Mounting GPS on pedestal - cable management

[red_sky_at_night]

I just got a chartplotter and plan to mount on the pedestal, but am wondering what to do with the cables. The cables on my GPS come out the back of the unit, with no way to run them through the swivel mount, leaving them exposed. I have seen some references to navpods, but starting at $250 -- ouch! I was thinking of running the cables through a hole on the port side of the pedestal (with a 1/2" wiring grommet) with enough slack so that there's a bit of a loop hanging below the hole for water to run off, then sealing with some clear caulking, but the dangling wires might be a bit unsightly. What are others doing for cable management?

Thanks!

[c130king]

I drilled a hole in top of my pedastal and used a "metal grommet" to protect the power cable coming through the hole...but I can't remember where I got the "metal grommet"...maybe it came with my Garmin 478 but I am not sure.





As you can see I used a cutting board to mount things to my pedastal. Just two bolts (and holes in the pedastal) to mount the board. Then everything else (GPS mount, compass mount) were mounted to the board reducing the number of holes in my pedastal. There is a third hole for the GPS power cable.

However, I just installed an S1 Wheel Pilot and I cut a fourth hole (1" hole) to run the "Sea Talk" cable through. Mounted the S1 control head on a "box" to keep from drilling a 3.58" hole in my pedastal.

Good Luck,
Jim

On Edit: After searching West Marine I think this is the thing I used for the cable guide: Cable Guide

[red_sky_at_night]

Thanks Jim! Helpful to see the pictures. The cutting board is a good idea. No issues with water traveling down the cable into the pedestal during a rain? Do you detach your Garmin when leaving the boat?

[c130king]

When it rains I have the bimini up and it is covered. When the boat is trailered I have a cockpit cover and it is covered. So no water. It is a very tight fit. It has gotten wet and no problems.

I do remove the GPS every time I leave the boat...I use it in my car over here in the UK. The Garmin 478 "goes both ways"...primarily a maritime chartplotter with built in US Coastal Marine Charts plus it is doubles as a automotive GPS (aka SatNav over here in the UK)...but I did have to shell out $279 for the European Road Maps but I have definitely used it over here in multiple countries and it works great.

When I get back to the U.S. it will become full time for the boat and I will buy a dedicated GPS for the car.

Jim

[Rick Westlake]

I chose instead to drill the exit hole out of the side of my pedestal, and put a small "clamshell vent" over it to keep out the rain. The cables "drop down" out of the vent, so there's no water intrusion there. I also installed a rubber anti-chafing grommet in the exit-hole before I ran the cables; and I bundled the cables with spiral wrap to keep them together (my convenience) and to provide some extra protection to them.

My GPS is on a "RAM-mount" with the ball mounted atop the pedestal. Since Bossa Nova is a 26X, I have to leave room for the mast-crutch pole; I also have my compass mounted on the pedestal (due to previous-owner's speakers on either side of the companionway - speakers which I use with an MP3 player and amplifier, so I'm not interested in moving them).

The RAM-mount arm stows belowdecks with the GPS, when I leave the boat. Works for me....

[Russ]

This is how mine is connected. Cables go through a "vent" in the top of the ped. The GPS has a connector with a cap that I let hang down (to let water run off) when I take it off.

click to enlarge

[red_sky_at_night]

Perfect, exactly the info I needed. I see that westmarine has those clam shell covers. Thanks!

[Rick Westlake]

This is how mine is connected. Cables go through a "vent" in the top of the ped. The GPS has a connector with a cap that I let hang down (to let water run off) when I take it off.

click to enlarge

... Water intrusion?

[Highlander]

here's what I used from W/M

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee20 ... 010003.jpg

J

[Russ]

This is how mine is connected. Cables go through a "vent" in the top of the ped. The GPS has a connector with a cap that I let hang down (to let water run off) when I take it off.

click to enlarge

... Water intrusion?

It was installed by the dealer and I believe they shot some caulk in there. It's left out like that and I've never seen a drop come in.