Building a Center Console

[cedarlattice]

I have a student in one of my classes that wants to build a center console for his dads pontoon boat. A while back I stumbled across someone that documented building one. I don't remember if it was on this site or somewhere else. It will be his design and build. I am just trying to help him get some ideas. I will document it though. Any help would be appreciated. How old do you have to be to post here?

 

[fatcalvin]

Re: Building a Center Console

I recently just got through building one for my center console boat. A few good places to start would be 1: take measurements of the old console and see how it "fits" on the boat. 2: get a rough idea of what you want as far as design to replace the current console. 3: get some cardboard and some heavy tape and build a mock up console to see how it fits. Also to check clearances for the helm and throttle. 4: make the real console. I used 1/4" ply with a 1/2" are for my helm. It's a little bit too flimsy. I made it more sturdy by using some 1x2 strips of wood around the inside. Once I had the wooden console made out I glassed it. I did 2 layers of cloth on the outside and 1 layer of mat on the inside. I used PT wood but I sprayed the bottom with that rubber coating sealer stuff just to make sure it didn't go bad. Then bondo, primer, paint. With sanding of corse. Also cut holes prior to painting.

 

[matt167]

Re: Building a Center Console

If you wanted to work off a set of plans. here are plans for a center console from Glen L. They use this console on a few of their boats.

http://www.boatdesigns.com/Console-Skiff-Control-Pattern/productinfo/64-501/

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: Building a Center Console

Many of these are old threads, so if there are questions you may not get answers from a PM, but you can try to reach them that way rather then posting into a for reference thread:

Console
Console
center helm vs offset
moving console


And here's another 'toon thread that shows the limitless potential and total out of the box rigs you can make if you really wanted to:
[h=3]Pontoon Conversion to an Inboard/Outboard
Incredible work & styling, pontoon or not..[/h]
Of note in those reference threads is that the manufacturer may have balanced deck weight with fuel & batteries when a side console. A change to center helm may change that balance, depending on fuel load. Maybe not........

Lots of cables to change & re-route, probably longer runs w/ more bends.

Hope the project goes well for them & they start a thread..

 

[cedarlattice]

Re: Building a Center Console

Thanks for the onfo guys. My student has started it. He took rough dimensions and made one out of cardboard. He took it home and tried it out. He was glad that I made him make the prototype, because It was 6" too short. He is taking pictures of he's progress and I will post them soon.

 

[jacobmeyers]

Re: Building a Center Console

I have a student in one of my classes that wants to build a center console for his dads pontoon boat. A while back I stumbled across someone that documented building one. I don't remember if it was on this site or somewhere else. It will be his design and build. I am just trying to help him get some ideas. I will document it though. Any help would be appreciated. How old do you have to be to post here?

I have a smaller boat (16') But we constructed this console out of plywood with 2 inch oak corners to route a radius. We used a Kreg jig to fasten the console together with some PL glue on every joint. This thing is bomb proof. We'll bondo it up, sand, then paint to give it a "Glass" look.