue. With the blind spot at a right angle to the boat, it would be impossible for another boat to enter- and remain- in the same location relative to my boat. Meaning, it can't be moving directly at me at a 90 degree angle- and forward at a speed identical to mine- at the same time. So, I'll alway see another boat even if it disappears into that area briefly. Now, if the dish were mounted in front of, or directly behind the radar, that would be a different story...