Little Console Work

[workinpr0gress]

Nothing to crazy. I'm trying to make it simple, presentable, and spartan. I Rewired most everything. Added some electronics and things. Reused a couple things. Flushed it all into some Starboard. I still need to fill,sand and varnish the teak lip and shelf on the console.

Then I fiberglassed some 3/4" plywood into the bottom side of the console for the steering and controls, and also repaired some delamination around the holes cut for both the steering and controls.

I also cut the windshield down 4" so my Better Half can see easier and I like it better anyway. I got rid of the teak rod holders on the console. I'ts getting there little by little. I'm still waiting on a Nmea cable for the DSC and some other odd's and ends I'd like to do before going in the water.


BEFORE

NOW

[Islandtrader]

I bet it feels like a whole new boat...looks great

[fdheld34]

Very nice and clean
Where did you get your steering wheel?
What thickness of starboard?
Also where did you get switch panel (who makes it)?
Has to be a good feeling!!!!

-Fred

[SeaPlusPlus]

Looks great man! I'm in the middle of cadding up mine and trying to decide on a final fit/layout. Dual HDS units is killing my dash space haha.

[uncleboo]

I've been doing some of the same things to mine. Nothing fancy, but, looking better all the time. I would like to know where you got the wheel as well. Thats the only thing I haven't ordered, yet.

[workinpr0gress]

Thanks guys it's gonna be a couple years before it looks like a "new" boat so I just keep slowly chipping away. Here are a couple answers for you guys too , hope it helps.

The wheel is from ebay and I believe it's a Gemlux...one guy on there gets a 100 bucks for the wheel plus shipping but he lets you choose either the 5/8" or 1/2" nut and I needed the 1/2" which you have to buy separately on most of these wheels. I don't mind the suicide knob on the ring of the wheel, but if you want it on a spoke I think Schmitt makes one for $50 more. There are a few companies that make this same basic wheel pretty cheap.

The switch panel is a regular old Sea Dog fused/lighted 6 gang that I cut down from 6 1/2" to 6 1/8" and redrilled. Look at the first photo compared to the last two. There are multiple companies who have made this most basic switch panel, some with aluminum and some bakolite.

The starboard on the panel is 1/4" and 3/8" under the wheel and control.

Noah I hear ya on the hds' I was gonna do two units of something myself but after measuring and reasearching it would have been to crowded without using indiviual toggles instead of a switch panel. Honestly I wanted to try this new Elite-5 Combo anyway and it more than serves my purpose.

[Basspond]

Looks really nice and clean.

I was going to answer about the ebay wheel because I bought the same one earlier this spring

[workinpr0gress]

I wanted to get some varnish on the little bit of teak on my 20. I sanded down the teak face on the shelf and the lip on the top of the console. Then used a white scotchbrite and some TSP mixed pretty strong. Next with some sudsy ammonia. Then I rinsed it really well. The next day I wiped down the teak with acetone a few times to pull as much oil out as I could. Then I taped it up good and did my first coat of varnish/mineral spirits. I have never used sealer before varnish. I have always had great results just mixing the varnish 50/50 with mineral spirits and using that as the first coat/sealer. The wood cleaned up decent but there are a few deeper grains. I would have liked the wood a little smoother but nothing some patience with the brush can't fix. I figure 10 to 15 coats should look good.

[SeaPlusPlus]

Looks great! Makes me wish I still had some wood on my boat.

I'm trying to figure out what going to go back with for that lip piece, mine in really bad shape and would look weird being the only piece of wood on the boat, so I'm thinking I could shape a piece of black starboard there to replace it. My shelf was gone when I bought the boat

I'm gonna copy your cut the switch panel down idea, mine is the exact height of my dash and worked when I had some white starboard covering my dash, but looks funny now that its going right on the dash.

Also what model VHF is that so I can look up dimensions, trying to figure out what will fit there. Is the area behind your VHF part of the glove box like mine is?

Sorry for so many questions

[workinpr0gress]

VHF is standard eclipse, it won't fit unless you put it at the bottom of the dash and even then the heat sink is real close.. I cut the console out on that side of the dash... Sometimes just a hint of wood is beautiful IMO, even on a big old custom a varnished cockpit is not what is on most tournament boats... Teak takes varnish just fine if you prep it right