So the first thing installed is the Heading Sensor Garmin or Airmar H2183, they're both the same, just different prices. I installed it right by the alum fuel tank, which is pretty low and about on-center of the boat I can get w/o putting it in the middle of the companionway.
I built this self leveling radar mount, originally for the Simrad but had a change in sizes and mountings so it's a bit of a hack job w/o doing it over, and I don't have time, so it'll have to do. Also, I had to make a wedge to go under it due to the bad workmanship of the arch builder. So, begets the Ugly Duckling.
Here mounted atop of the arch along with the GPS antenna for the AIS (to be discussed later). The wires were a fun deal. The radar wires had to come from below and the GPS antenna wire from the top. The wires for the radar were 40' long. It's much easier to pull from below with a string.
And here with the dome mounted and wired up. I put a support strap from the pivot point, over the front and under to help stop the bouncing. I tried to make the saddle as rigid as possible with what I had but I guess it wasn't good enough. It was still like a spring.
And we now have AIS and extra VHF antenna's.
Part of the package was a Garmin 6208 MFD/plotter to run the radar and plotter in an overlay. Also the AIS was suppose to integrate in also but there are GPS antenna conflicts I need to solve first. Seems to be a software problem. Pictures to come later. The boat is over 600 miles away now. See new post "Passage to San Francisco".
Also added in a GMI 10, which was great for an electronic compass and keeping distance records.
The AIS is a Vesper XB-8000. Picture to come later.
The use of the Wifi to the iPad worked out really well. I was able to bring it up into the cockpit and check for contacts occasionally. I believe there is an alarm but haven't gone into the usage that well yet.
More to come as it progresses...............
