Swing Out Instrument Panel for Bayfield 25

My 1982 Bayfield 25’s previous owner custom built and installed a teak swing-out depth gauge on the B25 that was viewable from the cockpit.  At the dock, the depth gauge would swing into the cabin, when sailing, we would swing it into the companionway.  To avoid bumping or banging into it, we had to move it when entering or exiting the cabin. 

After I bought the boat I acquired a Lowrence handheld VHF-DSC radio I can use from the cockpit, so I mounted it next to the depth gauge.  I also added iNavix on my iPhone and I had a Delorme PN-40 handheld GPS. 

These instruments proved not safe when moving around the boat. We almost knocked the Delorme GPS overboard when going out of the cockpit to the foredeck.

I fixed it with a netbook/tablet RAM mount kit from GPScity.  

It swings to the cockpit, clear of the companionway, carries depth gauge (center), GPS, horn, iNavix on my iphone and my 10” Motorola Xoom Android tablet running MarinerMX.

I epoxyed a 2.5”X4”X.5” piece of teak above the door frame and screwed the RAM mount to the wood.  I can use my Motorola Xoom 10” tablet while it rests securely in the expandable, spring loaded, RAM tablet tray.

 

The RAM system swings into the cabin for security or when it is pouring rain, as it is want to do in the Pacific Northwest.

I made some final modifications, removing the obviously redundant Delorme GPS and adding a small cup on a RAM ball mount to hold the air horn. That cup will also hold a bottle of your favorite beverage. Now I use the previous owner’s custom shelf to hold binoculars.