Dash Panel Replacement

tgcasey · Post by **tgcasey** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 10:24 am

I have a 12M convertible and the Dash Panel is pretty beat up from years of weather and the previous owner drilling random holes all over the place. I am looking for option to replace the dash, the following is what I have com up with:

o remove current plastic glass in the opening and cut in new gauges, switch, etc...

o purchase a new dash from Beacon marine (if they have one)

o make a new dash panel out of starboard (or similar material)

Anybody ever have to deal with this? What is the best approach?

Thanks

Tom

chumwithabottleofrum · Sun Dec 28, 2008 8:56 pm

I replaced a dash-actually instrument panel in my former boat-a Wellcraft 192 classic. It had a plastic instrument panel with "inverted hockey stick" gauges. I replaced the instrument panel and the gauges.
I removed the old instrument panel and took it along with a nice piece of teak to a cabinet maker. He used the instrument panel as a template to cut the teak and drill the holes where the mountins screws were going to go in. he and then he cut out the holes for the new gauges to go into.
Worked out real well.

tgcasey · Post by **tgcasey** » Wed Dec 31, 2008 7:52 am

Thanks for the response...

I came across a company called Front Panel Express that will custom make a panel. You down load a small application from their web site (http://www.frontpanelexpress.com) design what you want and then have it priced and made. I down loaded the application but have not played with it yet but it is an interesting idea

aaronbocknek · Post by **aaronbocknek** » Wed Dec 31, 2008 8:10 am

this place will do it also....
http://www.wewireboats.com they have many custom panels they can make for you.
aaron

tgcasey · Post by **tgcasey** » Thu Jan 01, 2009 8:48 am

Thanks for the tip... As it turns out they are in the same town that I keep my boat, Newburyport MA

Tom

JuiceClark · Post by **JuiceClark** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 8:08 pm

Ta-da!

I just gave a local plastic place my old one and they made a new one in lexan. They even cut the holes.
TC

Peter · Post by **Peter** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 10:28 pm

Juice...looks fantastic!!!

jordan · Post by **jordan** » Mon Jan 05, 2009 1:23 am

Juiceclark,
Nice looking dash! Who is the manufacture of the gauges? I just did my upper helm by removing the plastic dash and made it out of mahogany and used the old gauges. I would do it over so I could have 4 in 1 gauges. Also would use those on the lower helm. (Next project)
Thanks, Jim

Dan Faith · Post by **Dan Faith** » Mon Jan 05, 2009 10:31 am

MY FLYBRIDGE WAS A FADDED BROWN, SO I USED THE NEW FUSION PAINT FOR PLASTIC. I REMOVED THE GAUGES PAINTED THEN REPLACED ALL THE INDICATOR LIGHTS WITH LED'S. TOOK THE BETTER PART OF THE DAY BUT WAS WORTH IT.
IF I CAN FIGURE OUT HOW TO DISPLAY A PICTURE I'LL INSERT ANOTHER POST.

jordan · Post by **jordan** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 10:11 pm

Tony,
Where did you purchase the 4 in 1 gauges and what brand? They look great!
Jim

Dan Faith · Post by **Dan Faith** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 11:57 am

updated panel

before update

next project to update lower helm to match

Stripermann2 · Post by **Stripermann2** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 12:35 pm

Dan, that looks really good! Did you have to do anything with the switch labels or were they in okay shape?

Dan Faith · Post by **Dan Faith** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 1:30 pm

Only think I did was remove the plates with the labels and tape over the opening. the hardest part was working the new LED wires into the switches. I now have a number of the old light bulbs left over. LED's at Radio shack was $1.65 each since I needed enough to do the bilge pump indicators also.

reelfishin · Post by **reelfishin** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 7:39 pm

You all did a great job. I would like to redo ours. I haven't decided how to do it. I am thinking it over. My son will be is wanting to do it so I will see if I do it our he has someone else do it. But in the mean time I am working it over in my head to see what I can do.

JuiceClark · Post by **JuiceClark** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 9:13 pm

Hey gang....sorry I took so long to respond.
My 4 - 1 gauges are Faria and I bought them new and rather inexpensively on Ebay from a wholesaler. I got the black gal/hour gauge on Ebay as well and my autopilot on the left from the clearance page on BoatersWorld's website. I hooked them up myself. Yes, it was that easy.

It was a cheap and easy job. The only problem was those little colored led lights above the switches are WAY too bright at night....like a Christmas tree in your face. So, a clever old salt told me to paint them with white nail polish. That dimmed them to a tolerable level.

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