*JimH* wrote:
I have a blank 2"~ 2 1/8"" opening on my dash.

http://tinyurl.com/abnwu

I just bought the boat (as of tomorrow assuming a good sea trial). It does
not have a compass or depth sounder. I can put either in that spot (
http://www.marine.com/product_info.php/products_id/653 or
http://www.westmarine.com/images/full/530298.jpg ) but can also leave the
hole blank, mounting a surface mount compass and moderately priced fish
finder with depth sounder on top of the dash.

Pricing is comparable (a bit higher on dash surface mounts) although the
units installed on top of the dash would be easier to read while at the helm
and will offer (as in the case of the fish finder) more data on a larger
surface.

What are your ideas? I am leaning toward the larger units mounted on top of
the dash.


Definitely put the compass on top of the dash. You can get a bigger
compass that will be more effectively damped and it will be more easily
read by virtue of size as well as position.

The other issue with putting the compass into the dashboard is that
there are a lot of other electrical circuits very close by. You really
don't want your compass reading to take a 40-degree swing simply
because you switched your panel lights on.