Been planning on buying a sailboat for some time and finally have.. now time to determine how to go about installing the Rangemaster on it..
My initial thoughts is to mount it in the cockpit in the back near where the outboard engine is so I can run the ground out one of the two little holes are which are there to allow any water to drain out if it should happen to enter the area.. and simply make the water the ground(?)
I don't have any pics on hand, but here are a couple from the same model boat that I found on the internet to illustrate what I mean..
Inside cockpit:
from the outside:
I know it looks like water would be coming in that hole, but two weeks ago traveled 80 miles over a day and a half, and not once did any water enter the cockpit.. however the ocean was calm down the intracoastal waterway during my trip.
Now the engine will be hanging in the transom, but I don't see how that would be making any difference. at least I don't think it makes any difference unless it's running.
Now the engine is a Honda 9.9 and it's manual, so it's not even connected to the battery at all except for a removable cord for charging the battery if it's running. the battery is simply used to power my running lights and interior lights. So the transmitter will be powered by 12v DC.
I'm probally going to elimate all my hardware proccessing gear and to doing it all on the laptop with software proccessing. - I haven't really figured it all out yet.
I've thought about having the transmitter grounded to one of the keel bolts inside, with the transmitter still mounted outside by the companionway door, but that would mean several feet run of ground lead.
Any advice any one? Particuarly Ken Norris, cause i think you have experience with the same situation.
If any one is interested I put a video up of the trip. but we didn't sail, none of us knew how to, so we motored the entire way! But I'll be learning to sail soon enough.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVp2D9p5vug