Helm pod ideas needed.

[Bryan A.]

If you look at the picture of the helm on my boat, you see and old plywood box that holds the guages. The lower portions are rotted and delaminating and is a real eyesore, now that other parts of the boat are starting to look good. I removed it over the weekend, which was a
b---ch because someone 5200 the thing down, so it came out in pieces. I am in the proceess of building an exact replica that I will glass and paint.
This post is looking for suggestions to improve upon the original design. I have thought of putting a pod like the larger boats have to get the wheel up higher and clean up the lines like this;



But right now I have a lot of other things going on in the interior to tackle a moving the steering and wiring project this year. I have mocked up a new plywood box but I am open to suggestions. Any suggestions no matter how crazy would be appreciated. Here is what the old one looked like. It is now in about three pieces in my shop. Thanks in advance for all suggetions.

[TUGBOAT]

Any suggestions no matter how stupid would be appreciated.

Ugh Ohhhhh!

[Bryan A.]

I guess that line is setting me up for some cheap shots with this crew. [img]/forum/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

[warthog5]

There is another option on changing the steering wheel angle.

I've never liked them the way your's is on the boat now and made some radical move's to have mine like a sport's car feel.

This is a Teleflex piece.
http://www.iboats.com/mall/index.cgi...&view_id=40307



Still one made of Mahogany, sealed with epoxy and then topcoated in Honey Teak would be very nice.

[Water Rat]

Bryan,

I did something similar to what Warthog discribed on my 23' Sceptre several years ago. My original helm setup was similar to yours and I agree with Warthog - not ideal. My skills are sorely lacking compared to yours and Warthog's, but was a pretty easy solution to getting some angle to the wheel and halfway decent looking. I've been thinking about a pod (or Palm Beach, ala Rybo, Merritt) style helm also - will be very interested to see what other suggestions you get. Sorry - almost forgot - you can see some pictures of my helm in the SeaCraft Gallery, under Chris Downey's 1978 23 Sceptre.

[muddywater]

I was just asking the same thing on the console project thread on THT. I was trying to figure out how I could build a console with pod like the ones on the Bayshore boats. I was also trying to figure out where I could get some gucci hardware like the powder coated custom stuff on the Bayshore or the polished stuff on the pod you showed, short of designing it myself and having a machine shop make it. My
only conclusion so far is that it will not be easy.

This is what I wanted to pull off:
http://www.wordwrightcom.com/bayshore/features.html

Check out the pod on this Gloucester G-20
http://www.gboats.com/details.html

I also love the pod on this Shearline
http://www.shearlineboatworks.com/gallery.asp

Pursuit has an interesting teak console (no pod though)
http://www.pursuitboats.com/2670den/details.asp

More ideas:
http://www.rothbiltboats.com/18classic.html

There were some others I couldn't find the site for,
like an OuterBanks 32 that had a pod

[nestorpr]

I liked the Pursuit idea for your boat, it fits the boat better. How about adding a swing away helm where you hinge it at the bottom and swuing it backwards to access the wiring? I saw this with on a Searay and on the new Bertram 36. You could build the front like the Pursuit and have it on hinges for easier access to the back.

[Bryan A.]

Cool ideas so far. Keep em' coming.

So far I think I am going to rebuild exactly what I have for this season, Glass it and paint it white and plan for something better for the future. The boat fits me well the way I use it so she isn't going anywhere soon unless I can find a good deal on a Contender 35 Side Console. That is my next boat.

[Bryan A.]

Here is a shot of the new pod. It is made of 1/2 ply and luan. In the process of covering it with 4oz. glass and west. The dash is a piece of 3/8 Lexan dark that was shaped and polished.

[muddywater]

Wow, you don't mess around. You were just asking for ideas the other day.

Anyway, in case anybody else cares, there is a really cool bit on Bertram31.com on how to make a console like the first one you showed.
http://www.bertram31.com/parts/console/zc.htm