Blackfin resto

[GO OVRIT]

I guess its not really a resto. The boats in really good shape. It just needs some cosmetic work and some things I just want to be different. The first project is redoing the helm. The worst part about most older boats is that they're not layed out well for modern electronics. So... I decided to cut it out and rebuild it.
This is what it did look like.

There was a shelf in the center that held some of the electronics, and with everything installed I had to drive the boat on my tip toes to see anything.

There were plenty of holes cut and this is the only rotten wood I found on the boat. The wiring was also a mess. Over half of it is already gone in this pic.

This is where I'm at now.

I'll post some more pics as I build the new dash, and I'll have some glassing questions too. Before I found this site I never would have taken a sawzall to a boat

 

[JaSla74]

Re: Blackfin resto

Cool project, when you post again show us a few of the whole vessel. I'd like to see it.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Blackfin resto

Before I found this site I never would have taken a sawzall to a boat

Ayuh,....

Just wait til you get to the chapter where the the Prefered tool is the ChainSaw......

 

[Mark42]

Re: Blackfin resto

What material is the new dash going to be made from? There are a few choices and some neat things you can do. Clear 1/4" plelxy or polycarbonate allows you to spray paint the back side the color of your choice. Silver, gold, black, white, etc. Pin stripe tape can be put down to make outlines or groupings for gauges or switches. The paint the genreal background color (say white). Then peal the pins stripe tape, and spray black. From the front, it will look like a white pannel with a black pin stripe outlining switches, etc. And being 1/4" thick, it will have a deep glossy finish.

Other choices are formica, wood grain laminates, plastics is solid colors or even Corian or other couter top materials.

Do a search on this forum for dash boards and you should find quite a few dash projects.

 

[jcsercsa]

Re: Blackfin resto

Yea I would love to see more of her , Merry Christmas !! John

 

[jonesg]

Re: Blackfin resto

Just raise the seats, aww too late.
Blackfin are a great boat.

You might find this older 1978 blackfin survey interesting.
http://www.docksidereports.com/boatreviews/blackfin_33.htm

 

[GO OVRIT]

Re: Blackfin resto

This is a first draft. I'm going to put the part with the electronics on more of an angle. The gauges are going on the section the controls are on. I had planned on just glassing the whole thing and painting when I paint the rest of the boat. I like that plexiglass idea though. Maybe I could use that where the gauges are going.

I havn't decided where to put tha steering wheel. I'm leaning more towards the 2nd picture. I stand 95% of the time I'm running the boat, and that way gives me more room between the seat and the wheel.

 

[GO OVRIT]

Re: Blackfin resto

Heres a couple shots of the boat.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Blackfin resto

Just be certain to leave yourself easy access to inside that dash for future maintenance. I like it.

 

[GO OVRIT]

Re: Blackfin resto

Well I've got the new helm all built and I've got a couple questions.

1.What should I do on the back side? Is coating it in resin enough, or do I need to put a layer of csm or something on it?

2.On the front side...I've already cut the holes for the gps, chartplotter and the controls. They're square and easy to work with. Should I glass everything before I cut all the holes for the gauges? If so, should I then put a coat of resin on the bare wood after I cut the holes?

I'll be using poly resin.
Thanks, Mike

 

[GO OVRIT]

Re: Blackfin resto

Well I precut the mat for the backside and tried to fill all the corners. I used some PL construction adheisive and a plastic spoon. It was smooth as could be when I did it. I came back to it about an hour later and it looked horrible. There were bubbles all over it. It dried hard, but I know there are air pockets. Will it be okay to glass over it? I'm not worried about strength(its put together with screws and will have bi-ax on the outside). I'm more worried about the waterproofing aspect.