|
BSS (Bratås Seilfartøy Service) was established in 2004 by Tom Ueland Bratås and Bitten Bakke.
In 2010 the company was reorganized to a shareholding company and changed name to Navslide AS.
Navslide AS specializes in designing innovative products for the boating market.
Tom U. Bratås and co founder Bitten Bakke has over 35 years worldwide sailing experiences, both professionally and recreationally.
Together they have dedicated their spare time to fully rebuilding the 37 Meter private sailing ship “Nortun AE87".
The story behind Navslide™
Tom & Bitten conducted research focusing on the use of modern navigation equipment on sailboats and the cockpit ergonomics related to this.
Market survey:
A market survey was taken focusing on the allocation and use of navigation monitors.
- 80% prefer the monitor at the helm.
- 20% prefer to have the navigation monitor located under spray hood/ Dodger.
- Most people want the navigation monitor within reach.
Problem overview:
Equipped with a camera, we visited several marinas and sailing events, taking pictures documenting various mounting solutions for navigation monitors.
The photos revealed a surprisingly large amount of home made solutions for fixing the monitors. Some were simple brackets created with steel and wood, and some were more elaborate welded solutions. Many had also made brackets allowing monitor to turn so it could be viewed from different positions.
People we spoke to, who made their own brackets, said they did not know of any ideal mounting solutions on the market.
The navigation monitor:
The development of navigation systems has given many major improvements, but many can’t be fully utilised by sailors because of the mounting problem.
Improvements are:
- Multifunction monitors which gives the operator a large amount of continuously updated information.
(Should be within view from all angels)
- The monitors are designed to be used actively during sailing, with the help of various keys or by touch screen. (Should be within reach from various locations)
One improvement on the navigation systems that ease the mounting problem is that they are now designed to be used externally.
- Rugged housings.
- Weather, and in some cases water proof housings.
- Monitor screens that can be used both in bright daylight conditions and at night
We took the challenge of designing a universal mounting solution considering all findings, and started the making of Navslide™ early 2008. A final prototype was tested and patented in February 2009.
|
The design will allow space for other devices to be mounted on the pedestal, such as pods for tactical instruments or autopilot. 
Navslide™ can be mounted on all steering pedestals, with a grab rail. 
The sliding function also avoids reaching through the wheel, when operating the display. 
Navslide™ enables the operator to slide the monitor to either side of the wheel, allowing the monitor to be within reach, for helmsman wherever seated. 
The sliding mounting bracket gives the monitor accessibility in all areas around the steering pedestal. Even when seeking shelter under the spray hood, the monitor can be in view by turning it 180º. The patented sliding device provides good cockpit ergonomics and can be mounted on new and old steering pedestals.