Sceptre Owners

[Finster]

How do you resolve the limited dash space at the helm for electronics? Over head box? Custom config?
From the pic's I've seen their doesn't seem to be any logical placement for any.

[ScottM]

Finster,
I have 2 fishfinders, a VHF, and a handheld GPS. The color machine is mounted above the portside storage compartment, the other fishfinder is mounted on the helm dash just ahead of the steering wheel since it is a small unit, the VHF is mounted just inside the cabin entrance on the starboard side facing up so you can see it at the helm, and the GPS is mounted ahead of the wheel as well. If I ever get my hands on a digital camera, I'll post some pictures. It's not the most professional-looking setup, but it works.

[Finster]

I wonder if you can make a custom config. using starboarb or something so yo could flush mount everything, including engine gauges?

[ScottM]

I've thought about the Starboard thing too. I'd like to remove the gauges from the original teak panel since it looks terrible and seems too far gone to bring it back, and also cover up some holes in the helm area caused by 20 years of use and an original twin OB setup - 2 sets of everything. I thought about getting 1/4" Starboard and mounting it to the helm area using 5200 and fairing the edges so it blends nicely with the fiberglass. Has anyone else done this, or should the holes be dealt with the old fashioned way - filling them with glass and re-gelcoat?

[Finster]

There is enough room to do that? Flush mount 2 medium size displays? (I use a Lowrance LCX-16ci, and would like to have a radar as well).

[ScottM]

Sorry about that Finster - no there isn't. What I meant was I would cover up some existing holes on the helm area with Starboard, then remount all the existing gauges. With a single set of gauges, you may be able to flush mount a VHF in the dash panel, but that's about it. Everything else would have to be surfaced mounted, or if you were lucky enough to have a hardtop, use an overhead electronics box.

[Finster]

How about if you built it out further? (toward the wheel).
I had a simular problem with an older grady I had.

[ScottM]

If you mean build out the dash panel closer to the wheel, then you'd be taking up the flat area where the engine controls (in the case of an OB)are mounted. Plus, there isn't much vertical distance between the top of the dash panel and the windshield. As you may know, the windshield on a 23' Sceptre is raked pretty steep, so there isn't much space to begin with. Unfortunately SeaCraft wasn't thinking too much about electronics when they designed this layout.

[Finster]

Yeah, and thats the place where your beer goes too. I suppose the only thing to do would be over top in a box. [img]images/icons/blush.gif[/img]
It sucks I have to be anal and somewhat retarded about where my electronic's go, but I guess somone has to. [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img]

[ScottM]

If you figure something out besides an overhead box, let me know. I'd rearrange things if you built a better mousetrap.

Just make sure you keep a spot for the cold ones!