So, I've seen the impressive build and set-up of the Gurnard's SIB however my boat gets packed away every trip and needs to all fit in a regular estate car.
I was wondering how others install, for example, a chart plotter on a SIB. I've seen a few fixed to seats but I didn't want to start putting brackets on to a seat that would make it more difficult to pack away and potentially get broken in transit/storage.
So I thought that making something that would clamp to the seat and house all my instruments and mobile phone would fit the purpose.
Here's the project so far, just waiting on a compass to arrive and then I'll have my 3 main components. Cables all terminated under the base plate and powered off a 12v leisure batter which serves as my power source for the (back-up) 55lb trolling motor I have strapped to the side of the SIB. The battery charges whilst motoring using the 12v out from the outboard. Under the base plate I'm going to install 2 x 12v sockets for charging/powering any occasional extras.
As for the transducer, rather than permanently fix it to the transom I was going to make a clamped system for this also, again to try and avoid breakages in transit or whilst stored.
Any thoughts/suggestions/things I should be wary of?
I take my Dragonfly off my main boat & use it on hire boats piking in winter.
The transducer goes on the end of a length of wood which is G-clamped to the transom of the hire boat, a battery in a box is loose in the boat & the head mounting base is screwed to a piece of wood which I clamp to the boat seat with bungees. The screen unit is removed for transport & goes in a tupperware type box with sealed lid which came from Asda. I got a few funny looks when I was trying them for fit
Takes about 5 mins to fit and remove. No doubt you could come up with something more aesthetically pleasing.
Think about how you will store the bit with the electronics on it too. That looks like it could become an awkward shape with delicate bits easily damaged in transit.
Also if fitting a compass close by make sure that when powered up nothing in there is magnetic (speakers etc).
Oh, and the viewing angles for your two screens seems totally different. Try it in bright sunlight and I think one of them will be hard to see properly.
Angles adjustable so that's not an issue and I won't be bringing a stereo with me, not really my bag, i love music but I use the boat to get away from such things
Exactly what I was going to say! Perhaps install the instruments in one, possibly with power supply (with external socket for charging?) and an extendable antenna for your GPS...
When your finished, pop the aerial down, power off and close the lid....
A bit James Bond maybe, but does anyone else smell a business opportunity?? :-)
I won't be bringing a stereo with me, not really my bag,
me neither - but its not the only thing with a speaker (or other magnetic parts) in it... and don't forget your VHF will, if you are sitting very close to the compass (I assume it is attached to you).
Stig I'm still thinking about how to do my setup but it's likely I'll have a bit of marine ply similar size to how you've shown but a bit longer fore/aft so the Garmin will be on the section that will overhang the seat towards the transom leaving the full width of the seat available for passengers.
I only use a small 7a or 12a alarm/wheelchair size battery so there will be a box of some sort under the wood for the battery and this will have room for the excess transducer cable to be coiled away.
Agree the clamp on transom mount is the way to go... easily made in marine ply or stainless angle and fixed by G-clamp or stainless coachbolts with wingnuts.
Lots of family stuff (plus the weather) has got in the way of boating stuff recently but it'll soon be time for the early season mods and outboard service.
spy-sea-one
