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Old 23-01-2016, 16:39   #1
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Cutting Cabin Bulkhead for Chartplotter

Mounting B&G ZeusT12"

We are considering two mounting options:
A. Cabin bulkhead.
B. Under the Dodger on top of the cabin.

The boat is a Bristol 32' Sloop and the area available in the buikhead is limited. I am concerned about cutting too much strength out of the bulkhead and possibly causing stress cracks from the corners of the opening. I may be able to move the chartplotter opening 1" towards the companionway, but the clearance for the inside grab bar might be compromised.

There are two pictures attached one of a Tablet under the Dodger and the other of the opening in the bulkhead. The actual opening would be 1/4" less than shown. The blue tape is 3/4" wide. The inside of the tape is the exact dimension of the B&G Zeus T12.

Can someone advise if my concerns are legitimate or not?

Thank you.
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Old 23-01-2016, 16:49   #2
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Re: Cutting Cabin Bulkhead for Chartplotter

That's a huge hole for so little an area. You could make a shallow box to mount it in, with just the wiring going through the bulkhead, no.?! Just a thought! Or mount on a swing away like in left photo, that swings into the cabin. A little inconvenient to get in and out, totally movable, in all conditions!
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Old 23-01-2016, 17:24   #3
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Re: Cutting Cabin Bulkhead for Chartplotter

+1, that's a huge hole in the bulkhead!!

I'd go for a ram mount inside the companionway to swing it out when needed and away inside when not. This also prevents you from constantly unplugging and plugging in the connections to use it.
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Old 23-01-2016, 17:29   #4
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Re: Cutting Cabin Bulkhead for Chartplotter

Another consideration against the big hole: it's a very nice spot to lean against. We have our wind instrument there, and keep pushing buttons on it all the time...


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Old 23-01-2016, 17:36   #5
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Re: Cutting Cabin Bulkhead for Chartplotter

Quote:
Originally Posted by antoha View Post
Another consideration against the big hole: it's a very nice spot to lean against. We have our wind instrument there, and keep pushing buttons on it all the time...


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That too, our autopilot control is there and it's too easy to lean on it (incidentally guests seldom realize they've leans back and changed course by several degrees)


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Old 23-01-2016, 17:44   #6
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Re: Cutting Cabin Bulkhead for Chartplotter

How about an arm mount, so that the plotter hinges out into the companionway.

I would worry that your plotter is vulnerable to damage in the position you show.
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Old 23-01-2016, 18:50   #7
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Re: Cutting Cabin Bulkhead for Chartplotter

Speaking of: anyone have some sort of ram mounted instruments? I want to relocate our display(s) from the bulkhead (same location as OP's suggested cutout), have a plotter on a ram already, and space between the sliding hatch and the dodger is too tight. Any suggestions or photos would be great! Thank you.


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Old 23-01-2016, 18:53   #8
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Cutting Cabin Bulkhead for Chartplotter

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That's our setup. Kenyon no longer works, replacing with a raymarine. Depth display has no night mode anymore (old one died, replacement had some corrosion), so also planning to replace with a raymarine. Want to close up that mess and move all three somewhere. But where...
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Old 24-01-2016, 06:26   #9
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Re: Cutting Cabin Bulkhead for Chartplotter

OK, Bulkhead location is marginal.
1. Big hole in cabin. Questions about future devices and their dimensions.
2. Structural concern, cracks at corner.
3. Damage to the screen at that location? -Unknown.
4. Mounted too low for use and comfort while sitting on the seat, anyway.
5. Nice surface to lean against.
However it is a permanent installation out of the way of the companionway.

B&G Zeus 12 Touch is 9.84"h x 13.89"w x 3.29" thick (needs 5.31" at the bottom for connector clearance) and it weighs 8.3 lbs.

What swing arm would work? I am looking for a simple, solid and nicely manufactured solution. Suggestions that would be suitable for the T12 would be appreciated. Thanks.

It could also be located under the dodger.
1. Port side in a similar position to the tablet.
2. On the sliding companionway hatch. So we would pull the hatch forward to use it.
3. On a swing arm in the companionway.

Interested in the pros and cons of the three options above.
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Old 24-01-2016, 06:29   #10
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Re: Cutting Cabin Bulkhead for Chartplotter

I vote to mount it using a bracket under the dodger on the coachroof... better visibility... better protection from the elements... doesn't eff up the interior... doesn't block a seat on the cockpit... easier to operate the controls...

I can't think of a single good reason to cut a huge hole in the boat...

BTW I have a T7 and mount it under the dodger with a bracket in a winch and I remove it when not aboard or sailing!
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Old 24-01-2016, 08:06   #11
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Re: Cutting Cabin Bulkhead for Chartplotter

Sandero, that is encouraging.
Did you make your own bracket for the winch? (we don't have a winch.)
What kind of bracket do you use down below to store it?
Where are all the cables running to?
Do you disconnect the cables each time?
Is cable management a problem? Keeping them in place etc.

How do you like the T7 operation?
Sailsteer?
We will have a broadband radar attached too.
We have Seatalk tridata wind, speedo, converted to Nmea 0183.
Will need to get that into Nmea2000.

Thanks
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Old 24-01-2016, 08:14   #12
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Re: Cutting Cabin Bulkhead for Chartplotter

Re: Large holes

The old rule of thumb when cutting a large hole in something structural is that you replace as much material as you take away. In this case you would build up a reinforcing framework around the hole with epoxy/filler/fiberglass in as large a quantity as the material you cut away.

Personally I'd go with a swing out arm.
Or a long enough cable to enable you to easily move it to under the dodger and back in the cabin when no longer needed.
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Old 24-01-2016, 08:37   #13
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Re: Cutting Cabin Bulkhead for Chartplotter

sunlight visibility better under the dodger also. It's a poor place for that big an instrument. Boats flex more than you'd think. The area where the cabin meets the coaming is often an area that shows stress cracks after years. Les so in sailboats due to the deep hull, but common on flat bottom boats or powerboats.
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Old 24-01-2016, 08:39   #14
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Re: Cutting Cabin Bulkhead for Chartplotter

Quote:
Originally Posted by rgleason View Post
Mounting B&G ZeusT12"

We are considering two mounting options:
A. Cabin bulkhead.
B. Under the Dodger on top of the cabin.

The boat is a Bristol 32' Sloop and the area available in the buikhead is limited. I am concerned about cutting too much strength out of the bulkhead and possibly causing stress cracks from the corners of the opening. I may be able to move the chartplotter opening 1" towards the companionway, but the clearance for the inside grab bar might be compromised.

There are two pictures attached one of a Tablet under the Dodger and the other of the opening in the bulkhead. The actual opening would be 1/4" less than shown. The blue tape is 3/4" wide. The inside of the tape is the exact dimension of the B&G Zeus T12.

Can someone advise if my concerns are legitimate or not?

Thank you.
Your concerns are definitely legitimate. Not only is the hole very large proportionally to the bulkhead, and the bulkhead definitely structural, but the hole verges on the edge of the bulkhead, making the weakening all the worse.

I would not do this. Mount elswhere, as others have said, either in a navpod or similar mount, or else a swing out.
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Old 24-01-2016, 08:44   #15
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Re: Cutting Cabin Bulkhead for Chartplotter

If you do cut the hole, rounded corners are essential.

That's how you prevent stress cracks.
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