Building a Console Electronics Mounting Tray

[thedink9]

I have a '85 23'CC and the console opening is covered by a teak insert with sliding doors. I want to replace this with a trimmed out insert that I could flush mount my electronics onto. the more thought I've given this the more confused I've become as I haven't got A CLUE how to start.
Could I get a few suggestions or better yet photo's of what anyone else has built. Thanks Rich

[RS]

We might be able to be more helpful if you show us a pic of what you've got.

[thedink9]

roger

Here you go. Rich
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...9/IMG_0104.jpg

I haven't mastered Capt. Chuck's Photobucket instructions yet on how to display it. Richweb pagePhotobucket

[ScottM]

[thedink9]

Scott
Thanks Please send me a PM to tell me how you posted it.
Rich

[warthog5]

We can tell you right here. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] 1st the pix should have been resized to 640X480 so it doesn't blow out the screen. IE have to shift the pix from left to right to see the whole thing.

Now how to do it. The pix needs to be uploaded to a server first and it is. Put your curser in the middle of the pix.Right click your mouse. You will get a drop down. Left click [perferances]. A box will show uo with the link. Copy that link by putting the curser on the link and right clicking. A box will drop down and left click copy.

Now we go to the forum page and type [ i m g ] paste the link here [ / i m g ] but don't space it out. I have to do that here as a illistration. If I don't the thing will think I'm trying to post a pix and you will no see what I'm typing. That's it. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[warthog5]

Back to the question at hand. How do you want to trim it out?

1st I'd remove the teak and glass and keep it in tack. Someone would like to have it I'm sure.

I'd fashion a panel of 1/4in lauan that made a perfect fit of the inside of that opening. A layer of 4oz or 6oz glass cloth on each side will stiffen it and make it weather proof. Sand , prime and paint. Then I add cletes to the inside to fasten this pannel on. Be sure to seal the edges of the panel and the holes where you drill them. Use screws w/ the finish washers like on the teak to fasten it in to the clets. Clets in this case are just a block of wood. Something like 3/4X 1 1/4in or you could use angle alum to save more space. 1inX1in. You could trim it in a thin piece of teak, but I fear that you will need all the real estate you can get there. Depends on what size units you want to install.

[thedink9]

Warthog
Thank for the lesson on the post and the suggestion, as well. I was thinking about recessing the panel back a few inches, from the front of the console by adding a lip all around, which could be mounted to the inside of the teak frame ( or another frame I would perhaps make out of Starboard). I was also thinking about installing a 2 piece plexiglass cover, on a piano hinge, to give the flush mounted components a bit more protection. I believe SeaVee consoles are made like this. I would use the space between the panel and cover for misc. storage.
Any suggestions on how to build that lip using the luan? Or do I have to make some type of mold? Rich

[RS]

Instead of an insert per se, you could attach cleats to the inside perimeter and attach black plexi to it. Then mount the electronics to the plexi.

[warthog5]

The way Roger said it is what I had in mind, but using lauan covered in fiberglass cloth unstead of Plexiglass.

It's going to take some work on your part as to the recess you talk about. The 1st thing you need in your hands is the electronics that you intend to use. It would be ashame to build all this and then find out the the panel was 1/2in to deep to fit the electronics. Some times the layout print is not enough to take measurements off of. This is because those prints don't take into consideration the cables comming out of the back and not squeezing the hell out of them.