My boat is on a trailer, and is staying that way.The boat is in my driveway, near the garage at the end, so it is about 75' off the road. ONly 1 week out of the year will it be on a mooring, that is on Vacation in the Cape in a secluded back bay. Should I flush mount into the console, or not? I am deffinately flush mounting th VHF, but I have a new color chartplotter, and color ff. Thanks.

My boat is ina similar situation and my electronicsw are not flush mounted. However, I lock them up when I leave the boat.

My boat is on a trailer, and is staying that way.The boat is in my driveway, near the garage at the end, so it is about 75' off the road. ONly 1 week out of the year will it be on a mooring, that is on Vacation in the Cape in a secluded back bay. Should I flush mount into the console, or not? I am deffinately flush mounting th VHF, but I have a new color chartplotter, and color ff. Thanks.
I wouldent, what they cant steal they will break out of anger, I would sleep better knowing my stuff was in a bag in the house, they have so many nice quick disconnect now.

I have been having the same dilema, although I keep my boat on a slip year round. On my old boat I had no room to flush mount the GPS, so I didn't even think about it. On this boat I have a nice big space, but I don't think I will.

don't forget leaving them out in below freezing temps in the winter isn't the best for them.
i'd rather have them removeable.

Freezing temps are no problem for any electronics, think of all the yachts on the hard and wrapped up for the winter. they all have all their electronics in them. What I do for customers who want flush mounted equipment but can;t secure them is build a panel that they are all f mounted to and make make everything able to unplug at the panel. You secure the panel with about 10 screws, and when the season is over, you just unbolt and unplug it and put it inside. Anyone can make a panel like this themselves. I usually use these 20 pin plugs and make a nice little harness.

don't forget the little 3v back up batteries inside.
batteries+below freezing{-zero}temps= not the best.

don't forget the little 3v back up batteries inside.
batteries+below freezing{-zero}temps= not the best.


You mean the lithium Ion batteries, we replace them about once every 3 years, they should last about 6 so in that respect your right, it cuts the life to half, but the electronis are fine. For you guys who will need to replace them, the cheapest place is digikey. I even have the conversion part numbers somewhere so if anyone ever has to replace one and cannot figure out which one just let me know.

What they can't see they wont steal.I prefer not to temp them so I remove and lock up in console.Flush mounted certainlylooks better, but not when you show up to a gaping hole in your console.:rocketem:

I'd do whatever you like more. If they want them, they will get them. I come from the high trust side of the spectrum. Never lock anything. My keys are usually on the floor of my car when I am out in the boat. The boat keys used to be in the ignition of the boat ALL the time. But since I have a new motor this year, I might re-think that idea. The only problem I had last year was I didn't lock my sailboat and someone releaved themself in the head. Not a pretty day in august for me. I've never had any other problems though.

I am suprised some plastics company has'nt come out with a kit so that you can flush mount but take the unit out in seconds,kind of like the old Benzi boxes for car stereos. Any way I flush mounted the VHF, and yesterday installed the FF on top of the console. GPS is next...