Marlin DSM 300 location

[Deceiving One]

I realize this is a dumb question but hopefully someone has an idea that I haven't thought of yet. I have a 2007 Marlin with a RM C120 and DSM 300. The RM DSM 300 blows a fuse as soon as a new one is put in the fuse panel. (I have read many of the posts about all the problems with that unit). I bought the boat on the east coast and had it shipped to Cal. so I don't know who put in the electronics. I have been unable to find the DSM 300 unit. I have torn the boat apart looking for it. I have attempted to trace the power cord from the fuse box under the helm and the cable from the transducer, but I have only been able to get so far (the cables go into the rigging tubes and I lose them). I don't think it is anywhere in the cabin (I found the auto pilot controller behind a panel in the midcabin) but I have searched every nook and cranny on the boat and still can't find the thing. It is driving me nuts (though it is serving to entertain many of the guys who have boats in my marina).

Does anybody have any suggestions on where I might look for a DSM 300 on a Marlin (short of getting a chain saw and opening up bulkheads)? Is there a "usual" place where they mount these units?

Thanks.

 

[g0tagrip]

I have a 2007 Marlin and my auto pilot hydraulic pump is under the helm seat, behind the tackle box. Take out the tackle box and it is probably right there.

 

[Deceiving One]

Thanks for the suggestion. I took out the tackle box trays and was able to look all around under the helm seat. No DSM 300. (although I did find a water pump and a bunch of other stuff I wasn't looking for...)

 

[Grady_Crazy]

I know mine is a 228, not a marlin but I looked for quite awhile before I found it. It was in the space beside the foot rest in front of the helm seat.

 

[Grady_Crazy]

If the DSM 300 was made in Mexico Raymarine will replace it, No Charge. I just received mine back last week.

 

[Deceiving One]

Thanks for the suggestions. I have looked in all those places and still can't locate the DSM. I know that RM will give me a new unit (assuming it was made in Mexico) but before I ship it to them, I need to find the darn thing. (I suppose I could ship them the whole boat and have them find it....but I don't thing they would find that funny).

Anybody have any other suggestions?

 

[Slacktime]

I have a 2003 Marlin. The pump is located in the Lazarett/bilge area at the Starboard quarter. I hope that this helps. By the way you need to be a midget to get to it. My ten year old grandson is the perfect size!

 

[Fishtales]

Mine is behind the displays on the flush mount kit.
If not there you can check behind the power switch panel. Some times they mount under the dash or behind this unit. If not, you might need to chase some wires. Some other spots to check.
Behind the side bulkheads in the aft cabin. Below the removable sole panels under the aft cabin cushions. Side kick panel to the starboard side at the helm - there should be an access plate as well.

 

[Grady_Crazy]

Did you ever find it?

 

[Deceiving One]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I have checked in just about all of the locations mentioned and still no luck. The only place I haven't been able to look is behind the displays on the flush mount. I have unscrewed and tried to remove the fiberglass panel but it is not budging. There doesn't look like there is a whole lot of room behind the panel, but I am starting to think (by process of elimination) that the DSM must be back there.

I just got back from a week on the boat out at Catalina Island and not having the DSM working is a real pain. My plan at this point is to give Long Beach Marine Electronics a call and see if they can help. When we finally find the DSM, I will post where it was found.

 

[wjs3]

Hi:

Sorry to bump up an old thread, but I'm in the same situation as you were regarding the location of my DSM. Like you, I have a DSM 300 on my Marlin and have no idea who installed the instruments. I have been researching Raymarine's pledge to replace the DSM 300 which has been a royal pain.

Now I just need to find the darn thing so I can get a look at it, upgrade the software on it, or, if it's from Mexico, send it in.

Like you, I lose the transducer wires in the rigging and can't find where they emerge to the DSM. I've checked the all around the console, and I've opened every panel I can above and below decks with no luck.

Today I tried to attack the console, but half the screws are stripped. I even took the faceplates off of my MDFs to see if I could unscrew them and get into the console, but those screws just spin too.

Anyway, did you have any luck, before I start drilling out screws that I may or may not need to?

Thanks!

 

[wjs3]

Hi:

OK, I found them, and all I can say is I have no idea who installed them, but what a clown! I'm posting this in case someone else goes through this same search and finds this same thread. Maybe this will help.

It turns out I have two DSMs--a DSM 30 and a DSM 250 (I'll be contacting Raymarine to see if these are among the faulty DSMs they are replacing). The two DSMs are sitting, horizontally, in the console. Technically this is too close to the compass AND they should be mounted vertically, with screws, not horizontally with (I wish I was making this up...) double sided sticky tape.

Finally, the console itself was crazy hard to get open. The outer shell of the console was held on by 6 stainless steel screws. Of these 6, 1 came out cleanly, 3 would not budge so had to be drilled out, and 2 would just spin, so they also had to be drilled out. Then the raymarine MFDs and the combination of the drilled out screws wouldn't allow for the panel to be lifted off, so we had to take the MFDs out. This was fun too, but I won't bore you with the details of the very small clearance that barely allowed us to get this done. Once open and off, we saw that the stainless steel screws had been threaded into what looked like rivets--and were made of aluminum, which had been pounded into the console base to form a base for the screws. No surprise to anyone here, the combination of stainless steel and aluminum was not a good one, and screws were fused to the anchors. If the anchor was well seated, there was no way to get the screw out because they were fused. If anchors popped loose in their holes, the screws were spinning. Ugh.

7 hours later, it's all back together, with software updated on the DSMs, new plastic anchors and the ability to get into it next time. If not for concern that I'm just going to be replacing them anyway, I would have also pulled the DSMs off of their sticky tape and mounted them correctly. Maybe a project for later.

Thank to those earlier in the thread for help in narrowing my search, and here's hoping any of you who try this encounter a better installation job!

 

[Deceiving One]

I did finally get the DSM 300 on my Marlin replaces by RM. I had the guys at Long Beach Electronics find it, remove it and send it back to RM for a replacement. Works like a charm.

When I called the tech at LBE and asked him where he had found the DSM 300 his response was "I do so many of these II honestly don't remember where it was".

My best guess is that it was behind the flush mount panel the whole time.

Thanks for all the suggestions.