Instrument Holes...What to Do?

[jsmac]

HI, I have a 1998 Hunter 410 with an Edson steering pod, see pic. All of the old instruments are dead and I will replace them with dissimilarly sized equipment. Before I install the new gear I need to cover the old holes. I was thinking about using starboard poly sized and shaped to cover all of the holes in the face of the pod, then cut new holes for the new gear. What do you think?

Also, what can I use to cut and shape the starboard? I am not so great at cutting straight lines with a jigsaw and don't have the right circular saw. Will regular blades work or would that melt the starboard?

How would I determine the size of the steering pod in advance so I can cut and shape in advance of going to the boat which is 3 hrs away?

I am also assuming the color would be white, but I bet the old pod has discolored. Maybe I'll use black starboard?
Anyone ideasd and suggestions are welcome, pics are really appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Jackdaw]

I've done this before, with starboard. The trick is starboard is very hard to glue to, very little will stick to it. I used a newer 3M adhesive (sold at Granger), it works, but the stuff is like 30 bucks a tube.

 

[Bill Roosa]

I'd do it in teak or oak for a salty look.
You can probably find your pod on line for the dimensions. build the instrument board a little big so you can fit it on the boat and trim later.

 

[redhead78]

Is that the piece u have to make with the holes in it, it looks like u can lift it out and reproduce it, maybe at home, then figure where u want and which guages u want and drill wf a hole saw. ..Red

 

[seadaddler]

Fiberglass

It looks just like the same fiberglass as the rest of the boat is made of and so use some type of backing in the holes manybe one piece to cover all the holes behind and than fiberglass over everything and than make new ones.
Nick

 

[Steve Dion]

I had the same issue on my HV'36. I had the holes glassed over (new gelcoat) and redrillled all the holes for the new instruments.

I was not cheap but well worth it.

 

[jsmac]

Hi Redhead, No, the piece with the holes is the cup holder. I need something to fit over the existing radio and chart plotter, which I'll remove of course.

I like the starboard idea, I'm not into teaking up the boat, and I'm too cheap to pay someone to glass over the holes, but agreed it woudl be the nicest solution.

I have been able to find someone who can cut the starboard really well, a pro actually, but now the challenge will be to get all the dimensions since the boat is 3 hrs away.

Thanks

 

[ttac]

I to like the star board idea! It would make it easy to work on the new gauges if needed. You may think about putting hinges on the bottom edge and a foam seal around it to seal it. That would be my fix!
Dean

 

[seadaddler]

Not nice

I here you not wanting to $$$$ but if you use starboard I think it will look like
but that it just me and it will be what you look at all the time in your face and after wards yyou might say " what was I thinking as you look at it and looks like a very nice boat.
Can you use some of the holes with newer instruments,have you decided what the new ones are yet and maybe use the holes with new a new VHF and a new auto aand a new charplotter.
Like I said it just me and would spend the $$$$ and make it look nice like the rest of the boat which from the photo the cockpit looks good and E-bay has pretty good deals.
Nick

 

[Sailgunner]

Where are you engine gages? Mine are in the top of the panel you are showing. Where do you plan to put your chart plotter. I have mine on the pedestal right in front of the wheel. Starboard should work fine. You can screw it on or through bolt it if you can reach underneath from you cup holder area.

 

[redhead78]

Ok, I see what u have now, I was lookin at the wrong area. U could remove the guages, and u could do glass, where old were, it would not have to look perfect, if after, make a template out of cardboard, the same shape maybe with a 1 inch reveal on top and sides which will completely cover the repaired area then have a piece of dark plexi or lexan made, u can either drill for the new instruments or furnish them to the glazier who makes the plexi, if u put some hardwood backer in the corners it would only take 4 nice SS screws to hold it in. They can edge the plexi and it would be a nice contrast, this would not break the bank....Red

 

[Saillife]

Gotta agree with redhead. That's what I did with an old datamarine instrument that was mounted on the cabin wall of the cockpit. Ended up putting a 12 volt socket in there for the plug in spotlight. Looks good and no hassle with trying to match color of the gelcoat....

 

[Chef2sail]

Nice piece of thinner teak. No need to build lthichness with starboard. That amount of teak will be easy to maintain


Dave

 

[Mike H.]

I'm facing the same problem. I plan on using teak. That small amount of teak is zero maintenance. Just don't varnish it. Let it fade naturally.

If you have basic wood working skills, you can make it look pro.

 

[jsmac]

Completed Job!

Hi All,

Thanks for all your suggestions. I went with a thin piece of Starboard Poly, preformed at home and cut to fit, then mounted and the equipment was mounted on board. The screws hold it in place and I put a thin peice of insultaing foam strip around the endge to prevent water infultration to the back of the panel.

Looks good to me and can always be changed out in the future if I need to add anything else.

I was really considering having the holes re-glassed, but I was afraid the new glass would look different from the old console due to aging. While this still looks different, it's a nice finish.

Thanks again.

 

[Chef2sail]

Hi All,

Thanks for all your suggestions. I went with a thin piece of Starboard Poly, preformed at home and cut to fit, then mounted and the equipment was mounted on board. The screws hold it in place and I put a thin peice of insultaing foam strip around the endge to prevent water infultration to the back of the panel.

Looks good to me and can always be changed out in the future if I need to add anything else.

I was really considering having the holes re-glassed, but I was afraid the new glass would look different from the old console due to aging. While this still looks different, it's a nice finish.

Thanks again.

Nice simple solution. Well done