Laying an MFD flat in Cockpit

[Scrabble]

I am replacing a 7in MFD that is mounted on an arch in front of the wheel. As I will replace it with a 12in screen, I want to position it on the pedestal (a slightly raked platform. It will mean repositioning the compass etc but it will ensure I don’t end up with a bloody great screen in my face! My question is: what are your thoughts on mounting an MFD almost flat in an exposed area. I assume the biggest issue will be sunlight reflection?

Hopefully the attachments will work!

[pcmm]

I would not lay it flat, It will be harder to read. I would instead to what I did. Redesign the top of the pedestal. Looks like you have a box already. I originally had a Binnacle compass, and a fairly traditional pod type arangement on struts. I got fed up of it getting in the way and built a new pod for the pedestal that integrated into the rest of the pedestal. As my compass needed a rebuild anyway the repair shop converted it to deck mount for me also. This setup will have switches on the wing to the left, Speed and Depth in the 2 vertical holes on the left. A 9 inch Axiom in the middle and Wind over AP in the vertical holes on the right.

Its a bit of a journey to make it look like this. Started with a lot of thinking, some CAD (Cardboard aided Design) then a MFD plug, then molds and then the final part in 2 pieces that then needed to be glassed together and grafted onto the original pedestal.

You can see the new and old pedestals in the images

[Scrabble]

That’s a nice upgrade.

Originally Posted by pcmm

I would not lay it flat, It will be harder to read. I would instead to what I did. Redesign the top of the pedestal. Looks like you have a box already. I originally had a Binnacle compass, and a fairly traditional pod type arangement on struts. I got fed up of it getting in the way and built a new pod for the pedestal that integrated into the rest of the pedestal. As my compass needed a rebuild anyway the repair shop converted it to deck mount for me also. This setup will have switches on the wing to the left, Speed and Depth in the 2 vertical holes on the left. A 9 inch Axiom in the middle and Wind over AP in the vertical holes on the right.

Its a bit of a journey to make it look like this. Started with a lot of thinking, some CAD (Cardboard aided Design) then a MFD plug, then molds and then the final part in 2 pieces that then needed to be glassed together and grafted onto the original pedestal.

You can see the new and old pedestals in the images

[pcmm]

Originally Posted by Scrabble

That’s a nice upgrade.

Thanks. There is a few weeks of evenings with cardboard in front of all of that to figure out roughly want I wanted. your Pedestal looks like it could easily take a mod like mine. Its already got a screw on lid and the compass looks convertable to deck mount. I would think a box with an angled front to take the plotter and instuments and the compass on top. Something like this: