i have a b&g 7' chrartploter, 4g, etc etc... i mounted it on the back of the dog house. cut hole for it. i dont like the hatch open for a swing arm because if a wave comes in the cocpit you lose your chart ploter and take on water down below.

Not sure what you mean by 'poke through'. The base for my swing-arm is mounted inside, just to stbd of the companionway opening between the companionway trim and the interior cover for speed/depth instruments.  When I swing the plotter out for cockpit viewing nothing actually extends outside. It's pretty much even withy, even a bit inside, the companionway opening.

I've been broached by a big wave in the cockpit which 'instantly' filled the tub. I've never had any water enter the cabin (knock knock). That said, if I were concerned I could make a drop board out of plexiglass replacing the top drop board to view the plotter and it would not interfere with anything

See pic of mount here

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v219/boomer2610/plotter%20mount.jpg

John:

Great pictures, but not what I thought you were saying.  You may want to sail a bit before going offshore, it may be, that the location is in the way of the lines and the winch just behind it?

If you do find an issue with it where you have it, you can always mount it where your rigging knife is located = I think that is where most of us have it mounted. So a great effort on some thing new, but please let us know how it goes.

lastly there may even be a better third option. If issues exist, get rid of the arm less the bracket and mount it under the dodger above the winch (through one of the ss tubes) make it (the display) removable, and coil up the leads on your starboard.  (you may want to use velcro to keep the wires out of the way when deployed)

in any case keep on having fun!

Norm

Question #1: How did you get pics to display?  I have yet to figure out how.  Were you able to view the pic of how I mounted my swing arm/plotter?

Just IMO but I personally don't think it's that critical to keep the companionway closed during bad weather. In my experience rain has to be blowing pretty hard from aft to enter the cabin (I have a dodger/bimini). I've been broached by green water that "instantly" filled the cockpit tub and not a drop inside. I drip more water down below myself than what comes in from outside.