Need your ideas for mounting a gauge.

[RatFish]

I want to add an hour meter and depth gauge to my 2004 Bayliner 205. The problem I have is that there is no room in the dashboard to add any additional gauges (Picture of 205 dash.) . I figured I can mount the hour meter back in the engine compartment but the depth gauge has to be up front by the driver. There is a spot next to the steering wheel but visibility would be poor. Another possibility would be an aftermarket gauge pod/console but I'm not sure this is the best route to pursue. <br /><br />I'm open to all and any suggestions.....

 

[roscoe]

Re: Need your ideas for mounting a gauge.

I'd hate to mess up that new boat by cutting or adding on. Is there another gauge on you dash that you don't need, or could relocate? Then replace it with the depth gauge?<br /><br />

I'm open to all and any suggestions.....

Here goes: do it the old fashioned way, with a steel weight and a peice of rope, measure in fathoms.

 

[Dave Abrahamson]

Re: Need your ideas for mounting a gauge.

Don't forget to put a knot in that rope every 6 feet

 

[wraenking]

Re: Need your ideas for mounting a gauge.

what about getting a cheaper fishfinder to get the depth? my brother has a 19' wellcraft excel, and on the below right of the steering wheel, he has a piece of plywood mounted horizontally with carpet on it to match the floor, with his fish finder and cb on. just an idea

 

[18rabbit]

Re: Need your ideas for mounting a gauge.

Roscoe might be on the right track…of the 5 smaller gauges, is there two that can be combined into a single gauge, like digital oil pressure and temp? That would leave you with all the gauge information and the extra cut out for the sounder.

 

[salty87]

Re: Need your ideas for mounting a gauge.

i pulled a clock off my dash for depth guage, can't tell if there's one on yours or not. clocks aren't much good now a days, i use my cell phone to tell the time.<br /><br />depending on what size guages you have and are available, is there an extra speedo that can come off? i don't get much use out of mine, they are both usually wrong.<br /><br />it didn't have an hour meter? weird

 

[ob15]

Re: Need your ideas for mounting a gauge.

Just a thought & probably the hardest and most expensive. Maybe you could make a new panel for the dash (if its removable) and move the gauges closer together or combine a few. That would give extra room and you would still have the stock dash panel to put back in if needed.

 

[RatFish]

Re: Need your ideas for mounting a gauge.

There are 7 gauges on the dash. The 2 large gauges are the Speedo and Tach. The 5 smaller gauges are Fuel, Volt, Water Temp, Oil Press and Trim. <br /><br />I really hate to hack up a new dash. I would love to avoid it unless the new gauge didn't look out of place. I'm still in the same quandary if I try to relocate one of them. I would prefer not to permanently remove any of the existing gauges even though the Speedo would be my first choice. Unfortunately there is no clock. I'd pull a clock without thinking twice. A combination gauge is a good idea. I wonder if the gauge manufacturer has a combo gauge with the same bezel and backing so it doesn't look too out of place? Anybody know who makes or supplies gauges for Bayliner? Maybe I should give more thought to alternate mounting like wraenking suggests. I'll have to check out the existing panel/face plate. If it is removable, making a new face plate or panel may not be that bad. I just read an article in Go Boating magazine where they replaced the dash face plate. Does seem like a lot of work for one gauge.<br /><br />The "old fashioned way" has my vote but it may be a bit of a problem when underway. <br /><br />Thanks for your help!

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: Need your ideas for mounting a gauge.

There are adapters to go from the larger(3") gauge to the smaller ones(2"). Or possibly a blank cover that you could use a hole saw on to drill the size you need for the gauge. I would do this and then if you want to put the original back in, it will be a piece of cake. I would have to look around to find them, but I believe West Marine and others have them. They just slip in there and with a little silicone, you're set. That's how I would go with it. Pull the speedo and put the depth finder there..<br /><br />Kinda like this"<br /><br /> web page

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: Need your ideas for mounting a gauge.

You can very likely replace your tach with one that has a built in hour meter (most do that these days - I see them all over eBay too for short money)<br /><br />Here is an example:<br />http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2466605996&category=26444 <br /><br />

<br /><br />The LCD screen at the bottom is the hour meter<br /><br />You can buy a nice fish finder and mount it right on top of your dash to the port side which will give you your depth plus some added features like fish finding and water temp. Just buy with with a small head that will fit in their nice.<br /><br />Good luck

 

[the hangman]

Re: Need your ideas for mounting a gauge.

Ratfish - I cut a hole in my dash several years ago to mount a digital depth guage. It worked for about a month - then became erratic. I returned it for a replacement. I replaced it 6 times - including two different manufacturers - but never did get it to work well. I finally replaced it with a regular fishfinder - which works great. I still have a hole in my dash. I hope you have better luch.<br />Jeff

 

[RatFish]

Re: Need your ideas for mounting a gauge.

Thanks for the additional suggestions and comments. <br /><br />I'm going to put all the suggestions in a list and write down the pros and cons of each. I'm not in a hurry and I'm not sure what I'm going to do yet but I'll be sure to let you know how this turns out. I got some really good suggestions! Thank You.

 

[f_inscreenname]

Re: Need your ideas for mounting a gauge.

Just a fish finder/depth finder F Y I. If you go this route make sure you know what you are buying. I would have loved to have the combo but I found that if you are not buying top end they wont tell the depth at higher speeds (if it matters to you). I love to fish but I like to go fast more and the bays bottom shifts all the time so I bought a Hawkeye depth finder (off e-bay). Its been good up to 65mph (my max) for a couple of years now. I snapped the sender off (the same time I ripped off a Bennett trim tab) of my transom, long story, awhile back and they sent me the parts to fix it at no cost. I also must say Bennett (and Tabman)did the same and what they replaced cost a lot more but good service is good service weather it costs $2.00 or $150.00. I would highly recommend them. As for Bennett, everyone should know by now how I feel about them. There just isn't enough posts about D/F’ers to give the Hawkeye the prop’s it deserve.

 

[18rabbit]

Re: Need your ideas for mounting a gauge.

Ratfish – just a quick note… If you are adding this sounder in addition to a fishfinder (another sounder) you should be aware of specific transducer location and frequency issues that come with using two sounders.

 

[RatFish]

Re: Need your ideas for mounting a gauge.

UPDATE:<br /><br />Thanks for everyone's suggestions. I haven't done anything yet. So far, the Standard Horizon DS35 depth finder tops the list because it is small enough to mount on the dash and not interfere with anything. I also like that I can pair the DS35 with a "puck" type transducer mounted in the bilge. I will also be doing some fishing so I will probably be getting a fish finder. I may skip the depth gauge all together because I can get depth from the fish finder.