Considering gauge configurations for Revenge

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Author Topic:   Considering gauge configurations for Revenge

Mike Brantley posted 12-11-2004 01:31 AM ET (US)
My restoration project is well under way now. For those not keeping tabs on our little Whaler "fleet," the new flagship is a 1980 V-22 Revenge. Pictures of the boat before any work was done are online at http://www.thevideojunkie.com/whalerville . Since those pictures were taken, the bottom has been cleaned, patched and repainted (black bottom paint), and much of the teak trim and the gunwales have been sanded and have a few coats of varnish on them. The seats have been pulled out as I consider new seating options, various pieces of hardware are being polished, and the deck panel over the live well has been removed to repair a soft spot where the underlying plywood was rotted. (The big deck panel over the gas tank feels solid as a rock, thank goodness.) The new rubrail kit arrived yesterday, and the new Boston Whaler decals are here, too.
Meanwhile, it's time to figure out how I want to do the instruments. I have been buying Faria Euro Black gauges off eBay as I spot good deals.
Now I have more than I will actually use. I plan to construct the new instrument panel with black Starboard lumber to replace the original aluminum panels. The upper panel will be where the Faria gauges will be installed. Elsewhere, there will eventually be a Garmin 3006 GPS/Sonar/Radar unit and a Navman 3100 fuel display. Electrical switches, the ignition switch and the engine hour meter will be installed on the lower panel where the steering wheel is.
With the gauges I have, there are two possible configurations, and I am seeking advice from anyone familiar with what instruments will work best with a 1998 Evinrude 175 Ocean Pro. Check out these possible gauge layouts:
http://www.thevideojunkie.com/whalerville/GaugeConfig1.jpg
http://www.thevideojunkie.com/whalerville/GaugeConfig2.jpg
The top configuration makes use of a 4-in-1 combination gauge that adds oil (pressure?) and a temperature gauge to the second configuration, which omits the combination gauge for a separate fuel gauge and voltometer. Note that in either case I will be using a tachometer with OMC's System Check lights for NO OIL, HOT (water temperature?), CHK ENG and LOW OIL.
So, would the oil and temperature gauges in the 4-in-1 deal actually do me any good, or should I just use the four 2-inch gauges along with the speedometer and tachometer? I know the speedometer is really kind of pointless next to the GPS, but it does look nice in a dash. And I know the Navman fuel computer will actually make the fuel gauge redundant, but I figure redundancy is good on the water.
Thanks for all input!
Peter posted 12-11-2004 06:12 AM ET (US)
Mike, I like your configuration 2 better except I would modify it further by eliminating the speedo gauge and replacing it with the Navman 3100 which can display boat speed and fuel economy at the same time when connected to an NMEA output of a GPS.
I think you really want the Navman 3100 fuel flow gauge to be next to the tachometer as you will be watching those two instruments the most to determine your throttle settings for the conditions. The Navman 3100 takes up a nearly 5 x 5 inch surface on the dashboard.
The 4-in-1 gauge is really meant for use with stern drive or 4-stroke engines.
Mike Brantley posted 12-11-2004 09:48 AM ET (US)
Here's Peter's suggested configuration...
http://www.thevideojunkie.com/whalerville/GaugeConfig3.jpg
That would solve the problem of finding a prime location for the Navman 3100, and I suppose I never actually look at the speedometer that's on my 15 Sport. I always look at the GPS for speed.
Displaying the speed via the Navman 3100 Fuel's connection to the GPS would solve another problem. On the Garmin 3006 I am likely to purchase, when you turn on the text/numerical data boxes to display information such as speed, the data boxes take up a huge amount of screen real estate. Speed is the main such data I would want dispayed. Having that displayed on the 3100 screen would allow me to use the Garmin screen fully for graphical data -- split between chart with radar overlay and sonar, most likely.
Thanks, Peter. Anybody have any more thoughts? It's too bad Faria doesn't make a 4-in-1 gauge better suited for 2-stroke outboards, because I like the way these gauges look better than four separate 2-inch gauges.
Peter posted 12-11-2004 10:34 AM ET (US)
If you wanted to go with an all analog look and give up some functionality that the Navman provides, you could use a Floscan. I believe it will display speed or MPG in the little LCD window at the bottom.
Mike Brantley posted 12-11-2004 04:33 PM ET (US)
Peter, it's interesting you should mention the Floscan gauge, because that's what I was originally planning to get before I learned about the additional functionality of the Navman model. The styling of the Floscan gauge is what prompted me to go for Faria's Euro Black styling rather than something with shiny stainless bezels. I don't believe the Floscan shows MPH on its little digital readout, though I could be mistaken.
Here are two more configurations...
http://www.thevideojunkie.com/whalerville/GaugeConfig4.jpg
http://www.thevideojunkie.com/whalerville/GaugeConfig5.jpg
No. 4 keeps the speedometer and moves the voltometer and fuel gauge off the upper instrument panel entirely. I could put those two gauges and the engine hour meter on the lower panel with the switches and steering wheel. Or I could do some other combination/arrangement with the smaller gauges.
No. 5 omits the speedometer and puts four of the small gauges alongside the tach and Floscan.
If I go with the Floscan product instead of the more advanced Navman unit (they cost about the same), I think I'd prefer No. 4 among these configurations -- moving the two-inch gauges that don't fit to the lower panel.
Still undecided, because the Navman product does seem pretty cool.
It looks like I've ruled out using the 4-in-1 gauge at all, thanks to your advice.
c_mccann posted 12-13-2004 06:13 PM ET (US)
I like the last option the best, I have a floscan and it is a quality unit- I like it better than the navman- I've had one of those. You will use the floscan the most, the tach second- your ears are a better tach than you think, but when the trim goes south- wind angle, speed difference, improper loading, the floscan will tell you. You can only go as fast as conditions warrant. I like dummy lights on outboards better than gauges, I don't know why.... Also- could you flush mount the garmin where the gauges are supposed to be, and the gauges elsewhere? As long as you can see a dummy light light up in time to kill the motor, being able to see your GPS and FF comfortably is a huge plus. I just redid the layout of my 25 Revenge, and took the switches (huge panel) inside the cabin- light switches on the helm only, tach, floscan, dytek sea temp, and dummy lights under the Raymerine display. Close fit, but it worked, and really clean. Also think about getting the key switch in a safe place where knees don't bang into it and rish breaking it off- had that happen years ago on my 19' cc.
c_mccann posted 12-13-2004 06:19 PM ET (US)
By the way- I have the louvered rope locker door you need- I took the rope locker out of my revenge 25 for good (huge gain in bunk space, and no more smelly anchor rode.) Mine is in mint condition, email me if you want it- cheap! Caseyfish@hotmail.com.
Sheila posted 12-13-2004 08:43 PM ET (US)
C-Mccann, can you tell me more about removing the anchor rode locker? We'd be interested in that modification. I'm just over 5'9", and my dear husband has a few inches on me. A bit more bunk space would be just the ticket. Do you have pictures? Perhaps a new thread is in order, so as not to hijack this one?
2manyboats posted 12-13-2004 09:11 PM ET (US)
Mike , 3 or 5 look best to me use the gps for speed.
c_mccann posted 12-13-2004 09:14 PM ET (US)
Removing it was verrrryy easy.... It is a piece of fabric covered plywood attached by a few aluminum angles and a few screws. I got mine out in five minutes flat. It afforded 18" plus of more bunk length, and a much roomier feel. The things that lurked behind that little wall (dried pieces of ocean bottom, crabs, etc) I'm sure smelled real bad as they dried out- a fragrance you would not want to sleep with. You could have the peak of the bow cushion re-made/extended for cheap. The second biggest improvement I did downstairs was the shelves I installed in the port side rear cabin bulkhead right adjacent to the cabin entrance- it is dead space and the shelves are able to stow a lot of small stuff neatly. Hope this helps.
Mike Brantley posted 12-13-2004 10:57 PM ET (US)
Thanks, all, for the good advice and suggestions. Jeff, I am now leaning toward leaving the speedometer out of the layout as you suggest. But I have all these gauges in house now (except the fuel flow gauge), and they all look great. Oh, well. I may have stuff to sell on eBay in the end. :)
C_m, I agree about the warning lights (and audible warnings, too), and so the tach with Evinrude's System Check warning lights will be highly visible no matter what I do.
I don't believe the GPS will fit into the panel for an in-dash mount, but I ruled that out anyway when I determined that I will rent a slip for this boat and will want to easily remove the GPS and take it off the boat with me. However, the unit (which also will do sonar and radar display duties) will be in a very prime viewing position.
On this page...
http://www.thevideojunkie.com/whalerville/22revenge1.html
...in the seventh photo, you can see the old Loran unit in front of the old instrument panel. The photo does not make it evident, but both the Loran/GPS unit in that position and all the gauges behind it are easily seen from the helm seat or in a standing position. I plan to place the 3006 in the same position as the Loran.
I have to decide in the next couple of days whether to go with the Floscan gauge or the Navman "fuel computer." The Floscan will blend in with the other gauges better, but the Navman does more stuff. Cost seems to be close to the same. I believe the Navman will tell me almost exactly how much fuel I have left and what my range is (I think???) and stuff like that, but it seems like the Floscan unit will have me computing stuff like that in my head. Or am I wrong? I like that the Navman can get the speed data from the GPS and display it on its screen because, as I said, the Garmin 3006 I want wastes a lot of precious real estate when such data is displayed on its screen.
I do not have room for separate GPS, sonar and radar units, so the relatively compact Garmin 3006 package is very attractive to me. The RayMarine C70 is also in consideration, but I'm a fan of Garmin's BlueChart cartography. Still awaiting the first reviews of Garmin's about-to-be-available radar.
C, I sent you an e-mail about the locker door. And I hope my Revenge is half as nice as yours when I'm finished!
Mike Brantley posted 12-13-2004 10:58 PM ET (US)
Forgot to make it clickable.
http://www.thevideojunkie.com/whalerville/22revenge1.html
Peter posted 12-14-2004 08:14 AM ET (US)
I have the 3100 and I believe it will give you quite a bit more information than the Floscan. It really is more of a computer and the Floscan more of a gauge. The large digital display is easy on the eyes. Although it doesn't have the analog look, it is nicely finished.
When hooked up to the GPS NMEA output, it will display, not all at once, estimated range, speed repeated from the GPS, the quanity of fuel in your tank, the quantity consumed, MPG, and for twin engines it will show how GPH for both engines. While under way, I will usually have mine set to display MPG and MPH. Looking at those two outputs I can usually tell whether I'm going with the current or against it. It is probably the most watched gauge of my cluster.
c_mccann posted 12-14-2004 06:30 PM ET (US)
I have the Raymarine C80 and so far really like it. The raymerine format uses alot of menus, thay take a lot of getting used to- I had a Garmin and really liked their format- it was very easy, I rarely looked in the owners manual. The raymarine, though, has the best fishfinder,IMO, and the radar is excellent. I was a Furuno fan in the past- I had 2 radars, 4 fish finders, a loran and a GPS, so the raymarine had to really impress me to go to them- it did.
Mike Brantley posted 12-14-2004 09:38 PM ET (US)
The GPS part of the unit will be what's most important to me, and I do like my much smaller Garmin 176 that I've used for two seasons on our 15 Sport. I have played with several other GPSs at the boat stores, and I find Garmin's operation to be most intuitive. The radar part of the 3006/3010 system is the biggest unknown, as it has only now been announced. But I like the radar specifications and pictures that have recently been posted on Garmin's Web site.
I have also read elsewhere that Garmin's fishfinder component of these systems is not quite as good as what the competition offers. However, we won't be trying to find fish -- just the bottom! I just removed eight vertical rod holders from the boat, since we'll never use them. :)
Meanwhile, I think it is very likely I'll be getting the Navman 3100. Boatersland.com has it for $275 or so delivered. I'll post a photo of the completed instrument panel in a couple of weeks.
c_mccann posted 12-15-2004 01:02 PM ET (US)
Mike keep us posted, cool project. Do you want that door and frame?
Mike Brantley posted 03-02-2005 12:13 PM ET (US)
I thought I would dig up this thread to show what I finally did the with instrument panels. I put some more pictures of the boat in progress on my site at this page...
http://www.thevideojunkie.com/whalerville/22revenge2.html
The speedometer may not be strictly necessary in these days of GPS, but it looked too good not to use! I used black starboard material to fashion the new panels. I'm still wiring stuff, and my project in the coming weekend will be to try to connect the engine control cables to the controls. I haven't done that myself before.
The port control will be for the main motor, and the starboard control will be a future kicker.
The only weirdness is the ignition key won't turn. I might have the wrong key. eBay purchases, you know. :)
HAPPYJIM posted 03-02-2005 12:52 PM ET (US)
Looks real good and I like the finish washers.
Joe Kriz posted 03-02-2005 01:11 PM ET (US)
Mike,
Very nice work indeed.
Your boat looks fantastic.
SpongeBob posted 03-02-2005 01:23 PM ET (US)
Very nice! Keep us posted on how the black starboard hold up.
SpongeBob posted 03-02-2005 01:24 PM ET (US)
Very nice! Keep us posted on how the black starboard hold up.
erik selis posted 03-02-2005 01:49 PM ET (US)
You did a fine job Mike. The boat looks great.
I like your website too. Very nice pictures.
Erik
Mike Brantley posted 03-02-2005 05:03 PM ET (US)
Thanks, guys. This is one of those boat restorations that looks best in pictures or about 10 feet back. Get too close, and you see all the boat's imperfections that drive me crazy. I'll either relax or make things perfect, given enough time. Probably a compromise of the two.
Backlash posted 03-02-2005 08:55 PM ET (US)
Mike,
Excellent job on the boat! I think the black Starboard was the ideal choice for the instrument panels. My boat has the aluminum panels and they are a nightmare to cut and seem to scratch easily. I will definitely use Starboard when I replace them.
The bow pulpit looks fantastic...much better than what was on it originally.
I couldn't help but notice that your steering wheel has the same vertical attitude as mine - like a Greyhound bus!
Last year I installed a Teleflex 20° wedge, which mounts under the helm pump, and it greatly improved the handling when docking, etc.
Steve
jimh posted 03-03-2005 08:53 AM ET (US)
Great work, on both the boat and the website.
I like the layout of the gauges. I am interested to see how the NAVMAN 3100 Fuel gauge looks, as I plan to install one on my Revenge instrument panel.
I will also be interested to hear about the fuel consumption of the two-stroke engine as measured by the 3100.
The boat looks wonderful. There is nothing like some beautiful teak wood trim to give a yacht appearance to a classic Boston Whaler.
RJG posted 03-05-2005 08:51 PM ET (US)
Beautiful work Mike. And what a lovely family! What is Flitz and where did you get it? My hardware could use some attention. Thanks, Bob
jimp posted 03-05-2005 09:02 PM ET (US)
Mike -
Great job! I shouldn't have looked at the pictures as I'm now contemplating additional projects.
JimP
Mike Brantley posted 03-07-2005 12:16 PM ET (US)
Thanks again, folks, for all the kind words and encouragement. We're really, really close to putting the boat into the water.
Bob, Flitz comes in a small tube or a larger bottle and can be found at Boaters World, Boat/US, etc. I saw it recommended by LHG in an old thread, and I gave it a try. Works well.
Jim, I'll be sure to let you know what the Navman tells me.
Steve, thanks for the recommendation regarding the steering wheel angle. I'm going to try it like it is for a time, then maybe make the change you did. Do you normally sit or stand or both when driving?
kamie posted 03-07-2005 09:59 PM ET (US)
Mike,
I am also interested how the Navman 3100 works out. I was planning a 2100 which is just fuel only but may switchup to the 3100 so I can maximize the map on my Garmin GPSMAP 180 and use the whole screen.
Mike Brantley posted 03-07-2005 11:52 PM ET (US)
Kamie, that's exactly my thinking since I eventually want a Garmin 3006 with radar, GPS and sounder data all on the same relatively small display. That's already crowding a lot in, and the extra data boxes for speed, etc. on the Garmin units are just too freaking big. I wish Garmin would address that at some point with a firmware upgrade to their products. It's my only Garmin quibble. I don't have the dash space or the budget for a 3010 or for multiple displays.
I'll let you know how the Navman 3100 works out. I'm going to have to use my existing Garmin 176 GPS for the earliest outings while I save for my dream system. I'll probably put in a depth gauge or borrow the fishfinder off my other boat for the time being.
c_mccann posted 03-08-2005 09:54 PM ET (US)
Mike- looking good! Wow, you have been a busy boy... Have you installed that door I sent you yet? Keep the pictures coming, I enjoy seeing the progress.
kamie posted 03-08-2005 10:12 PM ET (US)
Mike,
I have a standard Horizon depth gauge and the one thing I noticed is, it reads the depth of the water at the stern, but it's the bow I run aground. :-)

Mike Brantley posted 03-09-2005 04:43 PM ET (US)
Boat's at the mechanic getting controls rigged, and I've ordered another mount for my old GPS that I will be using on both boats until the big boat gets the big GPS/sounder/radar upgrade.
Casey, I still haven't done anything with the cabin, so the door awaits installation. I may not install it until after the headliner is replaced, but I'm glad to have the door for when I need it. Thank you!
c_mccann posted 03-11-2005 07:44 PM ET (US)
Mike- the new headliner is a huge improvement- fresh look, smell... I mounted mine with 1/2" padding, and now no more bumped heads while going down below. Looking good!

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Author	Topic: Considering gauge configurations for Revenge
Mike Brantley	posted 12-11-2004 01:31 AM ET (US) My restoration project is well under way now. For those not keeping tabs on our little Whaler "fleet," the new flagship is a 1980 V-22 Revenge. Pictures of the boat before any work was done are online at http://www.thevideojunkie.com/whalerville . Since those pictures were taken, the bottom has been cleaned, patched and repainted (black bottom paint), and much of the teak trim and the gunwales have been sanded and have a few coats of varnish on them. The seats have been pulled out as I consider new seating options, various pieces of hardware are being polished, and the deck panel over the live well has been removed to repair a soft spot where the underlying plywood was rotted. (The big deck panel over the gas tank feels solid as a rock, thank goodness.) The new rubrail kit arrived yesterday, and the new Boston Whaler decals are here, too. Meanwhile, it's time to figure out how I want to do the instruments. I have been buying Faria Euro Black gauges off eBay as I spot good deals. Now I have more than I will actually use. I plan to construct the new instrument panel with black Starboard lumber to replace the original aluminum panels. The upper panel will be where the Faria gauges will be installed. Elsewhere, there will eventually be a Garmin 3006 GPS/Sonar/Radar unit and a Navman 3100 fuel display. Electrical switches, the ignition switch and the engine hour meter will be installed on the lower panel where the steering wheel is. With the gauges I have, there are two possible configurations, and I am seeking advice from anyone familiar with what instruments will work best with a 1998 Evinrude 175 Ocean Pro. Check out these possible gauge layouts: http://www.thevideojunkie.com/whalerville/GaugeConfig1.jpg http://www.thevideojunkie.com/whalerville/GaugeConfig2.jpg The top configuration makes use of a 4-in-1 combination gauge that adds oil (pressure?) and a temperature gauge to the second configuration, which omits the combination gauge for a separate fuel gauge and voltometer. Note that in either case I will be using a tachometer with OMC's System Check lights for NO OIL, HOT (water temperature?), CHK ENG and LOW OIL. So, would the oil and temperature gauges in the 4-in-1 deal actually do me any good, or should I just use the four 2-inch gauges along with the speedometer and tachometer? I know the speedometer is really kind of pointless next to the GPS, but it does look nice in a dash. And I know the Navman fuel computer will actually make the fuel gauge redundant, but I figure redundancy is good on the water. Thanks for all input!
Peter	posted 12-11-2004 06:12 AM ET (US) Mike, I like your configuration 2 better except I would modify it further by eliminating the speedo gauge and replacing it with the Navman 3100 which can display boat speed and fuel economy at the same time when connected to an NMEA output of a GPS. I think you really want the Navman 3100 fuel flow gauge to be next to the tachometer as you will be watching those two instruments the most to determine your throttle settings for the conditions. The Navman 3100 takes up a nearly 5 x 5 inch surface on the dashboard. The 4-in-1 gauge is really meant for use with stern drive or 4-stroke engines.
Mike Brantley	posted 12-11-2004 09:48 AM ET (US) Here's Peter's suggested configuration... http://www.thevideojunkie.com/whalerville/GaugeConfig3.jpg That would solve the problem of finding a prime location for the Navman 3100, and I suppose I never actually look at the speedometer that's on my 15 Sport. I always look at the GPS for speed. Displaying the speed via the Navman 3100 Fuel's connection to the GPS would solve another problem. On the Garmin 3006 I am likely to purchase, when you turn on the text/numerical data boxes to display information such as speed, the data boxes take up a huge amount of screen real estate. Speed is the main such data I would want dispayed. Having that displayed on the 3100 screen would allow me to use the Garmin screen fully for graphical data -- split between chart with radar overlay and sonar, most likely. Thanks, Peter. Anybody have any more thoughts? It's too bad Faria doesn't make a 4-in-1 gauge better suited for 2-stroke outboards, because I like the way these gauges look better than four separate 2-inch gauges.
Peter	posted 12-11-2004 10:34 AM ET (US) If you wanted to go with an all analog look and give up some functionality that the Navman provides, you could use a Floscan. I believe it will display speed or MPG in the little LCD window at the bottom.
Mike Brantley	posted 12-11-2004 04:33 PM ET (US) Peter, it's interesting you should mention the Floscan gauge, because that's what I was originally planning to get before I learned about the additional functionality of the Navman model. The styling of the Floscan gauge is what prompted me to go for Faria's Euro Black styling rather than something with shiny stainless bezels. I don't believe the Floscan shows MPH on its little digital readout, though I could be mistaken. Here are two more configurations... http://www.thevideojunkie.com/whalerville/GaugeConfig4.jpg http://www.thevideojunkie.com/whalerville/GaugeConfig5.jpg No. 4 keeps the speedometer and moves the voltometer and fuel gauge off the upper instrument panel entirely. I could put those two gauges and the engine hour meter on the lower panel with the switches and steering wheel. Or I could do some other combination/arrangement with the smaller gauges. No. 5 omits the speedometer and puts four of the small gauges alongside the tach and Floscan. If I go with the Floscan product instead of the more advanced Navman unit (they cost about the same), I think I'd prefer No. 4 among these configurations -- moving the two-inch gauges that don't fit to the lower panel. Still undecided, because the Navman product does seem pretty cool. It looks like I've ruled out using the 4-in-1 gauge at all, thanks to your advice.
c_mccann	posted 12-13-2004 06:13 PM ET (US) I like the last option the best, I have a floscan and it is a quality unit- I like it better than the navman- I've had one of those. You will use the floscan the most, the tach second- your ears are a better tach than you think, but when the trim goes south- wind angle, speed difference, improper loading, the floscan will tell you. You can only go as fast as conditions warrant. I like dummy lights on outboards better than gauges, I don't know why.... Also- could you flush mount the garmin where the gauges are supposed to be, and the gauges elsewhere? As long as you can see a dummy light light up in time to kill the motor, being able to see your GPS and FF comfortably is a huge plus. I just redid the layout of my 25 Revenge, and took the switches (huge panel) inside the cabin- light switches on the helm only, tach, floscan, dytek sea temp, and dummy lights under the Raymerine display. Close fit, but it worked, and really clean. Also think about getting the key switch in a safe place where knees don't bang into it and rish breaking it off- had that happen years ago on my 19' cc.
c_mccann	posted 12-13-2004 06:19 PM ET (US) By the way- I have the louvered rope locker door you need- I took the rope locker out of my revenge 25 for good (huge gain in bunk space, and no more smelly anchor rode.) Mine is in mint condition, email me if you want it- cheap! Caseyfish@hotmail.com.
Sheila	posted 12-13-2004 08:43 PM ET (US) C-Mccann, can you tell me more about removing the anchor rode locker? We'd be interested in that modification. I'm just over 5'9", and my dear husband has a few inches on me. A bit more bunk space would be just the ticket. Do you have pictures? Perhaps a new thread is in order, so as not to hijack this one?
2manyboats	posted 12-13-2004 09:11 PM ET (US) Mike , 3 or 5 look best to me use the gps for speed.
c_mccann	posted 12-13-2004 09:14 PM ET (US) Removing it was verrrryy easy.... It is a piece of fabric covered plywood attached by a few aluminum angles and a few screws. I got mine out in five minutes flat. It afforded 18" plus of more bunk length, and a much roomier feel. The things that lurked behind that little wall (dried pieces of ocean bottom, crabs, etc) I'm sure smelled real bad as they dried out- a fragrance you would not want to sleep with. You could have the peak of the bow cushion re-made/extended for cheap. The second biggest improvement I did downstairs was the shelves I installed in the port side rear cabin bulkhead right adjacent to the cabin entrance- it is dead space and the shelves are able to stow a lot of small stuff neatly. Hope this helps.
Mike Brantley	posted 12-13-2004 10:57 PM ET (US) Thanks, all, for the good advice and suggestions. Jeff, I am now leaning toward leaving the speedometer out of the layout as you suggest. But I have all these gauges in house now (except the fuel flow gauge), and they all look great. Oh, well. I may have stuff to sell on eBay in the end. :) C_m, I agree about the warning lights (and audible warnings, too), and so the tach with Evinrude's System Check warning lights will be highly visible no matter what I do. I don't believe the GPS will fit into the panel for an in-dash mount, but I ruled that out anyway when I determined that I will rent a slip for this boat and will want to easily remove the GPS and take it off the boat with me. However, the unit (which also will do sonar and radar display duties) will be in a very prime viewing position. On this page... http://www.thevideojunkie.com/whalerville/22revenge1.html ...in the seventh photo, you can see the old Loran unit in front of the old instrument panel. The photo does not make it evident, but both the Loran/GPS unit in that position and all the gauges behind it are easily seen from the helm seat or in a standing position. I plan to place the 3006 in the same position as the Loran. I have to decide in the next couple of days whether to go with the Floscan gauge or the Navman "fuel computer." The Floscan will blend in with the other gauges better, but the Navman does more stuff. Cost seems to be close to the same. I believe the Navman will tell me almost exactly how much fuel I have left and what my range is (I think???) and stuff like that, but it seems like the Floscan unit will have me computing stuff like that in my head. Or am I wrong? I like that the Navman can get the speed data from the GPS and display it on its screen because, as I said, the Garmin 3006 I want wastes a lot of precious real estate when such data is displayed on its screen. I do not have room for separate GPS, sonar and radar units, so the relatively compact Garmin 3006 package is very attractive to me. The RayMarine C70 is also in consideration, but I'm a fan of Garmin's BlueChart cartography. Still awaiting the first reviews of Garmin's about-to-be-available radar. C, I sent you an e-mail about the locker door. And I hope my Revenge is half as nice as yours when I'm finished!
Mike Brantley	posted 12-13-2004 10:58 PM ET (US) Forgot to make it clickable. http://www.thevideojunkie.com/whalerville/22revenge1.html
Peter	posted 12-14-2004 08:14 AM ET (US) I have the 3100 and I believe it will give you quite a bit more information than the Floscan. It really is more of a computer and the Floscan more of a gauge. The large digital display is easy on the eyes. Although it doesn't have the analog look, it is nicely finished. When hooked up to the GPS NMEA output, it will display, not all at once, estimated range, speed repeated from the GPS, the quanity of fuel in your tank, the quantity consumed, MPG, and for twin engines it will show how GPH for both engines. While under way, I will usually have mine set to display MPG and MPH. Looking at those two outputs I can usually tell whether I'm going with the current or against it. It is probably the most watched gauge of my cluster.
c_mccann	posted 12-14-2004 06:30 PM ET (US) I have the Raymarine C80 and so far really like it. The raymerine format uses alot of menus, thay take a lot of getting used to- I had a Garmin and really liked their format- it was very easy, I rarely looked in the owners manual. The raymarine, though, has the best fishfinder,IMO, and the radar is excellent. I was a Furuno fan in the past- I had 2 radars, 4 fish finders, a loran and a GPS, so the raymarine had to really impress me to go to them- it did.
Mike Brantley	posted 12-14-2004 09:38 PM ET (US) The GPS part of the unit will be what's most important to me, and I do like my much smaller Garmin 176 that I've used for two seasons on our 15 Sport. I have played with several other GPSs at the boat stores, and I find Garmin's operation to be most intuitive. The radar part of the 3006/3010 system is the biggest unknown, as it has only now been announced. But I like the radar specifications and pictures that have recently been posted on Garmin's Web site. I have also read elsewhere that Garmin's fishfinder component of these systems is not quite as good as what the competition offers. However, we won't be trying to find fish -- just the bottom! I just removed eight vertical rod holders from the boat, since we'll never use them. :) Meanwhile, I think it is very likely I'll be getting the Navman 3100. Boatersland.com has it for $275 or so delivered. I'll post a photo of the completed instrument panel in a couple of weeks.
c_mccann	posted 12-15-2004 01:02 PM ET (US) Mike keep us posted, cool project. Do you want that door and frame?
Mike Brantley	posted 03-02-2005 12:13 PM ET (US) I thought I would dig up this thread to show what I finally did the with instrument panels. I put some more pictures of the boat in progress on my site at this page... http://www.thevideojunkie.com/whalerville/22revenge2.html The speedometer may not be strictly necessary in these days of GPS, but it looked too good not to use! I used black starboard material to fashion the new panels. I'm still wiring stuff, and my project in the coming weekend will be to try to connect the engine control cables to the controls. I haven't done that myself before. The port control will be for the main motor, and the starboard control will be a future kicker. The only weirdness is the ignition key won't turn. I might have the wrong key. eBay purchases, you know. :)
HAPPYJIM	posted 03-02-2005 12:52 PM ET (US) Looks real good and I like the finish washers.
Joe Kriz	posted 03-02-2005 01:11 PM ET (US) Mike, Very nice work indeed. Your boat looks fantastic.
SpongeBob	posted 03-02-2005 01:23 PM ET (US) Very nice! Keep us posted on how the black starboard hold up.
SpongeBob	posted 03-02-2005 01:24 PM ET (US) Very nice! Keep us posted on how the black starboard hold up.
erik selis	posted 03-02-2005 01:49 PM ET (US) You did a fine job Mike. The boat looks great. I like your website too. Very nice pictures. Erik
Mike Brantley	posted 03-02-2005 05:03 PM ET (US) Thanks, guys. This is one of those boat restorations that looks best in pictures or about 10 feet back. Get too close, and you see all the boat's imperfections that drive me crazy. I'll either relax or make things perfect, given enough time. Probably a compromise of the two.
Backlash	posted 03-02-2005 08:55 PM ET (US) Mike, Excellent job on the boat! I think the black Starboard was the ideal choice for the instrument panels. My boat has the aluminum panels and they are a nightmare to cut and seem to scratch easily. I will definitely use Starboard when I replace them. The bow pulpit looks fantastic...much better than what was on it originally. I couldn't help but notice that your steering wheel has the same vertical attitude as mine - like a Greyhound bus! Last year I installed a Teleflex 20° wedge, which mounts under the helm pump, and it greatly improved the handling when docking, etc. Steve
jimh	posted 03-03-2005 08:53 AM ET (US) Great work, on both the boat and the website. I like the layout of the gauges. I am interested to see how the NAVMAN 3100 Fuel gauge looks, as I plan to install one on my Revenge instrument panel. I will also be interested to hear about the fuel consumption of the two-stroke engine as measured by the 3100. The boat looks wonderful. There is nothing like some beautiful teak wood trim to give a yacht appearance to a classic Boston Whaler.
RJG	posted 03-05-2005 08:51 PM ET (US) Beautiful work Mike. And what a lovely family! What is Flitz and where did you get it? My hardware could use some attention. Thanks, Bob
jimp	posted 03-05-2005 09:02 PM ET (US) Mike - Great job! I shouldn't have looked at the pictures as I'm now contemplating additional projects. JimP
Mike Brantley	posted 03-07-2005 12:16 PM ET (US) Thanks again, folks, for all the kind words and encouragement. We're really, really close to putting the boat into the water. Bob, Flitz comes in a small tube or a larger bottle and can be found at Boaters World, Boat/US, etc. I saw it recommended by LHG in an old thread, and I gave it a try. Works well. Jim, I'll be sure to let you know what the Navman tells me. Steve, thanks for the recommendation regarding the steering wheel angle. I'm going to try it like it is for a time, then maybe make the change you did. Do you normally sit or stand or both when driving?
kamie	posted 03-07-2005 09:59 PM ET (US) Mike, I am also interested how the Navman 3100 works out. I was planning a 2100 which is just fuel only but may switchup to the 3100 so I can maximize the map on my Garmin GPSMAP 180 and use the whole screen.
Mike Brantley	posted 03-07-2005 11:52 PM ET (US) Kamie, that's exactly my thinking since I eventually want a Garmin 3006 with radar, GPS and sounder data all on the same relatively small display. That's already crowding a lot in, and the extra data boxes for speed, etc. on the Garmin units are just too freaking big. I wish Garmin would address that at some point with a firmware upgrade to their products. It's my only Garmin quibble. I don't have the dash space or the budget for a 3010 or for multiple displays. I'll let you know how the Navman 3100 works out. I'm going to have to use my existing Garmin 176 GPS for the earliest outings while I save for my dream system. I'll probably put in a depth gauge or borrow the fishfinder off my other boat for the time being.
c_mccann	posted 03-08-2005 09:54 PM ET (US) Mike- looking good! Wow, you have been a busy boy... Have you installed that door I sent you yet? Keep the pictures coming, I enjoy seeing the progress.
kamie	posted 03-08-2005 10:12 PM ET (US) Mike, I have a standard Horizon depth gauge and the one thing I noticed is, it reads the depth of the water at the stern, but it's the bow I run aground. :-)
Mike Brantley	posted 03-09-2005 04:43 PM ET (US) Boat's at the mechanic getting controls rigged, and I've ordered another mount for my old GPS that I will be using on both boats until the big boat gets the big GPS/sounder/radar upgrade. Casey, I still haven't done anything with the cabin, so the door awaits installation. I may not install it until after the headliner is replaced, but I'm glad to have the door for when I need it. Thank you!
c_mccann	posted 03-11-2005 07:44 PM ET (US) Mike- the new headliner is a huge improvement- fresh look, smell... I mounted mine with 1/2" padding, and now no more bumped heads while going down below. Looking good!