Hey all need help on where to start looking for an instrument panel on the top of the pedestal (oil press. water temp. speedo etc.) I am without any of this right now and not comfortable not having them! It is a 79 model 30' only came with the warning lights and buzzers
installing a insterment panel on pedastel
- Thread starter lee oakley
- Start date
Many years ago I faced a similar dilemma, install the new instruments on the bulkhead or put them at the helm. I had read about making an instrument pod from vinyl fence rail. But there wasn't room on the helm guard. So for $100. I had a taller offset helm guard made. Then with a section of fence rail and two end caps I had a pod. Its been there twelve or more years and does what I want.
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Why not replace with a new one that includes all the gauges you want in the same place as the old? Just cut the hole larger. They sell panels on Ebay and some customize for your needs. Wouldn't you rather save that precious space on top of the pedestal for a chartplotter, depth gauge etc. besides engine gauges? I would watch those instruments more than what the engine is doing....especially under sail.
If you are asking about my post above I have two Nexus displays in the pod, a m multi-display and a wind display. The multi can display everything but two items at a time, I keep it on speed with depth at bottom. I like a separate wind display because I sail with a bimini and it's hard to see the tell tales and the windex. The wires are inside the helm tubing and under the cockpit sole. It would be very difficult to get wiring from the engine up to the helm.
Here's probably the least expensive way, a combo fish finder/gps. The transducer mounts on the transom making it easier to get the wiring to the helm. With this you get depth, a bottom picture, and a chartplotter. And you don't need an instrument pod, just the mount for your current helm guard. These get pricier as you go to bigger screens. Not sure how else you get depth with gps except with a fish finder. Here's the link: http://www.westmarine.com/buy/lowra...z-transducer-nautic-pro-cartography--17030388 .
+1. I am going with a 7" depth/chartplotter combo but with a thru the hull transducer. It's all I need. Wiring will run up my pedestal or guard.
My original setup was a Garmin GPS192C and Navman 3100 Multi, and Wind instruments.
The Garmin is mounted on the binnacle guard and the Nav's are on eyeballs, right beside the compass.
I don't know what they were thinking but trying to reach over the wheel while docking, to shift into reverse and then switch hands to increase throttle, all while approaching a steel seawall.....
When my Wind instrument started going nuts with cross signals in the wires it was time to change. So, I've worked up a design which moves the (new) instruments into a pod. This plan was based on a pod from England - Interform Marine X09, which they no longer make.
All of the pods for sale are over 500 Bucks, and not really designed to fit our 37C pedastle. So onto plan B....
Here's the plan. It's a made from 1/4" oak, will be covered in fiberglass and painted, and holds 2 instruments and a 9" chartplotter. Its angled on the back for recessed mounting, and sticks out about 4.5" including the instrument covers. The sides are angled for those quick panic maneuver moments. It has a couple of vents on the bottom for heat, even though there is enough space to manage the heat from the plotter ( I also have a bimini ). And, I'm even putting a waterproof red/white LED on the back to light up my cockpit table:
and here's the work in progress:
I may bend the binnacle 30 deg to make better viewing. There's also Beer, err sunglasses holders to consider.....
As for the instruments, I'm going with a Raymarine I70 and P70 and B&G Zeus 2 9" plotter. Why B&G? Sailsteer and a nice big screen for future radar.
The Garmin is mounted on the binnacle guard and the Nav's are on eyeballs, right beside the compass.
I don't know what they were thinking but trying to reach over the wheel while docking, to shift into reverse and then switch hands to increase throttle, all while approaching a steel seawall.....
When my Wind instrument started going nuts with cross signals in the wires it was time to change. So, I've worked up a design which moves the (new) instruments into a pod. This plan was based on a pod from England - Interform Marine X09, which they no longer make.
All of the pods for sale are over 500 Bucks, and not really designed to fit our 37C pedastle. So onto plan B....
Here's the plan. It's a made from 1/4" oak, will be covered in fiberglass and painted, and holds 2 instruments and a 9" chartplotter. Its angled on the back for recessed mounting, and sticks out about 4.5" including the instrument covers. The sides are angled for those quick panic maneuver moments. It has a couple of vents on the bottom for heat, even though there is enough space to manage the heat from the plotter ( I also have a bimini ). And, I'm even putting a waterproof red/white LED on the back to light up my cockpit table:
and here's the work in progress:
I may bend the binnacle 30 deg to make better viewing. There's also Beer, err sunglasses holders to consider.....
As for the instruments, I'm going with a Raymarine I70 and P70 and B&G Zeus 2 9" plotter. Why B&G? Sailsteer and a nice big screen for future radar.
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Looks good! I think that I will try to go lower than that seems like it would interfere with my view. I'll mount mine to the pedestal but make it so insturments will be on the sides 6inches or so below compass