Wiring Panel

[PipeDreamsMarine]

Take that hand held and mount it inside the cabin, place the new switch panel where the hand held was. get some of those combo gauges (ones that house two gauges in one or even 4) and redo the gauge panel.

[gw204]

Here's my initial thoughts.

Ditch the fuel gauge and use the Navman to keep track of how much juice you have left. That will free up some space. Then move the hour meter to the bulkhead above the handheld. You don't need to be constantly staring at that anyway. Whala, more space. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Put the fuse panel inside the hinged compartment. You are right, it would take a bit more time to get too but it will be protected from the elements and curious little fingers. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] That will also keep wire runs short.

You should then have room on the right side of the panel for a minimum of 6 rockers or 9 toggle switches if you keep the gauges centered on the steering wheel. Maybe another 2 rockers or 3 toggles if you push the gauges as far to port as possible, while maintaining enough spacing between the port-most gauge and the edge of the panel so it doesn't look wierd.

You'll probably have to relocate the VHF mic mount though.

One of the best things I can recommend you do is cut a piece of cardboard to the same dimensions as the panel. Then cut a few circles the size of your gauges and a few more pieces the size of th switches you want to use. Sit down and play with them until you find a layout you are happy with.

I don't know much about breakers so I can't help you there. [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

Does any of that sound good?

[PipeDreamsMarine]

Yeah.. what he said......

[warthog5]

I like still having the fuel guage for filling the tank at the gas station. But you have the Navman to really show how much fuel is left. I'd move the fuel guage and the hour meter side by side under where the VHF radio is now. Easy to look at when it's on the trailer, yet out of the way.
I like Brian's idea of keeping the rocker switchs high over to STB. Easy to reach & see.

I got the Blue Seas 8gang Horizintal panel. For the main circuit breaker panel I got the Blue Seas 8023 panel. It will be mounted on the bulkhead inside the cuddy.
http://www.bluesea.com/product.asp?Product_id=24837

[Miles Offshore]

all good ideas- i would also put the vert switch panel on the stbd side. Id also about remove the handheld (like Don said)into the cabin-remove the standard vhf and put it on the bulkhead right beside the fire extinqisher. Then the fuel tank gage, temp etc. in that space. I would leave my tach over, navman under, basically in the same position they are in. I would lose the compass directly in front and move my gps to that spot(still have a spare to the right,or exchange it with the other one if needed,lol). I would then have my bottom machine at a 45° coming over the cuddy door. (is that permanently fixed closed ?) I would take like don and Brian said and make a cardboard template of the area where your instuments are currently and lay it out until you like what you see. I prefer to be able to look straight on to the items I visit the most. Tach, navman, water temp, bilge light?, gps and bottom machine. radios and other stuff can be tucked out of the way but still easily accessable and help save space. Just my opinion, good luck. And if you are like me, once you start wiring the new switch panel- then to the new gages, then to the accessories then onto the rest of the boat, I think it ended up around 600 ducks for my redo. (give or take 100 dollars or so)

[strick]

Nick-

Is that a hard top on your boat in the picture by your sig? In the past I have mounted my radio and gps hanging off the bottom of the electronics box so they are easy to reach. That may free up some space on your dash. Is this possible?

Strick

[warthog5]

Another option on the circuit breaker panel is to build another small box for it to fit in and mount that under the removable box inside. Run the wiring in a chase tube up into that cavity.

That way you can remove the big box and get it out of your way to work in there and the Breakers will be at a handy site, but still out of the way.

[cSickNick]

Guys thanks ... keep the suggestions rolling. I need to think it to death before starting to rewire. I am scared to start because of the tight space and other electronics stuff that i would like to add in the future. Starting to take notice of how other boats electronics (new and old) are layed out. I need to see more examples of do's and dont's!

My buddies SeaVee is layed out nicely ... but that is a diff animal with plenty of glass space! [img]/images/graemlins/shocked.gif[/img]

My hour meter is dead, old guage with the old Yamaha. The new Suzuki guage is a multi with the hour meter displays through the tach meter prior to startup. So this hour meter guage will get tossed for space!

Fuel guage, nice thought to mount down low. I will consider moving it there, i like having it as a backup to the Navman.

That should free up some space on the guage panel.

I do have a hardtop, but no electronics box. When Don (PipeMan) made the top, i wanted to keep the top at a min height. An electronics box would cut into the headroom and obstruct viewing. I could get away with mounting the VHF to the top though ... good suggestion!

Warty, a box within a box is also a good thought!

I also was curious on why you guys picked this fuse panel;
#8261
instead of the this breaker panel;
#8371

- Nick [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[gw204]

OK, got some pics of the panel I did for my brother on his Grady Tournament 19 .

From the factory, the boat came with a very small panel mounted inside a molded plastic tray with a flip up plexiglass door.



My brother and I decided to completely do away with the tray. This allowed us to make the new panel much bigger. Once we came up with the design, I cut everything out. The space on the lower right later got a trim tab rocker switch.



Then the hole in the console itself was enlarged.



Next, I installed the gauges, switches, fuse holders and wired it all up. Then I fastened it in place with a few stainless steel machine screws.







Hope that helps some. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[BFaithful]

Glad you are complete. When are we getting started Brian? [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]