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Terry England - The kid isn't one of mine...actually a picture from previous owner's post when he was selling it. I hadn't taken any of it yet...avoiding it till I can get something started.

gofastsandman - I heard about the Marine Liquidators place...meant to call them but forgot...are their console prices reasonable... ~500ish from anyone's experience?

FishStretcher - and I thought 36" was wide...wow! Mine is only 36". All the hardware I plan on replacing and will reevaluate each piece and location :-)

Bigshrimpin - I also love the gunnels...as long as they have some extra reinforcement.

My reasoning for a console of similar size is due to my wife. As crazy as it sounds I will try and keep as much wind off of her. She has CRPS/RSD (nerve disease) and if it kicks in it is painful to her. The more I can hope to get her on the boat the happier she is...happy wife...happy life!

This potentially could be moot if I go after a 23' that is for sale :D

Thanks for responses!

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Well, I just committed to a console over phone. Similar to the SeaCraft but a bit more narrow but a bit longer, originally from a C Hawk. I personally like it a bit better than the old console...maybe it's just because it has a door on the front :p It was nice to buy local...and not have to pay $200-300 shipping only about $20 in gas :-)

34" wide
45" high
47 length w/seat
30" high towards driver - 10 @ 45 degrees - 11" @ 22 degrees - 11" level

Picking up the aluminum t-top also that needs some cleaning but was told no pitting. I'll try and pick it all up in my truck this week. I wasn't going to get a t-top due to budget but the price was right so went for it (over phone yikes!). It has a telephone booth enclosure that is junk but can use it as a template, which is why all the snaps. I mean those two things have been together for over 15 years...I'd hate to separate them now!

console and t-top picked up
 

I picked up the console last week and got home about an hour ago with the t-top. Both are in good shape...better than I was expecting but will know more when I clean them up more.

I am open to suggestions on configuration. While the console is long on storage it seems short of surface real estate, which I didn't factor in with all my wants :mad:

The top storage slides right/left
The middle also slides right/left
Bottom swings out right/left

I was going to add the following:

• Steering wheel/helm
• Stereo
• Trim Tabs (switch)
• Key/kill switch
• Binnacle
• Gas, Tach, Speed, Trim, ?Volt? (would like others if possible)
• FF
• DF
• Compass (up top)

Was hoping for a custom switch plate with ~10 switches including 12V & USB but this console has me scratching my head. I am probably going overkill but this is what I was hoping for. My past boats were already done lol.

Any ideas on where to put them? I could put them in one of the storage bins but like them where I can have quick access to. I could remove the doors I guess and starboard the whole top storage and remove the sliding doors which would probably work. All advise is appreciated to this Seacraft rookie!

Remove the sliding storage compartment and foam/glass that area and flush mount your stuff, looks like plenty of room on that console for what you want

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I believe that is the only path and doesn't look too hard to remove and redo. Thanks!

It will Be tight but you will find room for all of your stuff on that console. I have a highly modified stock console from a 70sf and have room for all of the stuff you want to mount. I sectioned a few inches out of the middle to make it narrower, added a few inches to the bottom to make it taller, and added an extension to the top for flush mount electronics. What I ended up with looks similar to what you have there but about 30" wide and tall enough to work perfectly with a leaning post instead of a flip flop seat or something. Tape it off and start laying things out with a pencil until you get something you like

This is what I fit, and it wasn't too bad. I have a bit more area, but I put a fair amount of stuff inside the insert. I can lay the mic across the bottom for the insert, left to right, which is handy. Gravity always works.

If I had put the switch panels inside the console and not that insert, that would have been more roomy.

Some pics.
After, and before (but not done yet, but not so embarrassing):
Last one is in action. GPS antenna and 6 Watt solar panel atop console.

I am not saying I would do it that way again, but it isn't horrible. And an example to look at and learn from.

i want taller !! i want to flush mount my lowrance... but i just finished replacing the helm and binacle and it turned out pretty nice ... my vhf is mounted under the console for now ... also would like to flush mount it ...

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Good ideas and thanks for showing me your consoles. I will have the guy who is doing the work on the boat for me either starboard or fiberglass over before the whole thing is gelcoated.

Thinking of taking the console of my 85 20SF and splitting it right down the center to narrow it. Way to wide for my SF, 39 inches wide not including the flange. I haven't been able to find a console with dimensions that I like so I figured this would be my best choice.