Helm View...

Garmin 2010C on my 38 Formula. Built the housing out of plexiglas. 2 screws into some nylon inserts, and it wedges itself into place. Cord runs under the dash - you can just see a couple inches of it on the left lower corner.:

Top view:

Very nice and clean Chuck.

Wow, both of those installs are clean!

C_Spray - that looks awesome! You should build those suckers and sell em!

Helm view:

Thanks. It took quite a while, lots of cardboard prototypes and several months of head-scratching, but I am very pleased with it. It doesn't get in the way or block my vision at all, and it's not too far to reach. You can brace yourself on the cabin door if you have to operate it while you're running. It held up without cracking all summer last year, too. (Yea!) The Garmin is an awesome unit - worth every cent.

But if you knew how long I spent learning to bend and glue plexiglas, and then how many times I had to trim the bottom edge, I'd never make any money. Although (now that I think of it) I DO have a pattern now...

I think I got trumped again. :D

I just did not want to drill up my boat. This worked well, and I can leave it or yank it come time to sell.

Yeah, I hear ya... But now that you do have a pattern, how about fabricating it out of thin aluminum sheet, say 1/8"? This way it can be bent manually or mechanically - vs. heated to bend - and then have it powder coated (or painted ) and you're good to go.

I have actually been thru that "prototype" process with a pipe bending tool, MANY friggin hours and skinned knuckles, but it is ready for the patent office! I also just completed "prototype #1" for the second of two boating related items that is soon to be heading to patent as well. This one only took me 10 hours to build from scratch out of aluminum stock, and I only cut myself once - that has to be a record!:D Although the drawings and models took me a whole lot longer.

Sydwayz - your's is cool too!;) You get the "put brain in gear before pulling out the drill" award. Nice and clean, and easy to handle when you move up to that new 353!?:eek:

Ckuck,
Lube yours up with release agent and use it for a plug, make a mold, then make them out of fiberglass.

I know what you mean about working with plexi, I did something very similar ONCE.;)