No room for electronics!!

[Old No 7]

I have a 1988 17' Sunbird, with a 1989 88HP johnson. The dashboard is very small and the angle of the windshield is steep.<br /><br />I would like to mount my GPS and fish finder somewhere I can see them, but short of replacing the windshield with something that stands up straighter, I can't see any place to do it.<br /><br />This is my first boat, I've had it 1 year. Are there parts available for older boast like this? Do I need to make something? Am I crazy for trying?<br /><br />Thanks!

 

[vipzach]

Re: No room for electronics!!

No you are not crazy for trying. My dash wasn't really big enough for my fish finder and I didn't want it mounted up high because I didn't want it blocking my view at all. I made a little bracket out of metal that bent up around the bottom of the dash and attached it to that. It took a couple of times to get what I wanted, but it works well for me and nobody can see my ugly bent up metal. Good luck!

 

[bayman]

Re: No room for electronics!!

Depending on the type of boat and your fishing preferences and so forth, some people like to mount their fish finder away from the dash area. Some boats, for example, are built to fish from the transom and so some people put the fish finder close to the transom. That works just as well for people who have a kicker, a trolling motor, or a Remote Troll they are steering with from the transom area. There are so many setups when it comes to fishing one can hardly cover them all. Just remember that there are many options!

 

[Silvertip]

Re: No room for electronics!!

RAM has an electronics mount that consists of a ball and socket arrangement. The ball mounts on any surface that is vertical, horizontal or anything in between. A second ball mounts on the electronics bracket. An adjustable tube about six inches long has a socket at each end so the entire electronics (fish finder etc.,) can be swiveled or turned to most any angle to clear obstructions. Try iBoats.com or any sporting goods store has them. They are called RAM Mounts.

 

[DaveM]

Re: No room for electronics!!

Yup, what he said. The ball/socket arrangement can also be found at Cabela's.

 

[RatFish]

Re: No room for electronics!!

I just installed a fish finder using a RAM Mount. I had absolutely no room on my dash. I used the RAM-B-111 universal mount with the RAM-233 rail mount adapter. I mounted it to the windshield support post. Worked out great.

 

[Barlow]

Re: No room for electronics!!

one more RAM mount believer here..

 

[Old No 7]

Re: No room for electronics!!

Thanks everyone of the advice. I'm going to purchase a Ram mount for my GPS and for my fish finder. I sat in the boat last night and have it figured where to put them. The ball and socket design added a whole new dimension!<br /><br />Thanks!

 

[Old No 7]

Re: No room for electronics!!

Follow-up.<br /><br />I purchased a ram mount dedicated for my GPS and another dedicated for my fish finder. They are installed where I thought I had no space and work perfectly. <br /><br />Thanks everyone for your help. I now can enjoy my boat much more.<br /><br />Thanks!!!