Instrument panel rebuild

[wwwcre8r]

I too am rebuilding my instrument panel (on my '87 AS 170 Osprey), old one looked bad, all gauges broken, except tach. Bought some Starboard (black), I think that will look sharp.

Question... my '87 Merc/Mariner 115 L6 had oil injection which has since been disabled, I have an unlabeled gauge, I'm assuming it is oil pressure... so I can ditch that.

I'd like to follow the advise in this thread about using a water pressure gauge, but I would have no idea of how to hook that up - any ideas to point me in the right direction?

Also my console cutout can hold one 3" + four 2" gauges, so I am planning on the following (all Teleflex Lido Series):
Tach (w/ hour meter)
Fuel
Voltage
Trim
Water Pressure (but I may not do this if they don't have one in the Lido Series for cosmetic reasons); otherwise I will use water temp.

UPDATE: I just found Part # 65507P (for the Lido Series water Pressure Gauge); I would still have to figure out how to hook it up.

Since I don't have a water temperature gauge now... how do I hook one up? How would I install the sender?

I have looked at the Seloc manual for my motor... I don't see much on that topic (unless I've missed something).

Thanks for any & all help... I'll post picts if anyone is interested, but have to wait until 4/22 when the new digital camera arrives.

Thanks in advance for the help!

[John Jones]

I'll have to see if I can find the instructions for my Teleflex water pressure gauges.  I installed them on a Johnson and a Yamaha.  The gauges came with directions and a diagram of where to connect for various motors.  The "sender" is actually a 1/4" plastic tube that runs from the motor to the gauge.  Most motor blocks have a place to tap into the cooling water supply.

[Fishhyren11]

Lets see some pics!
I have a 170 that I'd like to rebuild the dash!

[wwwcre8r]

Lets see some pics!
I have a 170 that I'd like to rebuild the dash!

I had to rebuild the top of the console, the bimini top supports that attach to the top had ripped the top of the console, looks like the prior owner tried repairing it, but that didn't hold.

I've got the fiberglass --> gel coat work done, just finishing the new fuel tank install now, I'll post some pics, the console/ instrument panel will be going in the next few days.

I hope the Starboard looks nice when I'm done... it sure is easy to work with!

[SnookinGood175]

I have recently redone my dash so I figured I would attach a few pics to maybe give you guys some ideas.  You can see more pics under my gallery in the members gallery.
Overall view of the top of the console     
 

And a close up of the switch panel

[wwwcre8r]

I have recently redone my dash so I figured I would attach a few pics to maybe give you guys some ideas.  You can see more pics under my gallery in the members gallery.
Overall view of the top of the console

wow, really nice work, it looks sharp! That's a real nice looking boat you have there!

I just installed the Starboard panels, made the cutouts, mounted the instruments, controls, steering, etc. I should have pics soon.

Now I just need to get the electrical & cable hookups done & remount the console to the deck, etc.

[compcrasher86]

I have read about the water temp/pressure senders somewhere online before. Apparently you cut a section out the hose going to your water discharge port (part with a solid stream of water coming out) and you just connect the two cut ends to either side of the sensor (They may be labeled so keep an eye out) Then just run wire from the sensor to the gauge and your all set!

Warm Water from engine block----->---- hose-->--|Sensor|--->---hose-->--Water dishcarge port

I should mention that the water goes to a sensor and not the gauge. The sensor is placed somewhere in the engine inline and then spearate wires lead to the gauge in the dash

[wwwcre8r]

compcrasher86, thank you very much!!! I think this will be of great help to me! I don't know why I didn't think of that before, it makes complete sense!

Anyone else out there who has actually done this, any pictures/ advice?

I'm wondering... does that extra length of hose to the Water Pressure gauge and back to the engine (and then out), cause undue back pressure that would harm the water pump?

I have read about the water temp/pressure senders somewhere online before. Apparently you cut a section out the hose going to your water discharge port (part with a solid stream of water coming out) and you just connect the two cut ends to either side of the sensor (They may be labeled so keep an eye out) Then just run wire from the sensor to the tach and your all set!

Warm Water from engine block----->---- hose-->--|Sensor|--->---hose-->--Water dishcarge port

[p3ngu1n]

I have recently redone my dash so I figured I would attach a few pics to maybe give you guys some ideas.  You can see more pics under my gallery in the members gallery.
Overall view of the top of the console     
 

Not to threadhijack, but when you buy a certain size piece of starboard, does it come with the beveled edges or do you have to do that?

[wwwcre8r]

I bought sheets of black Starboard, had to cut and shape them myself, I used a router for the edges.

Starboard is extremely easy to work with, in that regard.

Not to threadhijack, but when you buy a certain size piece of starboard, does it come with the beveled edges or do you have to do that?

[GoneFission]

Water temp and pressure come from 2 different sources.  The water temp gauge uses a sender that screws into the block on the water jacket.  You may already have a sender there, or there might be a plug in the jacket that you remove to put the temp sender in.  Run a wire from the sender to the "sense" or "sensor" terminal on the temp gauge and wire the temp gauge to + and - and panel lights.

The water pressure gauge uses a small nipple outlet on the water jacket near the top of the block.  There may be one installed with a plug or cap over it, or you may need to get a water pressure nipple from Mercury and install it on the motor.  A small hose goes from the nipple to the back of the pressure gauge.  Many pressure gauges are mechanical, so you don't have to wire them unless you want the gauge to light at night, then wire it into the panel lighting.  

I like a water pressure  gauge better than a temp gauge, because the pressure gauge tells you how well the water pump is working, and you will see low water pressure before the engine overheats on the temp gauge (unless you are jdupree!!).  Having both temp and pressure is nice - mo' info is mo' bedda!  

Good luck - see ya on the water!

[wwwcre8r]

GoneFission, thank you *very much*, that's great info to have!

I had the 3 carbs rebuilt, they need to be re-installed still, when we're in there, I'll look for those connections you mention, I hope they are all already there.

Thanks again!

Water temp and pressure come from 2 different sources.  The water temp gauge uses a sender that screws into the block on the water jacket.  You may already have a sender there, or there might be a plug in the jacket that you remove to put the temp sender in.  Run a wire from the sender to the "sense" or "sensor" terminal on the temp gauge and wire the temp gauge to + and - and panel lights.

The water pressure gauge uses a small nipple outlet on the water jacket near the top of the block.  There may be one installed with a plug or cap over it, or you may need to get a water pressure nipple from Mercury and install it on the motor.  A small hose goes from the nipple to the back of the pressure gauge.  Many pressure gauges are mechanical, so you don't have to wire them unless you want the gauge to light at night, then wire it into the panel lighting.  

I like a water pressure  gauge better than a temp gauge, because the pressure gauge tells you how well the water pump is working, and you will see low water pressure before the engine overheats on the temp gauge (unless you are jdupree!!).  Having both temp and pressure is nice - mo' info is mo' bedda!  

Good luck - see ya on the water!

[SnookinGood175]

Not to threadhijack, but when you buy a certain size piece of starboard, does it come with the beveled edges or do you have to do that?

That is actually all fiberglass.  Any starboard I have seen does not come with the beveled edges.  Like wwwcre8r said, its very easy to work with though.

[GoneFission]

You can bevel starboard with a router, the same as wood.

[wwwcre8r]

Got new pictures up, great progress being made, I'm nearly finished!

http://www.classicaquasport.com/gallery/showgallery.php/cat/592