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I'm going to be moving my gauges around this winter on my 1984 Outrage 20. But my gauge panels are verticle and I don't think I'll be able to see them very well even if I put the tach in the best spot. Especially since I'm tall and I have a leaning post rather than seats.
Does anyone have any creative solutions for making my gauges easier to see?

Here's my type of console.
[img]http://www.whalercentral.com/images/Consoles/1983-1985.jpg[/img]

The 1986-1990 consoles have a gauge panel that is angled better.
[img]http://www.whalercentral.com/images/Consoles/1986-1990.jpg[/img]

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Roger,

I wish.......

Having owned several versions of Whalers with the different consoles, I preferred either the older style, 1977-1982, or the 1986-1990 style...
However, I am in the same boat as you as I have the 1983-1985 style.

Some people have just bit the bullet and purchased a new console from Whaler...
This console is the 1986-1990 version...
kamie is one person I know that did this....

I suppose if a person is creative, they could redo the face of the 1983-1985 style and make it just like the 1986-1990 style with a little glass work....

Too much work for me though...... and, I can sit down because I have the RPS....

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I was hoping maybe there was a special adapter or bezal that would tilt the gauges up some.

Those reversible pilot seats have caught my attention, but I'll save that for another thread.

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Arthur -

I re-organzied my gauges on my former Montauk and my Outrage 17. i am 6'2 and stand 99.9% of the time. Even with the tach in the upper half of the panel, regardless of left or right, I do need to lean back and look down.

My Montauk panels looked like this http://picasaweb.google.com/CascoBayO...4942783426 My Outrage panels can be seen on my personal page.

I have long admired the super consoles for their higher gauge position. With this in mind, my one thought would be to build an angled box to install on top of the dash, maybe on the flat part. You could make it out of teak ply to go with all that nice wood. Mount the gauges all in a row with the tach in the center.

Hope this helps.

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I could put the tach on the top of the console like people do with race cars on the dash, but I'm hoping to come up with a better option.

The pic you posted CBO is the newer console that has the nice angled panels.

I'm thinking rather than modifying the console, maybe I could make a wedge frame out of stainless or aluminum to put between the console and the mounting panel. That way, I can always go back to original.

I'll have to go take a close look at my boat and see if I can come up with something that would look ok.
I'm a CNC programmer with access to an extensive machine shop, so designing and fabricating a wedge frame wouldn't be that much trouble. But, it has to look good too. :o

I'd rather live with it as is than have something that looks out of place.

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Roger,

Making a wedge out of aluminum should be easy for you...
Essentially just a ring with the correct size hole for the gauge and puts the gauge at an angle via the amount of degrees put on the wedge.

You could even paint the aluminum wedge black to match the gauges and instrument panel...
Very good idea.....

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This past spring I was able to raise my console a full 6 inches on a 1984 Outrage 22. I'm 6ft 2in and it made reading the gauges much easier. I've since heard I was very lucky because most consoles will only go up 4 inches without re-rigging.

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Wow, that's an interesting idea cdnwhaler. I'm 6'4"
Can you tell me what it involves to raise the console?

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First take a look and see if you have the play in your rigging, including steering cables. Then look to see how your console is attached to the deck. Raising the console usually involves adding a block of teak or starboard between the console and the deck on both sides to raise it to the desired height. This is how I raised the stern seat on my boat, the idea is the same for the console or RPS.
http://kamie.homelinux.org/kamie/html...ry_29.html
The difference is for the console or RPS your teak or starboard would go the full length.

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Thanks Kamie. That sound fairly simple.
I will probably tackle that job along with my hydraulic steering and gauge placement projects this winter.
I should be able to address any cable/wire length issues at that time as well.