Instrument Shuffle

[Foswick]

I'm motivated to move some instrumentation around. The main issue I am trying to rectify is the fact that the current Admiral engine panel is located near my feet when at the helm. Currently, it is pretty difficult to read anything on this panel. (The position is indicated in orange as "Panel" below.) I want to move it to the position indicated in red as "New Location".

This solves another problem I have. The windlass switch is located in a position I frequently active accidentally when backing out. (I like to sit with my back to the portside coaming so I have good visibility both directions and can easily reach throttle and steering. But, on more than one occasion, I have let out a bunch of chain because I neglected to shut off the breaker to the windlass.) So, I would relocate the windlass switch to a point aft of the AP and as high as possible. This is in a better position anyway because, when anchoring, I am more likely standing right there so I can see forward better.

I'm just doing a sanity check for considerations I might be overlooking. Seems pretty straightforward, but ... boats.

The fuel shutoff cable probably needs to stay put. It is near the upper portside corner of the panel (just barely visible below the green arrow below). It doesn't bother me there and I think it might not be feasible to make that 90 degree bend if I were to move it with the panel. And, aside from relocating the windlass switch, I don't think anything else has to move.

Then, that gives me a panel-sized opening in the aft side of that port locker. I think I might just glass in a little cubby hole there for storage. It could be a good location for an auxiliary VHF mic or just a place to keep sunscreen, or both.

Any words of caution about things I might not be considering?

 

[kappykaplan]

From your photo, it looks doable. My only concern would be the extending the wiring to the new location(s) and the robustness of the splices to do so. Good luck!

 

[Foswick]

My only concern would be the extending the wiring to the new location(s) and the robustness of the splices to do so.

Good thought. Fortunately, there is quite a bit of extra wire from the harness bundled behind the panel. I should double-check that it will reach, though.

 

[Tally Ho]

How big is the panel?

I had the same issue on my O’Day 322.

But my Yanmar panel would require a big hole in the coaming, and I didn’t like the idea of cutting that big of a hole.

So, I have moved my hour meter and fuel gauge up to the coaming, and I am going to buy a new (smaller) tach to add to my “instrument cluster”, but will leave the panel where it is…those 2 gauges were actually in my lazzerette.

I don’t have a good photo, but you can see where the panel is, and the 2 gauges I have moved so far. The gauges sit between the manual bilge pump on the left and a remote vhf radio unit a the right. I will add small tach in between.

 

[Foswick]

How big is the panel?

I forget the exact measurement, but it is about 9" x 6" ... ish.

... would require a big hole in the coaming, and I didn’t like the idea of cutting that big of a hole.

I don't mind cutting big holes in my boat. It makes it easier to see where to pour the money.

 

[sailme88]

Raymarine and possibly Garmins MFD have the ability to report on the screen what you want to manage. i.e. RPMs , engine heat, oil pressure and change.All this and still have chartplotting with radar overlay.. You should seek out a showroom to see in person what size would work best..

 

[colemj]

I don't see any problem with your proposal.

Do you use the windlass switch from the cockpit? If not, just remove it. If so, maybe consider a cover over it, or recess it so it doesn't get bumped by mistake. Amazon.com

Or replace the switch with a plug and use a handheld controller that you store in your new cubby. Put a second plug up by the windlass, and you can choose where you use it. https://www.amazon.com/Taukealugs-C...7a-8570-a6d744aa9b94&pd_rd_i=B09TK4V284&psc=1

Mark

 

[Foswick]

Do you use the windlass switch from the cockpit?

Yeah, I like having it there. We have the foot switches on the foredeck, so between those two locations, we can operate the windlass from anywhere I would want to - either at the windlass or at the helm.

Really, in its current location it isn't a big problem except that it is in the best available location for relocating the instrument panel. So, I might just as well move it a few inches to where it won't be bumped. I've been kind of thinking of replacing the rocker switch with a pair of flush-mounted momentary push buttons - just for a lower profile and less likely to get snagged.

 

[Urban Hermit]

The space between where the instruments are located and the wheel and transom seat looks pretty tight so this might not solve your problem but here's something I did to make a screen more visible: On my RV the rear vision display was low and centered and I couldn't see the image satisfactorily from the driver's set. I made a nacelle out of fiberglass that aimed the screen to the left and up so it was closer to perpendicular to my line of sight. Wondering if, instead of cutting/filling large holes in your fiberglass, that a nacelle or bezel that would angle the face of the instrument panel up would suffice. If it would, a three-sided bezel, triangular on the sides and rectangular across the bottom, should do the trick.

 

[Davidasailor26]

Raymarine and possibly Garmins MFD have the ability to report on the screen what you want to manage. i.e. RPMs , engine heat, oil pressure and change.All this and still have chartplotting with radar overlay.. You should seek out a showroom to see in person what size would work best..

Any NMEA 2000 plotter and many instruments should be able to show that data once it’s on the network. But it does require updating the engine sensors to put the data on the bus.

 

[Joe]

I'm just doing a sanity check for considerations I might be overlooking. Seems pretty straightforward, but ... boats.



Any words of caution about things I might not be considering?

View attachment 231024

Am I upsetting your plan if I suggest to simply mount the instrument panel on the lazzerette bulkhead near the wheel. You could even tilt it a bit for easier visibility. I can't see you sitting behind the wheel, rather one one side or the other. Upside is everything else stays where it is... unless you're jonesing for a full reno... but heck.. why not N2K all your stuff and spend 10k putting everything on a 12 inch monitor. You know, like the new boats

 

[fred1diver]

Thinking about doing similar on my Pearson 30
The boat was originally a tiller boat but a PO modified it to a wheel, the key, guages and choke are still down below far from the helm, would line to move the key and guages to the helm, not sure about the choke yet

 

[Foswick]

I'm not a fan of networking boats without redundancy. That is, I don't like creating a single point of failure. If I lose one thing or another, it isn't a big deal. But, if I lose my engine instruments while dealing with losing all of my other instruments - that isn't great.

I have made a career in tech, and it goes against my natural urges to forego a digital solution. But, in this case, I think it is the right choice for me. Centralizing critical systems is, in general, a risky thing to do. And, I consider oil pressure and temperature gauges critical systems.

Granted, I could network my boat in such a way to be more fault-tolerant than a typical boat. I have the knowledge to do that. But, that really just creates a problem, then solves it. And, it is also possible to keep my analog instruments and get digital output. But again, that doesn't really help me much.