While I firmly believe that navigating on a phone is a very bad idea, and I’m no fan of installing navigation devices of any type on the steering pedestal (distraction), I have run into a situation where having my iPhone close to hand while steering is desirable:
When anchoring I need to activate the Vesper AIS drag alarm at the moment we drop.
And it would also be good to have a quick way to mount my phone to the dodger or a stanchion when shooting a photo or video.
So I set out to buy an iPhone mount that would clamp to 1″ tube, thinking it would be easy to find a good solution. Not a bit of it.
First I looked at Scanstrut’s rail mount, which we use for an iPad under the dodger, but by the time I put all the required bits together, the result was way bigger and more clunky than I wanted, and a hell of a price too.
Then I looked at a bunch of other options, but all had drawbacks.
Anyway, after much searching I found the Lamicall Bike Phone Mount with Camera Friendly for the grand price of CAD$33 (US$24) on Amazon.
At that price I didn’t expect a lot, but so far I’m impressed:
- Feels robust and well made, at least for the price.
- Quick to attach to a rail.
- Has a quick-release button for the rail mount screw to get it off quickly.
- Easy to tilt and reorient the phone using a ball joint.
- A clever phone clamp that’s quick to adjust to the phone width (only required once) and then super-quick to use, and yet secure—by far the best I have seen or tried.
- The camera is not obscured by the clamp.
You really have to play with the thing to appreciate how elegant the design is, but here’s the next best thing: a short video showing how it works:
That looks pretty nifty indeed! Thanks for pioneering.
John, thanks! I’ve searched for some kind of mount like this too. Thanks for your recommendation.
I just ordered one as well. About $17 usd on Amazon. Pretty reasonable it seems to me!
Mitchell Allen
sv Sonata
San Francisco Bay
Any motorcycle shop will have phone mounts that work with various diameter tubing. I have one on my antique R100 and another on our Baltic 39.
Hi! I also use the Vesper AIS drag alarm.
There is no need to activate it at the moment you drop.
It’s one of the big advantages from „Watchmate“ that you can move the anchor position after you dropped it. Doing this after, maybe an hour, is easy as you see the swing arch and therefore can guess the middle easily.
I only do it that way.
Btw: I like your attitude of having nothing more than a compass archtitect help. That’s what we have too.
Hi Robert,
Yes, I understand that, and frequently move it, but none the less, I prefer to activate it at the drop to make sure it’s spot on.
John – thanks for the tip! I just received mine and it’s great – FYI it can also clamp onto a table edge or similar down below / nav station. Very nice quality. Just £15.99 in UK.
Hi Steven
Good point that it will clamp to all manner of things.