GPS in the Speedometer Hole???

[Ranman]

Has anyone seen a GPS that would replace your traditional speedometer. With such limited space in the 18, I think I would happily forego the speedometer for a mounted GPS. The GPS will give you your speed anyway, but the mapping would be incredibly helpful and I'm hoping the display is larger than my Garmin GPS III. Below is a pic of wht I'm talking about. Where do I find this???

http://images.traderonline.com/img/dealer/lake/LAKE469_3.jpg

[FARJR]

If you are talking about the square mount in between the round gages I believe that is a autopilot instrument or other type of digital readout looks very similiar to the instruments on my sailboat. Haven't heard of a GPS that would fit into a spot like that. Just got my westmarine catologe today and there was nothing like that in there. Also Raytheon didn't show anything either. Sounds like a great idea could be your next step to retirement. If I am wrong and come across anything I will let you know.

Have a great day! and don't get lost keep your maps for now

Frank

[boxy]

Hey Randy, is this what you are looking for, (sorry the picture isn't clear) I'm not sure if they make a smaller version.....

[boxy]

This pic is better than my first one. How much room do you have Randy ?
garmin gps (http://www.garmin.com/products/gpsmap178c/)

This one is about 6x5...

[Ranman]

I think the device in the pic I posted is not a GPS. I'm surprised that no one makes a GPS chartplotter unit that replaces your speedometer head. Maybe there would be no demand for it. Seems to me though if you had a full dash and no room for add'l electronics, it would be easy to pull the speedo head and install a GPS chartplotter in it's spot. The chartplotter would be round on the back and mount right in the existing hole and have a square face similar to or slightly larger than a handheld unit. You wouldn't need the speedo anymore since the GPS would handle it. Hell, they could even have a virtual speedo screen that displayes the reading in an analog format (like the analog verson of your PC clock).

Sounds like a cool idea to me... Oh well.

Anyway, during my search I found this which may be the way I'll go. The screens of the handhelds are just too small (2.2" x 1.5") for me and I have no room for a bigger unit. Maybe this would be a good compromise (3.5" screen).

Raymarine RC400 (http://www.raymarine.com/raymarine/ProductDetail.asp?site=1&section=2&page=774&product_id=1723)

[Last Tango]

Forward this thread to Livorsi Marine (no longer Gaffrig by Livorsi). Maybe they will make these. They are VERY progressive when it comes to this kind of stuff. Other possibility is to get your boat set up for the new Mercury instruments that are all digital. :cool!:

[Woodsy]

Randy...

Glad to hear you are feeling better.

Here is a pic of where I put the GPS on my Yellow 22. It actually looks and functions pretty well there and is out most of the weather. Its a Standard Horizon CP150 unit, that takes the C-Map chips. I wanted a chip based GPS for better accuracy when it comes to markers and buoys (you know Winni :eek: )

Anywa, it works great for me... I don't have a great shot, but if you want, I can take a better pic this weekend.

Tell Jenn Princess & I said hello! We miss you guys!

Woodsy Von Outboard

[Ranman]

Thanks for the well wishes Woodsy.

That spot is exactly where my Garmin GPS III is mounted. The problem is that on the 18 that area under the windshield is only big enough for a small handheld unit and is very hard to see. There's no way I could find that size unit under my W/S. Also, there is virtually no room on the dash. I'm trying to figure out how to get a slightly bigger screen in any location on the 18. I've even thought about a custom steering wheel with a GPS mounted in the center. Don't laugh, I've seen sleds with GPS's mounted flush in the handlebar pads and what not. I got the steering wheel idea from seeing TV's in the steering wheels of cars on MTV's Cribs. :pimp:

[Fish boy]

here is a gps speedo, but it does not have the mapping. Probably not what you want, but it will fit in the hole. I took this in a recent run in my fish boat LMAO.

Fish

[RickR]

My Garmin 76S has a slightly larger screen. The map is difficult to read in the pickup but works fine in the 22.
You can change the size of the data fields.
http://www.donzi.net/photos/rryan35gps.jpg

[IMG]http://www.donzi.net/photos/rryan63gps.jpg[IMG]