Running wires

Fishnut

Fishnut

Member
Jan 30, 2008
509
Bonita Springs, Florida
Boat Info
2006 240 Sundancer
Engines
5.0 Mercruiser with Bravo III Drive
I am putting a GPS antenna on the port side of my 240 DA. There is a good access panel under the steps to punch through the side of the boat. My plan is to run the wire through and along the bulkhead and they back through the bulkhead and up to the dask.

My question is where do you punch through the bulkhead into the engine compartment on the port side.

It would be nice to do this project without recking something else.
 
I just screwed mine on under the windshield just in front of the helm and its been working great. Works through glass in a car why not in a boat?
 
Sorrento 25 said:
I just screwed mine on under the windshield just in front of the helm and its been working great. Works through glass in a car why not in a boat?
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That is my second choice. I just didn't want it on the dash; that's just me. I got the idea from the searay website. If you look very carefully at the interior pictures of the refreshment table; right behind it there is the GPS set up. My thought is to use a ratchet; same as the vhf antenna and then put a short extension with the gps cone and receiver mounted on top.

I think it will be a nice installation. If I can't get a clean shot through the bulkhead then I will mount it on the dash.
 
So you don't want to drill a hole in the dash but you'll drill one in the side of the hull? Skip all that work and mount it on top of the dash.






DSCN0762.jpg
on
 
If you have not already bought a GPS, why not use a model with an internal antenna since you have an open cockpit? An internal antenna is in no worse a position than the above picture of the antenna on the dash; plus the installation is so much easier.

John
 
The one I bought has an internal antenna but I am flush mounting it and assumed that the reception would be negatively impacted. During the summer heat I usually keep the top up, does that have a negative impact on reception?

BTW, jg300da, your install looks great. :thumbsup:
 
Fishnut said:
The one I bought has an internal antenna but I am flush mounting it and assumed that the reception would be negatively impacted. During the summer heat I usually keep the top up, does that have a negative impact on reception?

BTW, jg300da, your install looks great. :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

It should be ok. I'd try it out first and see how well the reception is.
 
I guess I should not comment too heavily as I do not have a GPS on the Sea Ray but I do have a Lowrance GPS/fishfinder with an internal antenna on the pontoon boat. I have a canvas bimini that stays up almost all the time and I have had not reception issues at all. My Sea Ray only has a canvas top so I doubt it will interfere with reception either.

I was reading your thread because very soon I am mounting a GPS/fishfinder to the searay, probably the garmin 535s so I was also curious about mounting options.

John
 
Mounted mine on the flat panel forward of the instrument panel and aft of the windshield. Its about the size of a hockey puck and have never had a problem.
 
Fishnut said:
The one I bought has an internal antenna but I am flush mounting it and assumed that the reception would be negatively impacted. During the summer heat I usually keep the top up, does that have a negative impact on reception?

BTW, jg300da, your install looks great. :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

The canvas and windshield are transparent to the antenna. No reception issues. Just be careful if you are thinking of buying a unit with an internal antenna, those cannot be flush mounted.
 
jg300da said:
The canvas and windshield are transparent to the antenna. No reception issues. Just be careful if you are thinking of buying a unit with an internal antenna, those cannot be flush mounted.
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There you guys go confusing me again. I am flush mounting mine and I guess I understood that I needed an external antenna. I have the wall access apart and I think I have located a place to drill through the bulk head. I have a few hoses and wires to account for and then it's drill away. I have one hose that has befuddled me. It looks like a gas hose that is connected to the refreshment table. Really strange.
 
I had my Garmin 545s flush mounted and it uses the internal antenna.
 
My bad. Should have written "some manufacturers" cannot be flush mounted. I got that info direct from the Raymarine rep at the NYC boatshow before I purchased my unit.
 
jg300da said:
My bad. Should have written "some manufacturers" cannot be flush mounted. I got that info direct from the Raymarine rep at the NYC boatshow before I purchased my unit.
Click to expand...

Okay, so I'm still on trial and error. I will take a picture of this hose, it doesn't make any sense, it's kind of like the hose to nowhere.
 
If that is a black hose you might find that it is there as a "conduit" for future wiring needs. If it is clear (and small) it is a water drain into the bilge for the stereo speakers. I beleive there is also a drain on the pivot assembly for the refreshment table.
 
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240da said:
If that is a black hose you might find that it is there as a "conduit" for future wiring needs. If it is clear (and small) it is a water drain into the bilge for the stereo speakers. I beleive there is also a drain on the pivot assembly for the refreshment table.
Click to expand...

It's a black hose but if there is a drain for the pivot assembly then that is what it is.

I didn't think they put in any "conduits" but you have my interest and will be looking hard now. On the bulkhead there is all the sound foam so I am hoping to find something on the other side. I see where they went through and filled with silicone. That doesn't look like a very fruitful area.
 
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