electronics

[bigmall]

I was wondering if someone that owns a 215cc would be so kind as to post
pictures of how they have their electronics arranged in their console. I have
recently purchased a 215cc but have not taken delivery of the boat. I have purchased a VHF radio however and now I'm thinking I should see how some
others have configured their consoles before I buy anything else.

Thanks
Jamaal

[NCangler]

Great question Jamaal. I will be picking up my 215 in a few weeks and need to order electronics too. I wish there was room in the console for one of the new Raymarine or Lowrance 12.1" multi-displays but I think the console would only handle about a 7" display. There is a new insert for the console I think that allows you to mount electronics flush and still be able to close and lock the cover. But I need to confirm this. I'd love to have a multi-function display to handle GPS, fishfinder, radar, chartplotter all in one display. That with a VHF radio mounted beside it would be pretty cool. OspreyVic did a nice job of getting a lot of gear in his console but I'd like to keep the lockable console if possible (see his article on modifications). I look forward to input from other 210/215 owners with photos.

[OspreyVic]

Randy, as with most things in life, we have plusses and minuses.

On the plus side, the big screens are much easier for me to see without glasses. Under normal fishing configuration, I split the C120 into GPS on one side and Radar on the other. The other screen is dedicated to the fish finder. In addition, the fish finder display is also my backup GPS. So we have two GPS screens, compass, radar, VHF and a hand held VHF as a backup.

Safety and redundancy go hand in hand, especially when away from land.

On the minus side, when wife and I can start traveling a little with our boat, we are going to be removing the large electronics at night for security purposes. With the Raymarine equipment, that is not very hard or time consuming. With our boat stored in the garage, we do not have that worry.

[NCangler]

I would really like the Raymarine 12.1" display! I need to get by Merritt Marine and see the flush mount insert. Maybe there is a way to modify it to accomodate the larger electronics, then remove them at night and still be able to keep the cover. I am glad to hear that the Raymarine gear is easy to remove cause I would be doing that for sure. Still undecided....of course I still have a practically brand new Furuno color display fish finder that I haven't sold so I could always stick with that and and navigation/GPS/radar in a smaller display. Decisons, decisions....

[bigmall]

Thanks for the replies.

I checked out Osprey's modification post and it looks like someone has a fair amount of spare time and money! One question Osprey, did your 210 have the clear plastic shield over the console? The 215 has this shield and unless it is removed the set-up you have on your boat wouldn't work. I have been on a couple-three 215's and it looks like this shield would really limit what a person could do in that area.

I am thinking about a Humminbird 987c. It has a 7" screen, has the capability of being flush mounted and does just about everything I would need.

I'm anxious to see what others have done with their boats because I have money burning a hole in my pocket, but don't want to buy things I can't use.

[OspreyVic]

Bigmall, you are correct.

I retired in November 2004, so when we got the boat home for the first time in April 2005, I had the time to devote to her. My family wanted a boat for years, so if you read the fist article, you know that we spent years finding the boat that was right for us. We built the home we live in, our retirement home, with a garage for our boat in 2002.

The boat had the console cover you mention. It is in my attic now, just in case we need it in the future. We went with the larger electronics because as I get older, my eyes are just not as good as they used to be. I have been without a boat for about 40 years, and this will be our last boat. The 2006 215 with the bow pulpit would not fit in our garage, we are not going to a smaller boat, and for sure we will not start polishing a glass boat. We figure we can replace engines as needed, upgrade electronics as needed, and our trailer should last as long as the boat.

This boat was my retirement dream. While I enjoy fishing, the wife and I also enjoy exploring the area we live in from the water. The Raymarine electronics in the console are easy to remove, so when we start traveling with our boat, it will be easy to move them under lock and key for the night. Sometimes we tend to forget that locks are for honest people. If someone really wants what you have, you had better stay awake guarding it.

[FinAddict]

Hey guys. I have the Raymarine C80 and find the display is defintely large enough, even though I have to ask others at lunch to read the amount on the credit card slip for me. I have left the locking cover on and mounted the C80 display on top. I figured at close to 2 grand for the display I wasn't going to leave it on the boat no matter what. It is very easy to demount and I just pull it when I park the boat. I placed the VHF inside the locking console and that leaves lots of room for miscellaneous clutter and a pair of 7X50 glasses to spot with.

I had looked at the C120, but, it wouldn't fit inside with the cover left in place and once I settled on a top mount I was afraid I wouldn't be able to see over it. My 210 has a leaning post and I stand when I drive so I can see over the C80 fine. My wife, however, is vertically challenged (4'-10 1/2") so she doesn't like it too much. What the heck, I like to drive anyway.

[NCangler]

Hey FinAddict. Thanks for posting. Do you have any pictures you could attach? I'd love to see the C80 in your setup.

[FinAddict]

Sorry, but I don't have a picture of the console (don't have any pictures of the boat at all except for a crappy one I took with my cell phone when I picked it up). The boat is currently in storage but I am picking it up to take it to the dealer for warranty service this weekend. I'll try to remember to grab the display, mount it and take a picture before I drop the boat at the dealer. Look for something next week.

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