www.iFourWinns.com

So I'm getting the bug to install a bigger TV. The little 15" screen over the sink may not be good enough.
Choice 1:
Can I squeeze a larger screen in the same spot? Maybe a 19" with a movable bracket so all the doors still work. This would be the easiest but is it enough improvemnt? Will it really fit?

Choice 2:
The traditional spot, next to the stairs on the bulkhead. Should be able to get a 26" on there, maybe even a little bigger. How do I mount it, can I get at the back of the bulkhead from the helm? How tough is it to run the TV cable there? What about DVD, to I reuse the unit in the electrical panel or buy a TV with a DVD. Do I need to cut the vinyl covering? What about the old TV, leave it or buy a new cabinet door?

Choice 3:
On the wall of the head. A lot more room could probably fit a 36". Can I really mount through the head wall, with bolt heads showing inside the shower. Can I use a cantilever backet bolted to the corner and avoid bolts in the shower? Will a long cantilever bracket hold up to pounding on the waves? How do run the wires, down the bracket and out the corner?

So many questions...

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2008 V358 Two-tone Blue V/P Dual Prop 320 HP
Lake Winnipesaukee, NH

Wow !!!!

I'm sure there are a couple of people that can answer at least some of your questions.

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One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

Putting the TV on the bulkhead above the mid-cabin will make it hard to watch from the couch. The combined problem is the height (too tall) and the position (far to the side) will give you neck pains if you try watching from the seating. If you're planning on watching from the bed it'd be less of a problem. I believe you can get to the back of that space from inside the helm. Remove the chart plotter to get access. The lower part might be a bit of a challenge though, and could require removing additional helm parts. Just be prepared to swear A LOT when you drop screws down into the helm. You can extract them by removing the screws that hold down the helm (at the floor) and lifting it slightly. This is MUCH, MUCH easier than trying to retrieve them from above, TRUST ME.

I too would worry about how well any sort of swing arm would hold up to wave action. I don't know, but most TV mounts are fixed, or have only a single pivot.

I think the shower area has a cavity between it and the salon. But I have no idea if it's possible to get inside of it. I personally wouldn't want bolt heads visible inside the shower for a TV on the other wall but there may not be a way around that. But I'd be worried about how a load would get spread using just bolts through a fiberglass panel. I'd much prefer having some sort of backer plate spreading the load. Where the plate itself is mounted, with it's own fasteners first and then the TV mounting bolts going through it. That way the plate absorbs and distributes the stresses on the bolts (typically four) and then spreads that out among it's own fasteners (glue and bolts/screws). But without being able to get behind that wall I don't know how you'd accomplish it. The other downside is the head door wouldn't be able to swing fully open if there was a TV on that wall. This would make it a problem trying to walk around the cabin if the head door was open.

The smallish TV, placed too high, is problem my one major complaint about the salon in the 348/358. The 338 makes use of the wall to put one in a cabinet. It ends up being lower and more adjustable, while having the cabinet to protect it. No easy way to retrofit that into a 348 though. I wouldn't bother trying to figure out how to put a larger TV there because the viewing angle would still be too high. My wife and I both get neck cramps if we try and watch a whole movie from the couch.

I went with a 19" HD/DVD combo unit on the starboard cabinet of the forward berth. I have it on a removable mount (Levelmount brand). I also put a second mount for it up on the port radar arch. I just move it between the two locations. I've yet to devise a satisfactory way to stow it when underway. I just use a padded bag for now.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

On the V318 they mount the swing bracket and TV on the wall of the head with the screw heads exposed on the inside. I haven't found it to be a problem and actually it helped in one case were the bracket bedcame loose from bouncing and tightening was very easy. Power and cable is also accessable from that spot.

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2008 318 Vista "Ka-wai-ola"
350 MPI/BravoIII DTS Seacore
2006 1500 Key West -70 Yamaha
Previous Boats
Key West 2300CC
Pacemaker 270 Sport Fish
290 Sea Ray

+1 on that idea... It gives you the best of both worlds -- a TV to watch in bed and a Cockpit TV!

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2008 318 Vista -SOLD, but I am still around!
All Night Long, Seattle WA