Combo Speedometer & Tachometer

[l008com]

My boat is tight on space. So I was wondering if anyone makes combo gauges. There are lots of ways you could do a combo, but I was thinking the best for me would be a needle speedometer, and a digital tack set in the middle of the speedometer. I'd rather had the tach digital since thats more precise, and rpm is more meaningful than speed (IMO, my speedometer could be a two way switch, planed or not planed).

So finding a gauge like this might be the easy part. I see 2" gauge on this site, and I see 3" and 4". Are those like... exact? My boat has two gauge openings, but they're both something like 3.2" or 3.3" diameter. I forget the exact number, but is well over 3". I had to make an adapter to fit my 2" depth meter (that thread's around here somewhere). Would I need another adapter for a 3" gauge, or is this one of those funny situations where 3" means a "a little bit more than 3 inches"?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Combo Speedometer & Tachometer

Digital tachs are not much more accurate than a needle tach since they are both pulse counters. But if that's what turns you on go here:

greatlakesskipper.com

 

[l008com]

Re: Combo Speedometer & Tachometer

Well what I mean by more accurate is that you get a solid number, rather than trying to judge how far you think the needle is between a few lines.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Combo Speedometer & Tachometer

Don't even bother with the speedometer. Get a GPS unit and use it to determine your speed.

 

[l008com]

Re: Combo Speedometer & Tachometer

Don't even bother with the speedometer. Get a GPS unit and use it to determine your speed.

OK, you buying?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Combo Speedometer & Tachometer

Between lines on an analog tach is 50 rpm. If you need a finer number than that you are way too worried about something.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Combo Speedometer & Tachometer

The speedomoeter on my boat is so innacurate I don't even look at it. I bet a cheap GPS/finder is going to be cheaper than a combo speedometer tach.

 

[l008com]

Re: Combo Speedometer & Tachometer

The speedomoeter on my boat is so innacurate I don't even look at it. I bet a cheap GPS/finder is going to be cheaper than a combo speedometer tach.

That still doesn't solve the problem of space. I don't just want a combo unit because its a neat idea. Its because my boat only has room for two gauges and both are in use. If I cant find one I like, I probably will just replace the speedo with a tach. Would be nice to have both though. My speedometer has been relatively accurate once your up over 10 mph. The nav in my car has its own battery, so I could use that gps to verify the speed accuracy.

 

[l008com]

Re: Combo Speedometer & Tachometer

I just LOVE it when this forum eats one of my posts!

Anyway, my post was something like "I love it when I google a question, and the first result is a thread of mine in a forum, asking that same question".

Still looking for some kind, any kind, of combo speed/tach gauge. I'd prefer a digital tach/needle speed, but I'd settle for... anything that doesn't cost $300 and works.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Combo Speedometer & Tachometer

Did you actually go the Great Lakes Skipper as I suggested. If you can't find what you want there, why not buy a $99 fish finder with a speed capability. At least a little more accurate than a pitot speedometer and it will register below 10 MPH. The neat part is you can actually navigate channels with the device and -- oh yes, use it for fishing too.

 

[l008com]

Re: Combo Speedometer & Tachometer

Did you actually go the Great Lakes Skipper as I suggested. If you can't find what you want there, why not buy a $99 fish finder with a speed capability. At least a little more accurate than a pitot speedometer and it will register below 10 MPH. The neat part is you can actually navigate channels with the device and -- oh yes, use it for fishing too.

Yes I looked on that site, didn't find any speedo/tach combos, and I looked all over it. I have no room to mount a fish finder, it's a very compact dash. Oh well.

 

[beckspop]

Re: Combo Speedometer & Tachometer

You might try something like these:

http://greatlakesskipper.com/produc...ph-multi-function-boat-speedometer-gauge.html

http://greatlakesskipper.com/produc...i-function-dtronic-boat-tachometer-gauge.html

depending on your personal taste, I'm sure they make other styles. The Tach is shown as "inboard only" though... If you call, they're pretty good at finding what you need.

 

[l008com]

Re: Combo Speedometer & Tachometer

Well those would be good except, i need tach and speed, not tach, oil and fuel level. that would be perfect if the tach was just like that, and the oil and fuel were replaced with one speedometer needle taking up that same space. That's exactly what I want! I haven't seen anything like it though.

 

[Don S]

Re: Combo Speedometer & Tachometer

There aren't any.

 

[themaniam1]

Re: Combo Speedometer & Tachometer

So you currently do not have a speedo and a tach? You have a depth gauage in one dash spot and you want the combo in the second? If you really do not care about the speed then throw a tach in the other hole and use your car GPS with the suction cup mount as your speedo. Maybe a picture of your dash would help us visualize some other options for you.

 

[l008com]

Re: Combo Speedometer & Tachometer

So you currently do not have a speedo and a tach? You have a depth gauage in one dash spot and you want the combo in the second? If you really do not care about the speed then throw a tach in the other hole and use your car GPS with the suction cup mount as your speedo. Maybe a picture of your dash would help us visualize some other options for you.

I currently have a speedo and a depth gauge. Tach is more meaningful than a speedometer, but I already have a fully installed pitot so I might as well use both. My dash is very compact, and I already have to make room for a stereo control and a compass. If I can't get a single round gauge that has tach and speedo (which it looks like I won't find), I'll probably just get a tach, and go without a speedo. I'm not going to put my car's navigation in my boat, just to et the speed. I mean maybe I'd do it once to verify my boat's speedometer but, doing it all the time is just craziness.

This is also a project that is very low in line. There are a bunch of other things I plan on doing first so I probably won't get to this until the summer after next summer. Then again if I find a gauge I love, it might move up the list.

 

[Robbabob]

Re: Combo Speedometer & Tachometer

On plane or off plane.... seems easy enough. Just look

When I'm not looking for other boats, people and debris, my eyes are glancing at the tach, oil pressure and engine temp. I glance at the speedo (connected to the pitot ) as a reference, and then for the thrill of a few minutes at WOT for the speed reading .

As you've indicated, and many boaters will agree, a speedometer is pretty much unnecessary. Not sure that I've seen posted speed limits on our lakes; we have no wake zones and then it's common sense and safety beyond that.

Get your tach and enjoy the ride

Robb