New dashboard
 

Im taking on another project while winter is upon us and I cant fish anyways. After seeing all the really nice looking control/instrument consoles on THT I decided my old ugly (so ugly its fugggly)dashboard has got to go. I went and bought myself black starboard today cut to size. All new gauges, new navman [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] , all new 8 gang blue seas switch and fuse panel and 10 blue seas flush mount extra fuses for my electronics. Plan on taking my GPS and VHF out of my overhead radio box and flush mounting those along with radar and bottom machine in the dash also. And sinse I decided to redo this I have also decided to rewire the rest of the boat as well as replacing fuels lines , seawater strainer, and replacing the crappy cable steering with hydraulic. The only thing I dont like about the black starboard is the fact that I will lose the engraved seacraft logo. (Really not going to lose any sleep over it though. [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img] ) Plus I get to clean and paint my bottom again !!! (My favorite thing in the world to do, whats not to like about blue snot , earwax etc.! ). Just wondering if anyone else has taken on this dash project ??? I also started to go with all new white gauges but took them back and got black instead. Mounted on the flat black starbrd I think they will look pretty good. craig

[ January 02, 2003, 08:36 PM: Message edited by: Miles Offshore ]

Re: New dashboard
 

Craig,

I have the very same plan in the complete redo of my 23'. Because all the new toys are washdown capable, I see no reason to close them in behind Lexan or in a box. So flush mounting everything in Starboard is simple and will look terrific.

My only consern in a proper seal behind the Starboard. Any thoughts there?

Regards,

Otto

Re: New dashboard
 

Miles, I just bought the same Blue Seas switch panel last week. Looks like a super unit water- proof to boot, top of the line stuff. Starboard will look/work great. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] Good luck. Jon

Re: New dashboard
 

Me too......

But I'm going to make the project a tad more complicated...(I dont know why ... just love making things more complicated than they need to be [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img] ) and mould one out of FG/gel-coat (like Trayder did with the live well) and paint it the same as the topside/inside of the boat when ever that happens. The old wood grained Formica has faded out and has more holes in it than Swiss cheese.....New Gauges .... white faces stainless bezels....similar to the Silverhawk setup.... And I have yet to make my mind up on switches and fuse/circuit breaker panels....Individual toggles would be neat, more retro , and very custom but alot of work installing...Then there is always the Paneltronic waterproof circuit panel (in white vs the standard black) Oh yea....and Santa brought a recessed bow light a few days ago too

Craig .... I think that 23 that was down in Florida (you know the one .... It was for sale for something like $65,000 [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] yellow hull twin Yamaha 200's) had a black starboard dash....Looked pretty smart!!!!

Re: New dashboard
 

http://images.yachtworld.com/1/0/3/1033550_3.jpg Hate the faeux woodgrain (or real as it probably is here) - Black starboard looks OK. I like the big white look myself but does that really add too much glare??

[ January 03, 2003, 08:09 AM: Message edited by: John R ]

Re: New dashboard
 

Hi Gents-

I will also be redoing the instrument panel on my 1991 Mako 231. The original plastic is cracking and the lexan hatches have a tendency to fall off.

Instead of starboard, I too am thinking of pulling a fiberglass mold off the original plastic Mako dash.

As far as rewiring and adding new guages, I would highly recommend that you look at the impressive job that Eddie Ring did on his Mako 21b....see www.classicmako.com. He installed all new rocker switches, new circuit breakers, new wiring, the whole nine yards.

Re: New dashboard
 

Hey Craig....I think that console that John posted actually has the fuse and switch panel you are talking about....I also remember seeing an all black dash on Hermco's site....I think

I've never been on a boat with a solid black dash like that (The Bertram’s have had just the gauges mounted in black) but would imagine the glare would be cut pretty good by it.....I'm going for the simple look ... Like John says everything white ....

John… me personally…… I like well maintained brightwork, pain to maintain but looks classic in the proper setting….don’t know if that’s the proper setting in that pic however…(guess thats what makes the world go round)..And imitation ..forget it.. would seem today the trend is to get away from the wood ….. Unless you have a Rybovich , Jarrett Bay or something of the sort [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] …..Guess I wont have to worry about brightwork ....well unless those #'s hit [img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img]

Re: New dashboard
 

Hey John

Speaking of dashboards.....Any timing on when you might be ripping one apart??? hopefully soon?? [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

Re: New dashboard
 

Scott -

Me?? We'll see. The wife got a job today (which was half the battle) even though the pay pretty much sucks. She is going to be woefully underpaid [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img] but there is trememndous flexibility in this job.

The other "half" of the deal requires me to fulfill a common New Years resolution that Trayder has obliged to harass me about too [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] ... Once a couple other ducks I have going line up, I will seriously start looking again but it may be a couple months before I can pull the trigger.

Re: New dashboard
 

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">[img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

The wife ..... and Trayder ....man your in trouble now !!! Hope Steve doesnt jump on the Bandwagon !!!!! Speaking of Steve ... If you talk to him ...Tell him I said Hi ....

Re: New dashboard
 

I'm going to see him tomorrow so I I'll say high for ya. A bunch of us from the bass site are getting together to see who makes the best custom plugs [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] and otherwise show the newer guys (like me) how to do it. Here is some of his bass candy:

http://66.31.194.223/DSC00226.JPG <a href="http://www.striped-bass.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=&threadid=5213" target="_blank">

...and the thread is here</a>

Re: New dashboard
 

WOW and WOW......
Thanks John !!!
Tell him I need him to find a trolling blank for me.....I'll email him......and if that doesnt work the phone will ring [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

Give him my best and you guys have fun!!!!

Scott

Oops ....we wandered a bit from the thread topic ... Sorry Craig!!!

[ January 03, 2003, 11:06 PM: Message edited by: Scott ]

Re: New dashboard
 

Thanx for the comments guys, Otto I dont think sealing will be a problem. The switch panels all come with a front loaded gasket, as well as my electronics. Where I fuse the electronics on the outside with the same blue sea fuses I guess water could force its way behind them but i think it would be tough. Since I leave my curtains on year round very rarely do i ever see water up there.
Jon, the blue sea website has a lot of stuff on it that is not in the marine catalogs. My friends formula he put a flush mount from behind battery switch that is pretty cool and i have never seen one before. I like the way the switches feel, they are lit also allowing me to get rid of the extra bilge lights and blower light as well. I am really not very fond of the old toggle type switches because they are difficult to see in the dark. They wear fairly easy and do not seem to have the solid trip feel like the newer switches. Nothing wrong with the retro look, I considered it myself but talked myself out of it after playing with the switches on the restored formula.Scott, you are right, it does look good- i guess I will have to purchase one of those carolina built looking steering wheels also !!! John I initially had the white bezeled stainless gauges as well but didnt want all white gauges with the new black navman !!! After looking at the black on black I decided it looked very nice too. Under my dash where the wheel and stuff is is all white too. The worst part about rewiring the whole center console is having to "break" most of the wires at the hull/console joint, minus the plug. Those cuddy's dont have that concern and it is seeminly easier to wire . I will definitely feel better with all my new stuff though, especially the hydraulic steering ! Right Capn. Skip ???

Re: New dashboard
 

Hey , dont mind me !!! Beautiful baits ! went to the link and was very impressed !!!!!Theres a local guy around here that makes those old wood creek chubs. giant jointed pikies etc., see him at the cca fishing show here every march. he makes some beautiful baits also, all these baits are to pretty to fish, I want to see some that are fish ready !!!! (Paint gone,toothy marks, etc) [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

Re: New dashboard
 

Miles - it's tough to do when you have all the fish down there! Now I tend to sling eels 70% of the time so you won't see them reused... You ever drift or 3 way eels? (Talk about hijacking a thread...)

Re: New dashboard
 

Hey John, a lot of people here eel but Im not one of them. They will fish/ tie up to pilings along the ches bay bridge tunnel and drift them back or three way them into the bridge. Friend of mine had one 53 lbs doing this last week. I drift and jig occasionally using stinsilvers-diamond ligs (heavy metal)as well as plastics (grubs,twisters etc) and also like to throw poppers when its not crowded. Most of the time however I like to troll and this is how I generally catch the larger fish (daytime). the eel guys fish at night and I only fish days anymore (too many nuts running at night that dont have a clue). The bite seems to be slacking off a little here the last couple of weeks and havent been hearing of a whole lot of big fish being caught. Weather has been off and on and the water temperature has been around 45. Darn, I guess you didnt ask for a fishing report now did you ??? LOL- gonna work on that dash some today !!!

Re: New dashboard
 

have a '74 tsunami.replaced the dash with 1/4 " black plexi,looks great.also replaced the glove box door and fuse and ignition panel under the helm with it.as for the insignia,scan it,take it to a vinyl lettering shop,have them make you up a new set-I did,came out great.

Re: New dashboard
 

Thanx Bob ! I am waiting for my 8 switch horizontal panel to come in. Then I can start the fun. I figure the project is already cost me 350/400 ducks and Im still buying "stuff" [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]