TugScout
Well-known member
- Joined
- Aug 12, 2018
- Messages
- 153
- Fluid Motion Model
- C-24 C
- Non-Fluid Motion Model
- Nordic Tug NT32-220
- Vessel Name
- Polaris
Yesterday I finished removing the existing Garmin 5212 plotter and replacing it with a new 8612 in my 2012 R-27.
Overall the project took about eight hours total but I'm sure, like everything, a good portion of that time is learning and thinking through the process as I went along. I wanted to keep the existing P79 transducer so my plan was to remove the 5212 and also the GSD22 sounder box as the new 8612 has all the sonar functions built in.
Removing the 5212 was pretty straight forward as it only had 4 posts with nuts tightened behind the helm. I was careful to take many photos along the way so I knew what cables went into which sockets. Once the 5212 was removed I had easy access to the GSD22 and removed it along with the separate power and network cables attached to the unit.
Garmin offers a "legacy" adapter to migrate from the P79 6 pin to the Garmin 8pin. They also offer a simple junction box that works with bare cables into a numbered wiring block which allows use for any type of transducer in the future. I opted for the junction box in case I changed to something different at a later date. I cut the plug off the end of the P79 and wired it into the box. The transducer cable only has two leads plus the ground shielding so it was an easy install.
Both the 5212 and the 8612 have 12" screens but the form factor of the 8612 is smaller overall so the existing "hole" in the helm would have to be smaller. I made a spacer with a smaller opening out of .25 black plastic. I cut it to fit over the entire wood piece that was the previous mounting plate. I beveled the top edge of the spacer at 45 degrees to slip up under the top moulding so it wouldn't have to be removed. I glued the spacer to the existing plate using some 5200 permanent adhesive. The new unit dropped right in and worked fine.
In honor of this project I also tackled setting up my first photo album on the forum. Hopefully, you will be able to see some pictures of the installation. Overall I'm really glad I chose to do this myself. Great sense of accomplishment and I really like the way it turned out.
Cheers,
Mark
Overall the project took about eight hours total but I'm sure, like everything, a good portion of that time is learning and thinking through the process as I went along. I wanted to keep the existing P79 transducer so my plan was to remove the 5212 and also the GSD22 sounder box as the new 8612 has all the sonar functions built in.
Removing the 5212 was pretty straight forward as it only had 4 posts with nuts tightened behind the helm. I was careful to take many photos along the way so I knew what cables went into which sockets. Once the 5212 was removed I had easy access to the GSD22 and removed it along with the separate power and network cables attached to the unit.
Garmin offers a "legacy" adapter to migrate from the P79 6 pin to the Garmin 8pin. They also offer a simple junction box that works with bare cables into a numbered wiring block which allows use for any type of transducer in the future. I opted for the junction box in case I changed to something different at a later date. I cut the plug off the end of the P79 and wired it into the box. The transducer cable only has two leads plus the ground shielding so it was an easy install.
Both the 5212 and the 8612 have 12" screens but the form factor of the 8612 is smaller overall so the existing "hole" in the helm would have to be smaller. I made a spacer with a smaller opening out of .25 black plastic. I cut it to fit over the entire wood piece that was the previous mounting plate. I beveled the top edge of the spacer at 45 degrees to slip up under the top moulding so it wouldn't have to be removed. I glued the spacer to the existing plate using some 5200 permanent adhesive. The new unit dropped right in and worked fine.
In honor of this project I also tackled setting up my first photo album on the forum. Hopefully, you will be able to see some pictures of the installation. Overall I'm really glad I chose to do this myself. Great sense of accomplishment and I really like the way it turned out.
Cheers,
Mark
