Whaler Central - Boston Whaler Boat Information and Photos

Posted by 02cool on 12/20/15 - 3:37 PM

I cannot find anywhere a replacement wood gauge panel which is typically appox. 1/4" and the gauge[s] is mounted in it an secured to the side console with 4 screws on 13/15 sports/super sports. I tried Ebay and called Specialty marine with no luck.

Posted by Finnegan on 12/20/15 - 11:39 PM

All of Whaler's wood instrument panels were made from either 1/4" or 3.8" teak or mahogany marine plywood, depending on the wood being used in the particular model. In your case it would have been mahogany.

Are you looking for something like these?

http://smg.photobucket.com/user/lgolt...5485253693

This Montauk originally came with teak marine plywood panels, and I replaced them with same size solid teak panels, planed to 3/8" and with a 3/16" 45 degree bevel (champher) on the top edges. I have received many compliments on them

This is what I would recommend you do. They are easy to make, or have made for you. In my case, my exotic hardwood seller has a shop, and cuts and planes them to size for me. I run the routed edge, and drill gauge holes as needed.

Posted by tedious on 12/21/15 - 4:57 AM

It's just a piece of mahogany-faced plywood with some holes drilled in it. Find a local cabinetmaking shop and they'll probably give you a scrap for free.

My panel is actually a piece of junky luan paneling I had lying around - not even marine plywood but when varnished it has held up fine, and it looks very nice.

Tim

Posted by huckelberry145 on 12/21/15 - 8:39 AM

I go to my local lumber yard and buy their "craft packs" of various pieces and sizes of lumber. I bought enough mahogany hardwood to do mine ten times over for about $15.00, which is good because every time I add or change something on my instrument panel I can just remake it. But I agree with Tim, you'll probably have better luck at the casework/millwork shop. Going armed with a twelve pack will probably aide in your endeavor, that's how I get the hardwood for my cutting boards.

P. S. If you can't find anything, let me know. I have a piece here that I believe should work.

Posted by wlagarde on 12/21/15 - 7:49 PM

If you prefer to fabricate it yourself it's pretty straight forward. I fabricated a new one for my sport 15 from a piece of solid mahogany using a table saw, drill press, and set of hole saws.

I added some pictures at the end of my personal page of the panel after fabrication just prior to finishing and then after application of Petit captains varnish: http://www.whalercentral.com/infusion...r_id=30321

You can also see the finished panel installed in the pictures of my boat.

Edited by wlagarde on 12/21/15 - 7:52 PM

Posted by 02cool on 12/23/15 - 12:59 PM

Strike 1 with : http://www.blackduckgallery.com
Strike 2 with : Specialty Marine.com
Unbelievable......
Black Plexiglass or Starboard is starting to sound better and better.

Posted by Finnegan on 12/23/15 - 10:44 PM

I don't see what is wrong with my initial post, but if you must have a panel made from 1/4" mahogany plywood you will have to find a shop that regularly works with this product. Otherwise this stuff is sold in special order 4 x 8 ' sheets and nobody carries it. One marine shop that comes to mind is Nautical Lumber in Mt Clemens MI, but I hear the service is slow. You might try contacting Mike, however, and see if he carries the 1/4" plywood and will make you one.

Another thought is to use 1/4" birch solid veneer plywood, a very high grade product, solid birch all the way through with no voids. My exotic wood dealer carries this in small sizes, such as 1' x 2' sheets, for not much money, and you could then cut your own panel. It would have to be mahogany or teak stained several coats to get it dark enough, then varnished about 10 coats, but should hold up well.

I think the wood steering wheel center caps are made from similar solid veneer plywood (not traditional marine plywood) like this. It is very dense, heavy material.

Posted by sailorman on 01/07/16 - 12:34 PM

#12

My SS 15 came with a plastic, woodgrain panel that was screwed onto the mahogany. There was a big rectangular hole cut into the 3/4" mahogany to make room for the backs of the instruments and the plastic panel held two gauges. I don't know it it was stock but I think it was.

Posted by 02cool on 01/09/16 - 7:03 AM

#13

sailorman wrote:
My SS 15 came with a plastic, woodgrain panel that was screwed onto the mahogany. There was a big rectangular hole cut into the 3/4" mahogany to make room for the backs of the instruments and the plastic panel held two gauges. I don't know it it was stock but I think it was.

Definitely not stock, I have owned 3 15 S/S Whalers and the gauges were all mounted in a removable wood panel.