Console modifications
Hi All,
I've decided to take the plunge and am attempting some modifications to the console on my profish 540. I've cut out an area to position my GPS and sounder. They were on the top of the console though in choppy weather my instruments would get wet, plus I have to take both the sounder and the GPS off the brackets every time I want to get the boat in and out of the garage as they would hit the roller door.
My plan next is to mount both the GPS and sounder in position and then I was going to get some aluminum sheet and box in the surrounding area to a) provide protection from the spray and b) to have them in the shade so the screens are easier to view in the direct sunlight.I was thinking of buying some aluminum sheet and some stainless steel rivets to box in the area.I was wondering if anyone has done similar ali modifications to their boats, eg, using rivets and ali sheets? Any comments/advice/pics would be much appreciated.
I don’t want it to look dodgy so I have thought about getting an ali fabricator out though thought I would try and save some $$$.
If anyone else has a centre, or side, console would be great to see some pics of their setups:)
Cheers
Wayne
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barneyboy
Posts: 1392
Date Joined: 08/01/09
Yeh
sounds like you could be onto something. I wouldnt use stainless rivets though because of galvonic reaction and use aluminium rivets instead. Mine is in the process of being built but when I have it complete will post pics.
FEEEISH ONNN!!!
wayneleech
Posts: 362
Date Joined: 27/06/08
look forward to the pics
look forward to the pics barneyboy! where's the best place to pick up aluminium sheets/rivets? i'm guessing bunnings would stock them?
barneyboy
Posts: 1392
Date Joined: 08/01/09
Bunnings have the alloy ones with a steel stock
They do the trick. The ones with the alloy stock are better. If you want to stop any water try the blind rivets. Have used these on the waterline of a tinny and worked fine. For ya sheet try hitting up an alloy fab shop for some offcuts
FEEEISH ONNN!!!
Tim
Posts: 2497
Date Joined: 26/09/06
Good
Good idea Wayne.
Definately use ally rivets as the stailess ones will cause corrosion problems.
Go to one of the ally boat builders and you should be able to pick up some marine ally and rivets from them.
thesupervisor
Posts: 1136
Date Joined: 10/06/09
try alspec in malaga or
try alspec in malaga or smart aliminum in malaga
but if you only need a small amount try a metal shop for off cuts
getting the bottom line final answer from a bunch of blokes that use false names and put smiley faces at the end of paragraphs is not the best place in the world to get the information you seek.
Mick
Posts: 501
Date Joined: 28/08/06
Try sikaflex. Stronger than
Try sikaflex. Stronger than a rivet a will seal the join as well as long as there is a large enough mating surface between the two pieces. All the Rosco trademates and the like are held together with it. That is the skin to the frame itself. Bloody awesome stuff. No chance of corrosion either.
Cheers Mick
If the lord did not mean for us to eat fish and game, he wouldn't have made them outta meat
The speed of light is faster than the speed of sound. That's why so many people appear bright...until they speak.
wayneleech
Posts: 362
Date Joined: 27/06/08
cheers for the all the
cheers for the all the feedback fellas - very helpful! I think i'll look into sikaflex, seems like it could help with achieving a smoother finish...
Pete D
Posts: 1681
Date Joined: 07/06/07
Sikaflex!
Awesome stuff - sikaflex and in black or white. Can be very messy stuff, so plan ahead. Could rivet and seal with the sikaflex - drill rivet hole, a bit of sika in it and along box edge - spit on finger to lightly 'form' the sika into a nice finish.
Cheers Pete