Dim Dash - Instrument Panel Switch Lights

[savetexomabeaches]

This is my dash. It is so hard to see at night. My toggle switches have no lights. The words (Horn/Nav/Anchor/Blower/Pump) are not lighted (solid panel, no lights behind them) -- At night, I cannot tell which switch is which, or if they are on, or anything. I've looked at making another dash, but I'd really want to stay away from rocker switches, and just have toggles, but be able to illuminate the words.. Has anyone done anything like that or have any ideas? I'd also like to mount my depth finder inside the panel. I only use it for water temp and depth.

 

[gm280]

There are few options. But it depends on how much you are wanting to spend.. First, and the less costly of all options, is to install a couple LED type angled lights at the top of the panel to illuminate all the gauges and switches. They make a lot of really nice looking LED setups for doing that and they really don't cost but a few dollars. Next you could replace all the toggle switches with illuminated types and they will allow you to see them for operation. Lastly, you can have a local trophy type shop LASER new panels out that would allow rear illumination of the labels. But that is going to cost a lot more. Those are some of the ideas and others may have better ones. JMHO!

 

[savetexomabeaches]

I wonder if I could dremel out behind the panels and only leave a thin layer of the white

 

[JoLin]

If you want a true poor man's solution, google "Red LED Flashlight". Put a hook on the dash and hang it there. I have exactly the same problem you do, and been looking unsuccessfully for a cheap-o solution. Think I'll hafta go that route.

My .02

 

[rallyart]

Get a 'map light' from a car parts store and turn it on occasionally or add a filter to dim it to whatever level is suitable. That's a cheap fix, usually on a gooseneck.

 

[savetexomabeaches]

I have several fountain windows, its pretty thick plexi -- I may try to make another panel. Id like to get rid of the speedometer and volt meter (I have a digital one). That'd leave me with water temp, fuel gauge, oil pressure and tach.. then I could mount my depth finder and gps into the dash as well... hmmm

 

[H20Rat]

I'd rather have NO dash lights whatsoever, and use a red flash light when needed. The less light shining into your eyes, the easier it is to boat at night.

 

[Bondo]

I'd rather have NO dash lights whatsoever, and use a red flash light when needed.

Ayuh,.... Ditto,.... The windshield turns into a mirror, reflectin' all the dash lights, then ya can't see nothin' out in front of the boat,....

 

[JoLin]

I'd rather have NO dash lights whatsoever, and use a red flash light when needed. The less light shining into your eyes, the easier it is to boat at night.

I hear you there, and if I start running at night regularly, I'll need to somehow install a rheostat for the instrument lights. Even though they're red lighted, they're too bright. Can't turn them off, either. They're on when the ignition's on.

I'd been looking for a 'marine' maplight. Took Rallyart's advice and googled 'auto' instead. They're out there. At the high end, Hella makes a gooseneck light with interchangable red/white lenses for about $40. I'll add that to the to-do list.

STB, there's good advice in this thread. Hope I didn't hijack it on you.

My .02

 

[savetexomabeaches]

JoLin, no worries, didn't hijack. The instrument gauges are fine, they use old school bulbs and are very very dim (which is a good thing). The main issue I am having problems with are the words and toggle switches. No lighted toggles, no lights behind the words above/below the toggle.. ie -- One toggle is an ON/OFF/ON (flip up is bilge pump, flip middle is off, flip down is blower fan). I'd hate for myself or something to turn on the bilge pump and leave it running and it burn up because they couldn't see which switch they flipped, and/or didn't know it was on. -- I always turn my blower on and let it run for a bit before starting the boat. Normally, I'm still in the water and ask someone to flip the blower on for me while I finish bringing in the anchor off the beach, cleaning up and pushing the boat away from shore. The marine/auto maplight would indeed work, I have also looked at license plate lamps. I think the thing holding me back from those two options is those are "add ons" and takes away from the original dash/instrument cluster. I've been shy about adding new holes, screws, etc into this project. The photo above is an older picture, the boat has been completely stripped and redone back to original form.

I may just pull the original dash panel, make a new one and add/remove what I want, so it works for me. Add the map light, remove speedo, etc. I'm odd like that, I want to keep the original, put it in a safe place lol --- does anyone else do stuff like that?

 

[Captain Caveman]

If you're concerned about the "add-ons" and drilling into the console, why don't you just buy a camping headlamp that you use strictly for navigation. My camping headlamp has regular LED bulbs that can be bright, dim, or shine red. You can hang it somewhere next to the console and write "CAPTAIN'S LIGHT" on it with a marker. Done.