Building Consoles for our 73 model

[coalminerswife]

My husband and I are trying to decide what to do about consoles for our 73' Starcraft. It's 19' feet long and 5' wide.

We would like to go with aluminum, but it's expensive. Wood is cheaper, but won't last as long. Furthermore, we are by no means professional console builders.

I've been looking on the web for some type of pattern to go by, but there doesn't seem to be anything.

Does anyone have any insight on how to go about making consoles?

The boat looks like this inside:

These are some consoles we've seen and like:



We will be using lounge seats like the ones in the first photo.

 

[fshngho]

Re: Building Consoles for our 73 model

If you are going to re install the cabin top you won't be able to see over the top with those consloles. The set up you liked is a SS. Your boat had tall pedistals and you would look over the cabin through the upper windshield. The old existing consoles were not much and had the steering wheel almost horizontal.

 

[coalminerswife]

Re: Building Consoles for our 73 model

We are not putting the cabin back on.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: Building Consoles for our 73 model

Try to buy some aluminum at a scrapyard to save cash...that rig will be sweet with dual consoles, like a custom 19' SuperSport

You could use epoxied wood but that woud run about as much as the aluminum probably, so I'd try to stick to aluminum for the entire structure.

One idea also is to buy an old fiberglass hull that has some of the trim pieces and a windshield style that you like to help with the design.

 

[coalminerswife]

Re: Building Consoles for our 73 model

We actually have a fiberglass boat, a 1975 Thundercraft, that we are retiring. We're planning to use the windshield off of it, as well as the seats that we just bought for it back in the spring.