Gonna do it again-

[Miles Offshore]

Since I bought that sweet new bottom machine and had to pull my radar display out of my dash anyway..... I decided to just redo the whole damn console again. That 1/4" starboard was a little too flappy for me and with the weight of the new furuno I said what the hell. Now at least Ill be able to line up over and under the bottom machine and the radar. And put that damn white icom vhf back up in the overhead. Since I kinda knew the wiring intimately from having redone it a year ago this time I had the whole console, gages wiring etc out in an hour. I took the old dash to the plastics place and let them use it as a templete. I am going with 1/2" this time and letting them cut all the holes for me. (96$) but I wont spend all afternoon drilling holes then filing etc. Going back to the older style fuse holders instead of the blue seas (crap).I have finished installing my new riggers this week and they are sweet, thanx Don for the helpful advise. Lees makes good stuff for sure, not so sure about their customer servise though. I have completed my new black rag-top forward and aft on my t-top and am now finishing up on my new side curtains. (looking real sweet as well I might add [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]. ) Anyway, so far so good- then I get to haul her !!! At least the weather has warmed up.

[ScottM]

Miles,
Sounds like she'll be lookin' real purdy with all those updates. Show us some pics when you're finished.

[Briguy]

Miles,

Not sure why you say the blue seas fuse holders are crap. I have everything electronic on my boat going through an old style glass fuse 8 gang fuse holder. I was getting a little nervouse about having so many wires on top of wires and thinking about adding a blue seas 6 gang to separate some of the confusion/overlap. What gives with blue seas?

[gw204]

Funny you should mention this. I'm doing my second instrument panel as well. This one happens to be for my brother's 19 Grady though. Yesterady I finished cutting out all of the holes for the gauges, switches and fuse holders. It's going to the engraver today to have the switch functions done. Later this week, I'll start the wiring. This kind of stuff is so much more fun than my real job.... [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[Miles Offshore]

Will do Scott, I finished my side curtains yesterday so all I need to do now is put them on, now Im just waiting on my starboard and radar to be returned so I can finish up and reinstall the console.

Bri- I had the blue star fuses seperate for all of my electronics on the console so I wouldnt have to go behind the dash to change em out if needed. But when I tried to change/install fuses at all, it was a struggle to get them to open and I ended up destroying most of them. I have the 8 gang switch panel as well so I dont have much choice with those except to keep them.The o-ring makes them difficult to remove and if you are not careful you will strip and screw up the cap. What you have to do is push in and turn to the left about a half a turn.It will come out some. Then you take another half a turn before it will come out. I really like the ease of the old style, you just turn the cap with your finger and the spring pops it right out for you.

Brian, post some pics here when you finish, would like to see how yours turns out as well!!I agree about the being more fun than the real job. By about thrice. See ya-

[Scott]

Craig
Is the console dash behind the Starboard all cut away and open or do you just have holes to mate what’s mounted in the starboard

Are these similar to those panels or is this the other type you spoke of (twist off fuse holders)



Other than the fuse holders not working well ...how did the switches hold up ??

[Miles Offshore]

Hey Scott, I had to cut out a little bit of the fiberglass behind the console for it to fit. The 8 gang I have is almost identicle except I would prefer the fuse holders in the paneltronics one like you show.Other than the fuse holders the switch panel is great, I really like the solid feel to them as well as the backlighting. Heres the one I bought:

[warthog5]

Miles I have the same Blue Seas 8gang panel. This is the waterproof panel. I don't know if the paneltronics is. I just figured that when washing the boat I wouldn't have to be so careful with the hose.
My question is about backlighting the Blue Seas panel. It was my understanding that that couldn't be done and this was part of the "waterproof" deal. I know the switchs lite up when turned on. Mine has not been installed yet.
Thanks for the heads up on fuse removal. I agree the other style would be a no tool convient. Again I think it's part of the waterproof deal.

[Scott]

Here's the link to Paneltronics They claim to be waterproof ... I'm pretty sure some major sport fishing boat manufacturers use them

Another option is the circuit breaker ... with different size re-setable, replaceable breakers, on/off indicator lights, backlit function labels and waterproof ....A little expensive but very well built and you can have them custom configured to suit your needs

[gw204]

Craig,

Here's how my first one ended up. I'm taking pics of the one I'm currently working on as well.

Out with the old....



In with the new....



I have a complete write-up on my site under Project 4.