binnacle cover

[Russ]

Do you have a binnacle cover and if you do what do you use?

I was thinking of just a bag over it.

[kmclemore]

We do. We had it made in a matching blue cloth to our Bimini and sail cover. I’ll see if I can get few photos of it tomorrow.

[OverEasy]

Hi Russ!

The one that came with Over Easy must have been installed by maybe the original PO.
It’s installation wasn’t done very well and it really appeared to have leaked from day one.
The internal light was never connected either.

That said, it looks like it originally had a somewhat integral plastic cover at one time or other.
I was chasing down a replacement cover but eventually moved on to other things in our early days with Over Easy.

I removed the Binnacle and cleaned it up but never reinstalled it as we really didn’t need it all that much given our chart plotter(s) do all the heavy lifting. Back stop to those are our cell phones or iPad for any supplemental navigation or compass functions.
So we taped over the hole in the cockpit bulkhead where it had been located.
(We’re considering utilizing that hole as the electrical plug receptacle interface when we get back to finalizing our shore power system or for an AC compressor cooling air inlet port.)

Best Regards
Over Easy

[kmclemore]

Russ, here are photos of mine. It was custom made and works great. It’s made of Sunbrella. It covers the wheel and our Standard Horizon GPS, and has a velcro flap to accommodate the mast support post or if you leave the mainsheet attached. The bottom has 4 snaps to hold it down, and there’s a sturdy plastic zipper to pull it tight around the binnacle.

[Russ]

Russ, here are photos of mine. It was custom made and works great.

That looks great. I have never had a cover. Not sure why I need one other than it seems like that stuff should not be in the weather.

I'll have to look for what's available online.

[kmclemore]

Russ, here are photos of mine. It was custom made and works great.

That looks great. I have never had a cover. Not sure why I need one other than it seems like that stuff should not be in the weather.

I'll have to look for what's available online.

I got the cover because it keeps the binnacle free from sunlight (it damages GPS screens over time), bird poop, spiders, and potential leaks resulting from hard rain. It really wasn't that expensive to have made. Perhaps a local canvas guy can give you a quote based on looking at mine? Not sure you're gonna find a good-fitting cover online, but let me know if you do!

[NiceAft]

I was told to have a cover because of the screen also.

On my 2005 it has a zipper up the port side, and an elastic bottom.

[Russ]

I got the cover because it keeps the binnacle free from sunlight (it damages GPS screens over time), bird poop, spiders, and potential leaks resulting from hard rain. It really wasn't that expensive to have made. Perhaps a local canvas guy can give you a quote based on looking at mine? Not sure you're gonna find a good-fitting cover online, but let me know if you do!

That's what I was thinking. Keeping bugs and rain out of there seems prudent. My tach is all faded from the weather. Wish I had it protected.
I take the chartplotter off every time. Mine has a quick disconnect that allows for easy removal with just snap.

[kmclemore]

Actually, Russ, I forgot that you had an M… so yeah, you’d be looking for something more like Ray’s.