Welcome, Guest
Username: Password: Remember me
  • Page:
  • 1

TOPIC: Where to find vintage boat instrument panels?

Where to find vintage boat instrument panels? 7 years 4 months ago #128586

  • Skagit17
  • Skagit17's Avatar Topic Author
  • Offline
  • Junior Boarder
  • Junior Boarder
  • Posts: 81
  • Karma: 1
  • Thank you received: 0
Anyone know where to find vintage or vintage looking instrument panels? I am in the process of performing a repower on an older (1966) boat and the instrument panel that was in the boat was pretty worn out and won't work in my repower application. The boat had an old Volvo I/O and I'm installing a new Mercury. I'd love to find a vintage Mercury instrument panel to put in and hopefully be able to add a tachometer that has the oil and temp idiot lights in it.

Any ideas where to look? eBay and Google have not come through for me so far. :)

Sorry if this is in the wrong section.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

20.5' 1966 ClipperCraft, 18' 1978 Olympic, and a 12' 1959 Elgin Car Top.

Re: Where to find vintage boat instrument panels? 7 years 4 months ago #128587

Mercruiser I/O panel?

Ebay will probably be your best bet, but may require patience.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Re: Where to find vintage boat instrument panels? 7 years 4 months ago #128590

  • ed-mc
  • Offline
  • Platinum Boarder
  • Platinum Boarder
  • Posts: 1380
  • Karma: 232
  • Thank you received: 112
Here's a vintage Mercruiser panel, with tach hole but no tach:



This one isn't vintage but you might be able to do something with it:



Used M/C panel with all gauges, out of a '70's Starcraft:



And yet another 70's-vintage dash:



And this 70's-vintage M/C dash might be the coolest of all, never used (was in a display unit) and has all the gauges:



Anyway, that should be enough to chew on for a while!

HTH.........ed

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Re: Where to find vintage boat instrument panels? 7 years 4 months ago #128620

  • Skagit17
  • Skagit17's Avatar Topic Author
  • Offline
  • Junior Boarder
  • Junior Boarder
  • Posts: 81
  • Karma: 1
  • Thank you received: 0
Thanks guys! I'm looking for something that I can hide the modern tach in...the engine is actually not an I/O, but a SportJet. It's a Mercury optimax outboard power head on a jet. I liked the old Volvo but I really want a jet for the area where I live.

Thanks again for the links!
Attachments:

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

20.5' 1966 ClipperCraft, 18' 1978 Olympic, and a 12' 1959 Elgin Car Top.

Re:Where to find vintage boat instrument panels? 7 years 4 months ago #128623

Hey, that's a nice setup, I like it!
Could you use one of these?
Attachments:

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Re:Where to find vintage boat instrument panels? 7 years 4 months ago #128634

  • Skagit17
  • Skagit17's Avatar Topic Author
  • Offline
  • Junior Boarder
  • Junior Boarder
  • Posts: 81
  • Karma: 1
  • Thank you received: 0
Something like that is what I'm looking for...I'd like to have a spot for a few switches. I'd like to have the running lights, bilge pump, and windshield wiper switches on the panel. I think I'll only have the one gauge...possibly a fuel gauge.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

20.5' 1966 ClipperCraft, 18' 1978 Olympic, and a 12' 1959 Elgin Car Top.

Re:Where to find vintage boat instrument panels? 7 years 4 months ago #128637

Well, if you'd like this one, I've decided to do something different on the Stardust so I'm taking it off. Was going to put it on eBay, but you can have it for $25.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Re:Where to find vintage boat instrument panels? 7 years 4 months ago #128665

Skagit,
Having trouble emailing pics, so I'll post here. Took the panel off today and tried some polish on a spot. Looks like it'll clean up good, it's stainless. Meter hole measures 3 1/4"
Attachments:

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Re:Where to find vintage boat instrument panels? 7 years 4 months ago #128685

  • Skagit17
  • Skagit17's Avatar Topic Author
  • Offline
  • Junior Boarder
  • Junior Boarder
  • Posts: 81
  • Karma: 1
  • Thank you received: 0
Scott,

That looks great. The gauge requires an 85mm hole...which is like 3 and 11/32nds inches. This is the gauge I'm looking to use, although I think I'm going to install a black gauge.

Gauge

This one says it is 3 1/4"...hmm. It will probably fit.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

20.5' 1966 ClipperCraft, 18' 1978 Olympic, and a 12' 1959 Elgin Car Top.

Re:Where to find vintage boat instrument panels? 7 years 4 months ago #128686

I think you may have to shave a little out with a dremel, as the hole is on the skinny side of 3 1/4 anyway.
That gauge looks like it's pretty much all you'd need.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Re:Where to find vintage boat instrument panels? 7 years 4 months ago #128696

  • Skagit17
  • Skagit17's Avatar Topic Author
  • Offline
  • Junior Boarder
  • Junior Boarder
  • Posts: 81
  • Karma: 1
  • Thank you received: 0
Isn't it amazing? I was going to get an old school dash panel like this Mercruiser Panel and figure out how to wire it up so I could use the tach but the smartcraft system is amazing! I like the fact it monitors all your engine vitals and tracks fuel consumption.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

20.5' 1966 ClipperCraft, 18' 1978 Olympic, and a 12' 1959 Elgin Car Top.

Re:Where to find vintage boat instrument panels? 7 years 3 months ago #129237

  • Skagit17
  • Skagit17's Avatar Topic Author
  • Offline
  • Junior Boarder
  • Junior Boarder
  • Posts: 81
  • Karma: 1
  • Thank you received: 0
BTW thank you Subaru Scott!

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

20.5' 1966 ClipperCraft, 18' 1978 Olympic, and a 12' 1959 Elgin Car Top.

Re:Where to find vintage boat instrument panels? 7 years 3 months ago #129239

You're most certainly welcome!! Glad I could pass along a historic piece of hardware to a good home :)
Please post pics after the install. I just got the Stardust out for her maiden (for me) voyage this afternoon, and she did great. Will post an update tomorrow.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Page:
  • 1
Time to create page: 0.219 seconds

Donate

Please consider supporting our efforts.

FG Login

Glassified Ads

1975 16ft Cobalt
( / Boats)

1975 16ft Cobalt
03-27-2024

Homelie/Bearcat
( / Engines)

noimage
03-17-2024

Thunderbird Apache 1956 hardtop
( / Boats)

noimage
03-10-2024

FiberGoogle

Who's Online

We have 8680 guests and one member online