Mounting Electronics W/O drilling Holes?

[rrhodes]

I am using a handheld Etrex legend GPS on my toon. I purchased the Marine mount but I am not quite ready to drill 3 holes in my console yet... I am sure I will be changing to a larger GPS later on.

Have any of you found adhesives that actually work?

 

[This_lil_fishy]

Re: Mounting Electronics W/O drilling Holes?

Any adhesive you use that actually works, will leave an unrepairable mark on the console..so yer no further ahead. GE-4200 silicon may work well, but is semi-permant. GE-5200 silicon will work, but is permanent.

Ian

 

[marine4003]

Re: Mounting Electronics W/O drilling Holes?

I have found heavy duty Velcro to work well, i bought the strips at lowes for my speedypass unit...then used it for the handheld vhf backup unit...both worked well with no peel-off yet.dont use glue or silicone as it will be harder to remove and you'll wish you did drill holes instead.

 

[rrhodes]

Re: Mounting Electronics W/O drilling Holes?

I will give the velcro a shot. If that doesn't work I will just drill the holes..

 

[Expidia]

Re: Mounting Electronics W/O drilling Holes?

There are also other alternatives. One can use a Ram or simialr mount:

http://www.ram-mount.com/NewProducts/TripleSuctionCup/tabid/1650/Default.aspx

Scroll down to other pics of the mounts. Has 3 suction cups and can stick on a windshield or smooth console. I can't tell if you have a windshield in your boat pic, but there are also gimbal type mounts that clamp to a side railing for your GPS.

Then once you permanently decide to mount a GPS you can always use the suction mount or rail mount for another device down the road.

Anyway, If you go the drill holes route, it's only the first one that hurts

Oops, I didn't notice that you said you had a handheld now. There are small suction mounts for those too or you could go with the first stlye I linked too now and that would hold a full sized GPS later on.

I use a Humminbird combo GPS because I press one button and all the wires are left behind and I keep it in a locker when I leave the boat say to eat at a restaurant while docked or in my trunk when I'm done boating for the day. Better than having it stolen.

 

[Rocky_Road]

Re: Mounting Electronics W/O drilling Holes?

I took my helm cupholder, to a local woodworking shop...and had a solid piece of wood 'turned' to fit inside. Mounted my bracket to the wood...and I can use the cup holder for both adult beverages, and depth finder!

 

[Expidia]

Re: Mounting Electronics W/O drilling Holes?

Very inventive Rocky!

After seeing how you used a cup holder it reminded me that I still had several of these devices made by Belkin. Called an Ipod Tune Dock in a box in my basement. I used to use them in my autos for my ipod before I switched over to Sirius.

These are several years old and are probably real cheap on Ebay now and would work well for handheld GPS's too!

I was going to sell them in a garage sale, but now I'm keeping them since you made me realize that they will come in handy to hold other devices in the boat down the road.

 

[Mike Robinson]

Re: Mounting Electronics W/O drilling Holes?

I like the cupholder idea! Personally I would drill holes, it's both secure and easy to remove that way and if you are going to change gps's in the future the new mounting bracket should cover the old holes.

You could consider using a nice piece of wood as a large mounting plate for your electronics then if you have to change things that would leave insightly holes you can replace the wood.

 

[David Greer]

Re: Mounting Electronics W/O drilling Holes?

suction cup devices really don't hold all that well after time or when things get rough, so I wouldn't use them for something you wouldn't drop on the floor. I use them for lures, sunglasses, etc and a small one for a cell phone up inthe corner of the dash.
If you put a depth finder in a cup holder will it tell you how much beer you have left in the can? Awesome!

 

[ziggy]

Re: Mounting Electronics W/O drilling Holes?

good cup holder ideas. cool.

i like the stick on velcro i got from the hardware store. .. it also works well.

well enough that i've no intention of drilling holes in my boat..

 

[CaptNCamille]

Re: Mounting Electronics W/O drilling Holes?

I used the industrial velcro to mount the fire extinguisher in the spot cut out for the extinguisher near the driver's seat. I did it at the begining of last season and it held firmly, no problems.

That should definitely work well enough for a GPS or hand held VHF.