Pedestal mounted devices

[cuisto]

Have seen some mods where chart plotters, fish finders etc were mounted atop the pedestal, do main sheets or blocks not interfere or catch on the equipment? Would have thought a gust and a loose sheet could rip a plotter right off?

Any thoughts?

Have not yet rigged the mast or boom on my 99x so I seek advice, if this location is cool it seems a good spot for me. Scott

[wscottno]

I've had a compass mounted on top of the pedestal since 2000 with no problem. Also got a post fabbed to fit the mast support receiver and installed the mount for the Garmin GPS unit on it, slightly higher than the pedestal. Never a problem with it.

[Frank C]

Maybe different arrangements generate different answers. Those who have added a grab bar to the 26X pedestal might have less of a problem. It both raises the mainsheet attach point, and the grab bar provides protection for the electronics.

In my case, I was always detangling the mainsheet from my GPS. I also worried about guests grabbing for the most prominent physical grip when losing balance. I moved my electronics to a forward panel so all in the cockpit can take advantage of the information displays.
YMMV.

[Casey]

I have my compass on top of the pedestal. I also have a binacle table with a grab bar. I used a ball mounting bracket attaching my fish finder to the grab rail. It comes off and on easy. I have had not problems with line becoming tangled with it.

[galletas]

I've got a GPS chartplotter and a fishfinder, and I never had problems with the mainsail sheet.

[Don T]

Hello:
I opted for a clean pedestal. I have bags that snap to the lower front of the pedestal where I keep the gps and radio. There are power taps so they are running on ships power. My cockpit table sits on top of the pedestal and is removed for sailing. I like a clean cockpit to sail from. If I want to watch the gps I can pull it out of the bag and set it on the seat.

[Chuck Healey]

I did have my GPS ripped off the top of the pedestal by the the main sheet a couple of times. That's the main reason I installed a pedestal grab bar on my 99X. As Frank said, it does raise the main sheet attachment point. I have had no problems since.