GW 265 Express Electronics Upgrade

[Fowl Hooked]

Pulled the trigger this off-season on the electronics overhaul I'd been planning for a while. Gutted the outdated and disparate systems (1st pic), displays, wiring, pretty much everything and replaced with a complete Raymarine setup including a pair of 12" Axiom displays (one Pro model that has the tactile control panel), digital doppler radar, autopilot, a real vision 3D transducer and a 1kW dual band CHIRP transducer along with the associated networking gear. Lot of time spent on the parts you don't generally see but it did my OCD good and was a nice change from the unmarked bird's nest that I started with. While I had everything torn apart I redid both dash panels, replacing all the old mismatched and worn switches with etched and red led backlit ones, added an external VHF speaker so I can hear it while running without the curtains, and a switch panel for the new electronics. The panels themselves were done with 3/16" carbon fiber ABS plastic. Replaced the dome light with a box speaker from Fusion for better sound at the helm, I've got a separate overhead LED light bar that's more than enough for that area. The overhead panel had been done previously but there's now a networked VHF radio as well as the standalone. Couple little things let to get, like the chart card for the MFDs, but it's pretty much done and ready for the spring season.

 

[RussGW270]

Hrm, never thought about putting things through the doors of the electronics boxes.. nice look and congrats on a nice setup.

R

 

[SkunkBoat]

Awesome! New etched switches on my list too. Did you do the panel yourself or did you use NewWire.com? I was on that site and tried using their panel designer and I could not get 5 switches across that width.
I like the carbon fiber look over black Starboard. When they put my motors on they will replace the Gauge panel and Key with Starboard. Not sure if I should get a piece of that ABS for them and use the remainder to do the left side switch panel myself. Or I was thinking let them do Starboard and later just get all panels cut at once by NewWire so they match....maybe even break down and do the closed up flat panel helm. What do you do with all the crap you used to put in there?

 

[bac0701]

Thanks for posting I asked about the overhead mounting the other week. Looks awesome. Should be night and day for you

 

[Fowl Hooked]

Awesome! New etched switches on my list too. Did you do the panel yourself or did you use NewWire.com? I was on that site and tried using their panel designer and I could not get 5 switches across that width.
I like the carbon fiber look over black Starboard. When they put my motors on they will replace the Gauge panel and Key with Starboard. Not sure if I should get a piece of that ABS for them and use the remainder to do the left side switch panel myself. Or I was thinking let them do Starboard and later just get all panels cut at once by NewWire so they match....maybe even break down and do the closed up flat panel helm. What do you do with all the crap you used to put in there?

I did the panels myself using the originals as a template / guide I rough cut the pieces then trimmed them down on my router table. Cutting out the interior holes was a bit more effort and not as clean as you'd probably get from NewWire but it wasn't that hard and with the switches installed you can't see any of the rough edges anyway. If you're asking about all the space in the 'electronics console' I never had the opportunity to find out just what I could store there and then get used to having it, the PO had already closed it up (see first pic), probably best as it's a huge space and I'm sure I would have figured out all sorts of uses for it.

 

[Fowl Hooked]

Thanks for posting I asked about the overhead mounting the other week. Looks awesome. Should be night and day for you

Thanks. That was one of the first 'big' projects I took on and I've been very happy with it. The trim work on that piece of starboard isn't the best (didn't finish it on the router like I should have) and I'd probably use 1/2" vice 1/4" if I did it again but it was the first time I'd really used starboard and I didn't realize how much it would flex. With the anchoring screws at the bottom it works fine and sits flush like the original but I wouldn't mind it being a little stiffer.

 

[SkunkBoat]

I did the panels myself using the originals as a template / guide I rough cut the pieces then trimmed them down on my router table. Cutting out the interior holes was a bit more effort and not as clean as you'd probably get from NewWire but it wasn't that hard and with the switches installed you can't see any of the rough edges anyway. If you're asking about all the space in the 'electronics console' I never had the opportunity to find out just what I could store there and then get used to having it, the PO had already closed it up (see first pic), probably best as it's a huge space and I'm sure I would have figured out all sorts of uses for it.

Where did you buy the etched switches?

 

[Fowl Hooked]

Where did you buy the etched switches?

The switches came from New Wire, they had the red LED switches and etched actuators that I needed. I've used Rocker Switch Pros for custom etched switches like what I put on the macerator for the head but everything for the switch panel ended up being stock.

 

[Fishtales]

Nice job. Those dual Axioms look bad a$$ and fit perfectly.

 

[Fowl Hooked]

Had some extra carbon fiber ABS from a different project and decided to upgrade the dash to match the other panels, added black oxide bolts to blend in and am much happier with the look. Had seen another thread that added rod grommets in the forward cabin bulkhead and followed suit, four forward grommets with two cut down zero degree rod holders on the port side and two Taco rod butt hangers on the starboard side let me store the 7' and over rods without bending.

 

[southernstyle995]

like what you did in the cabin when you get a chance can you take a pic of a rod in the wooden holders on each side of the cabin. the second pic

 

[Fowl Hooked]

like what you did in the cabin when you get a chance can you take a pic of a rod in the wooden holders on each side of the cabin. the second pic

Will do, should be on the boat this weekend if not sooner.

 

[southernstyle995]

Will do, should be on the boat this weekend if not sooner.

thanks

 

[Hookup1]

Nice job! I like the fuse mount on overhead doors although I would probably have done it with a screw down panel. The New Wire panels look great. Carbon fiber a nice touch.

 

[Fowl Hooked]

thanks

Last weekend did not go as planned but I made it down today. Currently using the port side for flag storage but it'll fit rods up to 5'6". Starboard side will fit up to 6'6".

 

[Hookup1]

Had some extra carbon fiber ABS from a different project and decided to upgrade the dash to match the other panels, added black oxide bolts to blend in and am much happier with the look. Had seen another thread that added rod grommets in the forward cabin bulkhead and followed suit, four forward grommets with two cut down zero degree rod holders on the port side and two Taco rod butt hangers on the starboard side let me store the 7' and over rods without bending.

Foul Hooked - Tell me a little bit about the carbon fiber material you used. Supplier, how thick is it,

 

[Fowl Hooked]

Foul Hooked - Tell me a little bit about the carbon fiber material you used. Supplier, how thick is it,

Hookup, the ABS carbon fiber with the Axiom displays is 1/8" thick and is only for appearance, it's backed by 1/2" starboard that provides the real strength and rigidity for mounting the displays. The instrument panel and switch panel are both from a 3/16" thick piece of ABS. Got both from Decorative Plastics, https://shop.decorativeplasticsheets.com/Carbon-Fiber-ABS-for-Boat-Instrument-Panels-CF101.htm

 

[SkunkBoat]

Hookup, the ABS carbon fiber with the Axiom displays is 1/8" thick and is only for appearance, it's backed by 1/2" starboard that provides the real strength and rigidity for mounting the displays. The instrument panel and switch panel are both from a 3/16" thick piece of ABS. Got both from Decorative Plastics, https://shop.decorativeplasticsheets.com/Carbon-Fiber-ABS-for-Boat-Instrument-Panels-CF101.htm

Thats the stuff I'm using for the gauge area. From same company but ordered on amazon.
I'm sticking with the black 1/2" starboard for the bubble dash...I think...

BTW...you can heat the abs with a heat gun and bend it.
Trying to make a drop-in tray for the (formerly)gauge area


Edit: I ended up not using the bent plastic tray, Bought a clear plastic tray that fit perfectly

 

[Hookup1]

I want to update the "plastic wood" but I'm undecided about what I want.

 

[weatherguage]

Wow I love that helm! I have a 12" Axiom+ I'm about to install but the 12" Axiom Pro is making my wallet ache. How much fiberglass did you have to cut to make that fit?