Console shelf/wiring advice

[Brendanpd28]

So while I wait for a decent stretch of warm weather here in MA I decided to remove my console to repair, repaint, and rewire. I've got all 10k holes filled with a 3:1 epoxy thickened with cabosil. Next comes sanding and a few layers of gloss white easypoxy. I want to install a new shelf but I'd like to avoid fastening it with screws through the outside of the console. Do guys usually epoxy cleats on the interior and fasten the plywood shelf to them? I also want to keep my future wiring in mind. I was thinking about mounting my fuse panel, buss bar, etc. on the port or starboard interior of the console but I will need to mount some type of plywood or something to avoid through bolting the console itself. Any advice here?? And I will not be repairing the large holes on the face of the console since I am installing a new mahogany faceplate instead. Looks very sharp with the gold bezel gauges! 

[RickK]

There are many options - that's the beauty of fiberglass.  You can glue wood cleats to the sides, you can make cleats out of fiberglass and glue them to the sides.  You can also make a shelf from glass instead of wood.  It all depends on what you want to do.

[CLM65]

As Rick said, you have many options.  I glassed some coosa board to the inside of my console, and then mounted all my "stuff" on starboard panels that get fastened to the coosa.  Plywood would work as well, just make sure you seal it from the elements.


[url=http://www.classicaquasport.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=11556&title=console&cat=500][/url]

[love2fish]

I would follow Craig's example and glass in some full size sheets on the interior sides- you could screw in a ledger strip to each side for your shelf to then sit on (screws from the "exterior" of the sheets before you glass them in so they are hidden)... also, I'd do that while you still have the console out of the boat if possible. makes everything WAY easier. I did something sort of similar to mine last year- I'll try to upload some pictures.

[Brendanpd28]

Ya im definitely going to glass in a couple panels to mount everything.  I really like the idea of setting in a couple bolts ahead of time as well for mounting a couple shelf cleats!! Honestly i'd like to just leave it nice and open without a shelf but I need somewhere for my battery.  I am using 2 - 6 gallon above deck tanks right not that need to go on the deck under the console. Fuel tank is next season. $$$$  Thanks for all the advice as usual everyone!

[love2fish]

I have basically what you are going for- but went about it a different way- I cut my console in half to narrow it by 5" to accommodate a tower. when I did this, I also made an insulated (foam) storage box under the front seat of the console. To allow access to the aft section of the console- I cut a square out of the center of the original shelf, and then glassed in a 4" strip to the bottom of it- leaving a 2" overhang for the "lid" to sit on. I am now able to access my 2 batteries, and oil tank for my motor by simply opening the front of the console and then lifting the shelf out. I cut some SeaDek as a shelf liner also to keep stuff from sliding around.
view from the top and also from the underside while I was making/glassing everything.



- the exposed wood (non-painted) area is the aft section of the console.

I also wanted to have the back of the console a little easier to access- so I cut the bottom "arch" higher so a battery could fit through it, and then made this slide-out/flip down door. the top can be flipped down as the traditional teak doors would, but I can also pull it all the way out to allow full access to the console.

[RickK]

Looks good Chris