ATTN Starcraft SS peoples

[Bob_VT]

Okay.... I need a bit of help. My SS did not come with any dash panels.... wow what a basket case I started with.....

I need a few ideas and hopefully Pictures of your SS dashboards. This is just one of my hurdles.

I have access to..... white poly panel which is 3/8" thick and I could double it however, nothing will stick to it.... not paint not 5200 (it is similar to cutting board and it is white).

I have A-C plywood and epoxy......

I have oak but I have read too many bad things about it......

Pictures?
Suggestions?

I will have a steering wheel, a tach, and a few switches and that's it. I use a handheld GPS for speed.

 

[Stratosman86]

Re: ATTN Starcraft SS peoples

Bob, I am using cedar cut from an old headboard. Two coats of epoxy, sanded with 320 to make them like glass. Just my take, I think anything you want to use will be fine as long as you seal it!

Darren

 

[STARCRAFT16SS]

Re: ATTN Starcraft SS peoples

I love the look of wood with alot of grain in it...I used some hardwood,
stained it..then put several coats of marine varnish on it....now I wish I had
used epoxy on the wood dash and then used varnish over the epoxy to
protect the epoxy from the sun....next time I redo the dash.....

I used stainless steel washers to lable the switches

My boat is 16ft...it might have a smaller dash then a 18ft boat

PS...Stratosman86.......I like the wood you picked out

 

[HopeSheFloats]

Re: ATTN Starcraft SS peoples

Run what ya brung...coat the oak with a couple coats of epoxy, followed by a few of spar urethane, with follow up coats of the urethane every couple of years as needed...

SS - self serving

Sorry, had to add it, as it's the only part of my resto I'm 'totally' happy with.

 

[bananaboater]

Re: ATTN Starcraft SS peoples

I would not not do wood. You are in a great hardwood state. Find a piece you really like and go for it. Birds eye maple or fiddle back are among my favorites.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: ATTN Starcraft SS peoples

Stratosman86 Very very nice! Do you think the epoxy will break down in the sun since it does not do good with UV?

STARCRAFT16SS do you think the spar will protect it being clear?

hmmmm decisions

 

[Stratosman86]

Re: ATTN Starcraft SS peoples

Bob,
I thought about that as well and put two coats of Spar Urethane on to finish it off. I am hoping this works, I guess time will tell, LOL!

Darren

 

[86 century]

Re: ATTN Starcraft SS peoples

I like the wood but I need to hide my crappy wood work.

 

[Andy in NY]

Re: ATTN Starcraft SS peoples

hey bob what is the white poly panel you have? ive been looking for something like that for my dash...

 

[Kainon]

Re: ATTN Starcraft SS peoples

I tried using Starboard stuff once.. had it for about a year, didn't care for it much, I used 1/2". didn't like how the board expanded & contracted with the temp. dont know if it was me or the tools, but I didn't like
how the Gauges fit.

I prefer wood look but went for a nice strong precise cut of Alum, with CAD & machine cut Gauge holes.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: ATTN Starcraft SS peoples

The plastic panel I have is large enough for my small dash.....it was an acid vat cover and NOTHING touches it ...... no effect from weather at all........ nothing sticks to it either.

Andy it's too small for your dash. unless you just need a 2' piece.

 

[STARCRAFT16SS]

Re: ATTN Starcraft SS peoples

Hi Bob VT....I have no experence using epoxy....I have been researching on
this web site how to do my transom and still have the wood show through..
that is my goal....
I checked out "Need marine plywood advice....."
there "tschmidty" suggested epoxy for waterproofing and spar varnish
over that for UV protection...
Another one I saw was "Jb weld or epoxy"
"Saildan" said you have to overcoat epoxy with paint, varnish or
gelcoat so UV doesn't break it down over time
In "Pulling Motor & Transom Replacement hints and tips?"
"sdunt" said Epoxy will yellow and degrade in sun unless you
varnish it and than you get to redo the coating every few years...
In "Waterproofing transom"
"Stoutcat" said Epoxy as a sealer...need to apply a UV resistant paint
or varnish/polyurethane on top or sun will break it down

Somewhere on this web site someone said varnish is not good for
waterproofing but great for UV protection and Epoxy is excellent for
waterproofing but but needs UV proction from the sun....
looks like if I use both....I might get the best of both worlds...I have not
tried it yet but plan to...sometime this summmer...I want to raise the transom height on one side of the stern and install a ss ladder that tucks-
away in a slot in the transom

 

[ezmobee]

Re: ATTN Starcraft SS peoples

1/4" Taco Marine Starboard with a plywood backer. Starboard is not technically glue-able with anything but a special glue. However, I used 5200 which is holding great now and they'll be further held in place with accessories. I'm not concerned and I like the no-fasteners look.

Andy, for your Jupiter you NEED to go to Lowes and get a PVC trim panel. Works awesome.

 

[Andy in NY]

Re: ATTN Starcraft SS peoples

how thick is it?

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: ATTN Starcraft SS peoples

EZ you might want to go from the back with short SS screws into the starboard on the PAX side. Trust me I think the 5200 will fail on it..... yes your's looks great

I decided I am going to go with oak. I put some epoxy and cloth on the back side to prevent splitting. I am not doing anything fancy but it will be durable when I am done.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: ATTN Starcraft SS peoples

how thick is it?

1/2" I think. It fits. Trust me.

EZ you might want to go from the back with short SS screws into the starboard on the PAX side. Trust me I think the 5200 will fail on it..... yes your's looks great.

This http://www.consumersmarine.com/modp...mline_Tackle_Box&i=720160&merchID=1015&r=view will hold it in place.