rhys wrote:

It would tend to "compound errors", certainly. I've installed
something on my current boat, however, that I haven't seen before. I
got a gooseneck armature from an old draftsman's flourescent light and
clamped it so that it swings into the companionway. It can be lashed
in position with shock cord, if needed, but usually the friction knobs
do the trick.

I've seen this type of mount on many boats, though not using the
draftsman's armature. I think the catalogs have brackets intended to
swing out in the companionway.




On the armature I've secured a handheld GPS on "ship's power" (a 12 V
cigarette lighter style adapter). This means I can reference the GPS
quickly without using my hands, and without it being loose in the
cockpit, without eating batteries (they go through AAs in 2-3 hours of
continuous use), without losing "satellite lock" (because they are on
all the time and in the companionway can "see" enough sky).

Other advantages are (mostly) out of the weather (a ziplock bag will
do the trick here as well).

Of course, I have a tiller, which means I am standing most of the time
by the companionway near the winches and aft of the traveller on the
cabin-top.

I wonder, however, if my "armature idea" would be useful for any
similar devices, as opposed to a "hard-mount" at the wheel? If, for
instance, you had a 15" LCD panel and a wireless mouse, the panel
could be some distance away and still be readable.

My current boat, being a catamaran, has a powerboat-like helm station
with the radar mounted on a swinging arm to the side. My previous boat,
had a clever idea that might be of use to some - A hatch was mounted in
the bulkhead in the forward end of the cockpit, and the radar (a large
crt) was mounted on a shelf inside. Its a nice solution for a display
that is too large to mount on an arm. However, once you get used to
have the controls at the helm, its hard to see how you can properly use
a radar that isn't nearby.

On Tue, 15 Feb 2005 11:34:15 -0500, Jeff Morris
wrote:

However, once you get used to
have the controls at the helm, its hard to see how you can properly use
a radar that isn't nearby.

As I said, my current boat is tiller-steered, so I am only arm's
length from the mainsheet traveller *forward* of the hatch, never mind
the companionway itself. Reaching for anything and steering involves
using my knees and leaning. If I use the tiller extender, I can go
into the galley and get a refreshing beverage, or lash it in place and
go forward to handle sails. It's not a small boat, either...nearly 34
feet.

Makes me wonder why tillers haven't stayed popular, except that I know
if's because socializing in the cockpit trumps steering.

But that's another topic, perhaps.

R.