New GPS install

Alaska Mike · 10-04-2009, 01:49 PM

Just finished installing a 640 Garmin on one of my Ultra's....I like the way it came out, so I'll likely put another one on the other boat. I took the marine bracket it came with and unscrewed the four bolts holding the bracket together, then made a backing plate and bolted it to the glove box cover and wired it to the battery and VHF radio....now I have full DSC capability on the VHF. I acquired a TIG welder and will be working on touring racks for both boats this winter as we're planning on some extended PWC touring around southeast Alaska next summer; I'll keep watching everyone else's projects and steal your best ideas! Thanks!

Beeneverywhere · 10-05-2009, 12:03 AM

thats pretty sweet i just bought a 2008 rxt-x I thought about a gps but just bought a handheld instead

akdperry · 10-05-2009, 12:33 AM

nice setup Mike!

t.zelazny · 10-05-2009, 08:57 AM

Very nice indeed, would work good for snowmobiling also. I checked it out on Garmin's site, too bad it is very expensive.

wetwillieVA · 10-08-2009, 07:37 PM

Very nice, clean installation! Noticed you had Bluechart loaded--sweet!

BTW, where did you mount your antenna? Portable mount? Make/model VHF?

Alaska Mike · 10-09-2009, 10:51 PM

I used the Standard Horizon PS-1000 radio (no longer in production, I think...) and mounted the black box inside the front tub....ran the handset up through to the handlebars and mounted the antenna on the starboard front side. I used a Lift 'n Lay mount and can drop the antenna to put my cover on. Here's some pics.

jay2a8 · 11-01-2009, 11:07 PM

I do a lot of riding on Lake Superior with some trips being 2-3 days. I use a Garmin 76CSX. I wired it in to the battery and mounted it the same as you did. I've used it for the last four years and it works great.

I'm looking to upgrade it to the GPSMAP 441 as I plan to circumnavigate Lake Superior next year and want a second GPS. I like your radio setup!

Alaska Mike · 11-04-2009, 02:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jay2a8

I'm looking to upgrade it to the GPSMAP 441 as I plan to circumnavigate Lake Superior next year and want a second GPS. I like your radio setup!

Awesome sounding trip! It must be over 1000 miles! Are you going solo or with a group? Touring is high on my "to do" list, in fact, we talked about doing the alphabet with island circumnavigations; I looked at the list of islands here in southeast Alaska and we can do about every letter in the alphabet except "X". We circumnavigated Admiralty Island summer before last with five skis and a chase boat. Also had friends make the trip from Seattle to Haines (wish I could've gone on that one!). We're going to try Chichagof Island, possibly next summer if I can make the time. Let us know how it goes! Mike

jay2a8 · 11-07-2009, 12:04 PM

The trip will be about 1,300 miles. I plan on 10 days so I can take my time and explore. It also gives me a day built in should I have bad weather. I'm going to take your idea about installing a radio and do the same thing. I've always carried a portable but having a normal radio is a good backup plan.

Wish I could go to Alaska and explore with you. I can only imagine the cost of shipping my jet ski there! Ride Safe.

Alaska Mike · 01-17-2010, 01:25 AM

Here's what our touring racks are looking like....this one is tack-welded together and I think we're ready to finish welding and installing the brackets on the transom. We simply clamped the rack to the tow bitt and the lower grab handle, then will be bolting some 60 degree stainless fittings on the transom. We used about 40' of 1" stainless tubing and have 'compartments' on both port/starboard for gas cans and the larger opening for coolers/gear, etc. We're pretty happy with them and can't wait to try 'em out on the water!