Center Console attachment

[Beaver]

The guy I bought my 18 from had replaced the screws that hold the center console down with non stainless screws that are narrow and now rusting. While it still seems solid, already a few of the heads have popped off and I don't want to find myself in rough seas with the console sliding around the deck. So... Any thoughts on the best way to re attach my CC?

Should I just move the CC forward a bit or backward a bit and re-screw with stainless? I thought about cutting a piece of HDPE to attach it to and then attach to the deck.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Rob

[CaptMick]

Without a picture I say you try to get them all out. Any where the heads break off drill them out or if they are very rusty use a punch and tap them through. Since you will want to re-seal the console at that point I would slide the console to the side where your wire chase is (Mine was starboard side) and lean it over. Then go ahead and pull all the the screws on the deck plat over your fuel tank. Clean everything up. Fill all holes then re drill and use the correct screws. Follow that up with sealant in the deck plate seams followed by the same when you put the console back. Should take you less that a day or two unless you run into trouble. But on the flip side it will give you time to look at your fuel tank and hoses and see if there will be trouble down the road.

[Beaver]

Thanks CaptnMick. Sounds like a good plan. Do you know if when the fuel tank cover is off if I can reach to through bolt the CC?

Thanks again.

Rob

[CaptMick]

Not on mine. Search the rebuild threads and you should be able to find a picture of an 18 with the deck removed.

[erebus]

Mine neither.
Solid glass coffin box

[Beaver]

Picture's worth a thousand words. Thanks.

[sidelock]

I don't mean to hijack this thread but does anyone know if a wire can be fished from the hole in the deck where the wires are sticking out to the bow bulkhead above the casting deck for a trolling motor plug installation ? I suspect foam and/or stringer will interfere .

[uncleboo]

Mine's an 18 and I ran new bow light wires from the switch out with the rest of the wires in the rigging channel then ran a metal fish tape down the side between the inner liner and hull. Wasn't too bad. I keep a fabric fish tape for adds through the rigging channel. It's long enough to tie into a loop and after fishing a wire, I untie it and stow the ends and I'm ready for next time..

[JohnC]

My 77 was not full of foam under the casting deck, probably not that hard to get a wire through. If it were me I would probably try to run it sideways to the gunnel and forward from there (maybe near the gas fill line). That way you can put it in a pipe and make it serviceable. I guess either way would work okay.

[sidelock]

Originally Posted by uncleboo

Mine's an 18 and I ran new bow light wires from the switch out with the rest of the wires in the rigging channel then ran a metal fish tape down the side between the inner liner and hull. Wasn't too bad. I keep a fabric fish tape for adds through the rigging channel. It's long enough to tie into a loop and after fishing a wire, I untie it and stow the ends and I'm ready for next time..

I know its easy to fish a wire between the liner and the hull but how do you get it to come out of the hole cut out in the deck where all the rest of the wiring is ? I have a trolling motor plug installed in the liner and presently keep my two 12V battery in the fish box but I would like to relocate them under the console seat.
I also have a thin rope in the rigging channel for add on but I'm trying to find an alternative and more practical way instead of having to use excessive amount of wire by going from the bow all the way to the transom compartment and then back to the rigging hole in the deck under the console.