A question for the guys with walk arounds...

[Sam3]

Hi guys 

Catfish and I were talking yesterday about the best location for the GPS antenna on my walk around. The Garmin literature says the front of the boat is best. Either rail mounted or deck mounted.
Obviously I want it in the best location without getting banged up. An extension to get it higher up maybe?

Where is the location of your antenna and what do you think is the best location?

[IrishAyes]

Do you have a t-top?  If so, that would be the place to mount it.  If not, I would mount it any place that would put it out of harms way and as high as practical.  I wouldn't be too concerned with 'it should be in the front of the boat'.  As long as it has a clear sight line to the satellites, you should be fine.

[mboy]

Do you have a top or a tower?

It Def does not have to be in front of the boat.

I would say get yourself something like a shakespeare VHF nylon mount (can be had on ebay for $10 or so, a 2' extension pole and mount the antenna on top of pole (should have a pole mount or threads at the very least. Mount the mount onto the outside of your cabin fairly close to windshield (mount as high up as you can). You really want the antenna to clear the windshield if you can.
My father had his mounted like this, but without the higher extension pole. When the boat rocked in big seas, it would lose signal for a couple of seconds. You want to avoid that by mounting it higher.
He has a radar arch now, so it is on top of that.

You could also mount to a rail, but you still need to get it up failry high in case the boat rocks.

Easier to do mounting to side of cabin, near windshield and up high.

That being said, on my CC, I have it mounted to the top of the rail on my windshield which does just fine (since it is higher then anything else except VHF antenna.
I am mounting another GPS antenna/module for my NMEA 2000 network (little redundancy and my fuel flo doesn't accept my current nmea 0183 gps output.

I am mounting that flat on my dash knowing full well I could lose the signal on occasion.
Since it isn't my primary, I am not too concerend about it.

[Wreckfish]

I have mine on my T-Top.

[mboy]

I imagine he doesn't have a hard top (t-tops are on Center consoles) or an arch as it would be the REAL obvious choice.

[Sam3]

I have a bimini top. I have the connector on the left side of the cabin. I guess I could put a 2 ft extension on it and then the antenna on top of that. That would put above the side window and out of harms way.

[Luna Sea 5]

rail on either side of the counsol.  GPS, doesn't have to be HIGH, just clear with no obsticles.  The only thing that needs height is your radio antenna.

[mboy]

rail on either side of the counsol.  GPS, doesn't have to be HIGH, just clear with no obsticles.  The only thing that needs height is your radio antenna.

And when you rock to the side and a wave is higher then the antenna, you WILL lose the signal.

[Luna Sea 5]

they say the front of the boat  because that will be the most accurate when it comes to distance.  If you have it mounted on the back of the boat, and you have a 26 foot boat, the gps will say your over a spot, when actually your boat is 26 feet past the spot.

[mboy]

I have a bimini top. I have the connector on the left side of the cabin. I guess I could put a 2 ft extension on it and then the antenna on top of that. That would put above the side window and out of harms way.

And easy to get to for when you have to lower it (get a ratchet mount). You never know when you have to pull yourself in by hand under that bridge and every inch helps in that case

[Sam3]

I have a ratchet mount on both sides. One is for the 6ft VHF antenna and I just ordered a two extension for the GPS antenna on the other side.

Thanks for the help guys. 

[Reel Time]

 before you go putting holes to run wires, and what not,, try to just sticky tape it in the center of your dash, up close to the widshield and see how that works for you. guy who installed mine (built in antenna) says he puts them there all the time with no issues.
 
 and have seen them installed there on a couple boats. mine has a built in antenna and i got it mounted on a ram mount on my dash with no issues to date. just give it a shot and see what happens.

[IrishAyes]

Sam, it sounds like the plan you have will work just fine.  Go for it. 

[mboy]

I actually have a 4' extension to put on for my 3' VHF antenna.

Now I have to figure out how I am going to get a center consol cover on this year with it sticking all the way up.

Taking bimini off boat this year, so solved that problem easily.

[Hotrod]

I run my GPS on my dash under the T-top and get great reception,
When your on the water the sky isn't only above your top.

I'd test it there first like Greg said.

[Pops Soul]

I have had 2 different GPS units on my boat. I have a hard top on mine, and a canvas encloser for those cooler times. Both units my old was a Garmine and my new one a Lowrance both have build in antennas and work fine.