We made a Starboard Garmin GPSMAP 740 chartplotter bracket - 2012

April 2012 - Marina Kona Kai Shelter Island San Diego, CA
Used the jig saw to cut edges.


It is time to fabricate the Garmin GPSMAP 740 chartplotter bracket. We found some ¾ Starboard that would work. Deciding to use the Starboard it made the fabrication a bit harder but in the long run the maintenance will be much easier. There is not any other teak on the binnacle as Debbie pointed out and our new cockpit table is Starboard . There is already plenty of teak in the cockpit.
 The Starboard is a bit of a pain to cut and so that was the first order of business.


In our shop (the garage at work) the Starboard was cut and shaped. I forgot the proper bit for the router but that was probably a good thing as one mistake would gouge out the Starboard. Instead it got sanded. 
 Now at the boat it was time to fit the hose brackets.
 This took some fitting because of the Garmin bracket need to fit in-between and space is tight.
Not bad. Still room for grabbing the rail at the top.

 Doing the fabrication on the fly usually takes some adjustments as this did.
This seems easy to reach from the wheel. Easy to see.
Put the covers on the top and bottom. Looks good.
Hand hold is easy to use.
Plenty of room for my hand.
Next we tried the Garmin GPSMAP 740 chartplotter facing up more.
Not as much room for the hand but still OK. Debbie in the back ground returning from work.
Hmmm, this will need some sailing to see which position is best. We do have choices which is always good.
Testing the wires for clearance.
Wires to route for the VHF  radio CPS\AIS setup.
Tried some routing but really need the radio. It is being shipped.
This Garmin GPSMAP 740 chartplotter setup does not block any views or make the cockpit any smaller. 
It is easy to see and easy to see around. This is what we are shooting for.

 I could have shaped the ends a little better to match the rail more. All in all it looks and seems to work good for now any way.
The Garmin GPSMAP 740 chartplotter is back in it's box for now.
We will put stainless steel screws in the three holes by the routing hole and then paint the binnacle.
Also we are going to add a couple drink holders over the old pod holes on port and starboard.

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