Mounting Garmin Modules on the Back of a Drawer on a Regulator 23?

[Nepenthe]

Having a Garmin 3210 Bundle installed on a 23 Regulator and thought I would run an installer's suggestion by the group. On the console of the 23 Reg there is an option for a drawer in the footwell at the helm. The drawer folds out and is a nice dry storage area. The back of the drawer remains inside the console when pulled out and has about an 8-inch swing or so, I believe.

An electronics installer suggested mounting the Sounder and Network Connector on the back of the drawer, with the XM receiver fastened to the stationary port side of the console. He favors this location due to the limited cable runs and insists that despite the "mobile" location, it is a sound install. I'm very skeptical, but this installer comes highly recommended. Any thoughts? Thanks.

[sigfla]

Why not. As long as your drawer will still make the swing and not hit your batteries who cares? The back of that drawer is solid as hell and would make and easy platform to attach everything. It may not look neat from behind though. On my 26 I have my Furuno stuff all mounted along the sides of the console interior.

[Nepenthe]

From pictures of previous installs it looks very neat. The guy does clean and tidy work. My concern is that in opening and closing the drawer the cables are exposed to movement in order to accomodate the swing. This, in addition to the shock of closing the drawer and the fact that the drawer may vibrate a bit more while running
than the console, seems to raise the possibility that either the components or cabling may fail in the long run. I'm not sure about this of course. Am I being too conservative?

[sigfla]

Well, its your boat so I would only accept what you are happy with. I can tell you on my 26 that swing type drawer is very solid and has no shake at all to it. I don't think the extra weight on the back is going to be significant enough to cause any problems or vibration. I rarely use mine so it pretty much stays empty. With gear in the drawer bin it would weigh it down even more and dampen any potential vibration. If vibration is your concern I wouldn't worry. BTW I also have a 10' subwoofer mounted behind mine and it doesn't shake it either.

The extra cabling would have been my concern also but if it is done neatly, I again wouldn't worry. I have no idea what the Garmin components weigh or look like but if they are heavy you could put an extra bit of support into the drawer when it is open. I really doubt you are gonna have any problems though unless they are heavy and you are running flat out with the drawer open and bouncing.

[Bitefish]

It should be ok.

I mounted my sounder and GDL down load in the bottom cabinet of my console on my 2360 Sailfish. Its a decent location, stays dry (the sounder and GDL are rated sprayproof anyway) and was a nice solid location that was otherwise wasted space. I found a place inside the console for the network expander that had a nice "shelf" to it and mounted that there.

So far it all works fine.

[Nepenthe]

Good comments all, I appreciate the feedback.

[TunaBomber]

It will probably be fine as far as vibration etc. It just seems like it might be tough to keep the wiring looking nice and neat (will it chafe, etc?). Again it's your boat, accept only what you are comfortable with, I would just make sure you are both on the same page with the end result before any tools are involved. My boat is like sigfla's in that everything is on the sides of the console, I actually ran out of room and had to install my amp on some starboard blocks on the floor of the console.

[Nepenthe]

I had a look at a similar install on a 23 and it looks good. Very clean install, wiring neat and tucked away nicely. To me it's just odd to install any componentry on a location that moves, but then again, I'm don't do this for a living. I think I'll give this guy a go.