Redesigning my console layout

jlanng · 22 November 2004, 13:47

I've recently bought a second-hand Ribcraft 5.85. I'll be fitting a VHF and plotter in the near future, but the current console layout doesn't allow any room for my new toys. I could mount the VHF and plotter on the top of the console, but that would place them right next to my magnetic compass and I'd need to take them off every time I left the boat unattended.

What I'd like to do is remove the current front panel of acrylic and replace it with my one of my own design. It seems pretty well glued on - as you might expect, so getting it off might be a challenge. Any suggestions? Also, where could I buy a new panel of acrylic from?

Any suggestions / input very gratefully received. There's nothing worse than having toys and not being able to play with them

Pete7 · 22 November 2004, 14:33

I think you should take a trip to the Boat Show in January. Always a good source of ideas / designs and you could do worse than copy Sunseeker or Princess.

Pete

MeMe · 22 November 2004, 16:42

........for want of a better description. The panel holding all the instruments was not aesthesically pleasing so I yanked it out and replaced it. See attached photo.

For the replacement panel I looked up plastic sheeting on www.yell.com and ended up finding a sign makers, you know the type, shop frontage etc. Anyway I just popped in one lunchtime and asked to speak to the "gaffer" they speak like that up north don't you know ! Anyway, I took the old piece of board with me to demonstrate what I was after and he simply gave me an off-cut which I cut myself at home with a stanly knife and compass. The board was white so I bought some carbon fibre sticky back plastic stuff from the car accessory shop and bobs your uncle.

Louise · 22 November 2004, 16:49

Looks very smart Graeme!

MeMe · 22 November 2004, 16:54

.......speed ! Yeeeee Haaaaaaaaa. I only used to pull about 30. I've also got a larger prop (different pitch) which should give me 50mph. I'll give it a try next year.

Louise · 22 November 2004, 16:56

Waaahaaaay!!!!!!

Squirrel · 22 November 2004, 17:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by MeMe

so I bought some carbon fibre sticky back plastic stuff from the car accessory shop and bobs your uncle.

I was in the Pro-sport factory the other day and they had a very tasty nearly finished 8m with suspension jockey seats (3,000 Euros a piece

) and a very sexy looking black console that was supposed to be carbon fibre and with a 10,000 Euro price tag, you'd hope so. When they cut into it to fit the instruments, they found it was just black glass....

jlanng · 22 November 2004, 18:00

Very smart... watch this space!

Simon B · 23 November 2004, 15:03

We are possibly thinking of doing something similar, one option was to draw up what we wanted with cutouts etc and then get this laser cut in stainless.

The idea being to cut out all the old panel apart from a mounting flange around the edge to take the new stainless panel.

However, as we have observed a number of other dive clubs have solved this problem by mounting all their toys in an add on box that clamps by over centre fasteners to the top of the existing console. As you may imagine aesthetics arent to good then.

MeMe · 23 November 2004, 15:10

......the stainless option but found that cost prohibited the same. Further, there's no one able or as keen to get everything "just right" as when you do it yourself. If you fancy the stainless look, B&Q have started selling small sheets of various metal finishes.

slimtim · 23 November 2004, 16:26

jlanng,

have you looked at Vetus polywood? Vetus make this stuff that comes in sheets and is suppsoed to be really good for things like that. Its quite expensive I think though. Get yourself a Vetus catalogue and have a look!

I'm doing an advanced composite wing project at uni at he moment and I need to practice doing resin infusion so I might make myself a carbon fibre dash board for me new rib

Cheers

Tim

Hightower · 23 November 2004, 18:34

Completley made my Dash from scratch using a plastic sheet (perpex) with cut out holes for the Plotter, VHF and Depth sounder. I mounted a SS tube either side as slide rails and covered with some black vinyl to give a good finish. I then mounted two SS tubes of smaller diameter that would slide up inside the larger ones and mounted them on the console to match the pitch of the ones already screwed to the Dash, with some quick release electrical conections and a rubber bungy cord to hold the dash in place I have my removable console dash.
Will post some pics when I've taken the photo's as I don't think I've taken any photo's of it since installing it at the begining of summer.

Its a nice neat job and didn't cost me anything apart from the electrical connections.

Andy

The Jackeens · 23 November 2004, 18:41

Andy,

Yep you did a great job on it. A brill self design solution

Paul

kitten · 24 November 2004, 10:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete7

I think you should take a trip to the Boat Show in January. Always a good source of ideas / designs and you could do worse than copy Sunseeker or Princess.

Pete

HaHa Thanks Pete. A nice back handed complement.
I Built the first sort of curvy ergonomic? dash for princess when they stopped just being rounded off square boxes.

Pete7 · 24 November 2004, 12:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by kitten

HaHa Thanks Pete. A nice back handed complement.
I Built the first sort of curvy ergonomic? dash for princess when they stopped just being rounded off square boxes.

No problem mate, seen some of the photos of your new rib under going developement, can only describe it as stunning,

MeMe · 24 November 2004, 13:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete7

No problem mate, seen some of the photos of your new rib under going developement, can only describe it as stunning,

............pictures ?

Pete7 · 24 November 2004, 16:04

Meme, sorry not on the internet just yet, think we will have to let Kitten and Cookee finish the project first.

Pete

Cookee · 24 November 2004, 16:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by MeMe

............pictures ?

You really should pay attention more! Have a look here: http://www.rib.net/forum/showthread....&page=12&pp=10

The Jackeens · 24 November 2004, 22:54

The Bananashark Leisure RIB.

We thought it was a very stylish design. A professional outfit all round.

missus

Hightower · 27 November 2004, 13:53

As prommised from my earlier post, a few pics outlining the basic build of my console. Nothing fancy but very effective.I've no problems with the compass position, it's right under the VHF so I was amazed myself when installing the dash had no effect!!

Andy