Chartplotter at each helm on 45DS

[cferrer]

The girlfriend and I are giving serious thought to upgrading to a 45DS from our 39DS. One thing we would like to change about the cockpit of the 39DS is the centrally mounted chartplotter.

Has anyone with a 45DS mounted a chartplotter at each wheel?

The grabrail is horizontal and not perpendicular to the wheel. I am thinking some stainless fabrication might be required to mount anything on the grabrail.

Thanks for any insights.

Chris

[deandavis1]

Good luck with the upgrade. My advise is don't do anything until you have been on it for a while and worked out your sailing style. I've got a 45DS and personally dont spend any time at either halm as the boat is mainly on autopilot. I find the iPad with Navionics the most useful navigation aid and love its portability.

Just a word of advise. I did try to mount a small MFD next to the compass but electrical interference with the compass is an issue. If you do go down this route check the clearance requirement in the manual which is likely to be min 400mm.

[deandavis1]

The other thing to think about is what functionality you want and were out of the chart plotter (eg Maps, Instruments, Radar, AIS, Autopilot integration etc). You might find a single MFD with wifi repeating to a tablet more useful. Personally I dont think the products are worth it yet but here is my quick view:

Raymarine have a nice e7 with wifi but miss Autopilot control and Broadband Radar.
Navico are about to release GoFree which will give you Broadband Radar if thats important (google GoFree).
Navnet looks great but way overpriced.

[cferrer]

Gents-

Thanks for the advice. I ginned up a package that had two e95 plotters and ScanStrut flexpod and helmpods. The flexmounts are a breathtaking $400 each and the helmpod is another $375. And i would need two of each. After reviewing the raymarine manual to ensure I wasn't missing anything I came upon the minimum distance required to not interfere with a compass. In addition to electrical noise from the cabling the new charlotters use a rare earth magnet to keep the nab chip slot closed. Deal breaker.

I like your idea of using an iPad. More so because Raymarine just released RayControl. For $50 you get an app that turns the iPad into a fully functional MFD. the only limitation noted is that the autopilot cannot be activated or disabled from the mobile device. A bummer but certainly not a deal breaker. I imagine there are others but it looks promising.

Now it looks like I will go for an e127 under the table and iPads at the helm and a extra AP control head or remote at the starboard wheel.

Chris

Thanks again for the advice. This board is a great resource.

[MalcolmP]

Oct 1, 2012 17:30:54 GMT cferrer said:

...............I like your idea of using an iPad. ............. and iPads at the helm and a extra AP control head or remote at the starboard wheel.

My concern with ipads on deck is currently that waterproof housings don't have a charging facility, so you only have 20 hrs or so and also they are not very daylight viewable. They do look a good option as a chart-table repeater though

[planelucky2]

You'll find that an e127 mounted under the cockpit table will be an acceptable arrangement provided that it is mounted so it can be swiveled from side-to-side and also slanted up and down, as needed. This is our arrangement on our 45DS. While not perfect, it works for us.

[hoppy]

Oct 1, 2012 17:30:54 GMT cferrer said:

I like your idea of using an iPad. More so because Raymarine just released RayControl. For $50 you get an app that turns the iPad into a fully functional MFD. the only limitation noted is that the autopilot cannot be activated or disabled from the mobile device. A bummer but certainly not a deal breaker. I imagine there are others but it looks promising.

Now it looks like I will go for an e127 under the table and iPads at the helm and a extra AP control head or remote at the starboard wheel.

Instead of getting a 2nd AP controller why not get the wireless Smart controller and mount one of its holders by the starboard helm. That's what I have done.

Forget the iPad at the helm as you just cant see it in bright sunlight. I started using the iPad and quickly learnt it was mostly useless. It is best used as a repeater of the MFD in the cabin.

I run with a E7 under my cockpit table and find it no problem on my SO40. You can get a remote control that you can mount on the wheel if you want to control your E127. I bought it but still have not gotten around to mounting it as the E7 is in such easy reach....

BTW don't buy the E127 until you have got your boat. The unit is pretty big and might be too big for the 45DS. Before the E7 was released I was thinking of the E90W but it would have been a tight squeeze under the table. The E7 is perfect for mine.

[cferrer]

I have the Smart controller on my 39DS at the port helm. I am not that impressed with it. Given that and the fact that smart controller is about the same price as the p70 I prefer the p70. Also, no worries about forgetting to keep it charged. I can count one one hand the number of times I have used the remote out of its holster.

I would have thought the e127 was too large for the table but it is now listed as an option on the Jeanneau web site. It could be that they mount it on the table top. No thanks to that. I will swing by the dealer to measure the space available as they have a 45DS in stock.

[hoppy]

Out of interest, why are you not impressed with the Smart Controller?

If it just sits mounted at the helm then there is little point to it, but I have found it handy to have with me forward of the helm when trying to fine tune the course to windward and being in a better position to trim the sails or see the telltails.

I admit I could live without it, but I certainly do prefer the option as a minimum to be able to disable the autohelm at either helm position

[cferrer]

I am not a fan of the smart controller given it's cost and how I use it. I use it as a autopilot control. Given how much nicer the display on the p70 is I will run with that for about the same money.

[gene]

hoppy - how do you have your e7 mounted. Did you make a custom bracket? I am needing to replace an RC530 which is mounted under the cockpit table on a pull out swivel. I question whether I will be satisfied with the e7 for size. I am also questioning whether I want a touch screen and think a c95 would fit.

gene

[hoppy]

Oct 6, 2012 14:22:54 GMT gene said:

hoppy - how do you have your e7 mounted. Did you make a custom bracket? I am needing to replace an RC530 which is mounted under the cockpit table on a pull out swivel. I question whether I will be satisfied with the e7 for size. I am also questioning whether I want a touch screen and think a c95 would fit.

gene

I have it mounted using the bracket that comes with the E7. I have a wooden block mounted under the table to give clearance from the table mount and it it is angled to allow the E7 to be a a better angle.

My table is the same width as the original plastic one and the E7 fits within the dimensions. Maybe the C/E 95 would not stick out much but I'd be more worried about catching it when walking past. As it is I am just waiting for the jib sheet to catch it during a tack. I want to get a stainless steel cage put around it to reduce the likelihood of been caught.

[gene]

Thanks for the picture, I have not had any problems with bumping the current RC530. It looks like even the e/c125 would be less than the width of the table but would probably be bumped by legs when heeling and moving around.



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Gene

[deandavis1]

I guess glare on the ipad screen depends on your setup. I always have at least a bimini up (most times the link sheet as well) and stay out of the sun. For me the iPad has been a great primary chartplotter. Now the Lowrance HDS touch is out and GoFree wireless on its way I would lean towards this (if only the iPad didn't do everything I need except maybe radar).

The autopilot can of course operate in Auto, Wind or Track mode. the later requires chartplotter integration. I find I use the other two modes more because it is easier to "tweak" things to match the wind conditions.

Advantages of Lowrance HDS Touch over Raymarine:
1. Compatible with broadband 4G radar (including duel range).
2. GoFree wilress strategy allows for third party apps on your iOS (and other OS)
3. Has Structure scan built in (still waiting on the thru-hull transducer

[cferrer]

After much research, I have come up with a tentative solution for a centrally mounted chartplotter (Raymarine e125) on our 45DS.

I plan on using the soon-to-be-released Navslide Quick Mount.

www.navslide.no/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=100%3Anavslide-range&catid=42%3Afrontpage-slideshow&Itemid=58&lang=en

Still up for discussion is the mounting location. I will trial fit the mount under the table and on top of the table. I would prefer not to mount to the table top. However, I have my doubts that the mount will project the plotter far enough away from the table such that the plotter will be able to be swiveled towards either helm. It wil be close.