Hole suggestions??

[Bad Dog]

Okay, I have this "hole in the dash problem." The guy that had my boat before me had something in the dash. It's not the standard radio size or any glove box size that I have been able to find.

Basically 4.5" tall by 9" wide. A picture of what I'm dealing with is attached.

http://www.bretpedigo.com/boat/hole
.jpg

Any suggestions on what to do with this. The only thing I have thought of is to get a piece of black plastic the thickness of the gauge area and put it over it.

I would love some suggestions.

Thanks

Bret



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Bret Pedigo
bret@emji.net

[Looped]

Bad Dog,
That sure is one big whole you got there. It looks like you have one of the OMC years Donzis. It appears that you are missing the factory panel that is about that size, but I’m not sure if this was a glove box, radio area, open bin area….. RickR or Tim Floyd that now owns Rick’s Classic would know better. To help you out, here is your picture and a few other factory shots and modified shots of what could be done. You could use marine plywood to fill the whole and glass over, but blending in the color could be tough with ~10 years of fading gelcoat.

Bad Dog’s picture:
http://www.bretpedigo.com/boat/hole.jpg

Tim Floyd’s Dash:
http://www.donzi.net/hull/DMRCA070F090/DMRCA070F090-4.jpg

Phil Rodgers’s Dash:
http://www.donzi.net/hull/DMRCA003A888/DMRCA003A888-pr4.jpg

Bob Santry’s Dash:
http://www.donzi.net/hull/unk_BSantry/BOAT3.jpg

Craig

[RedDog]

Craig - At first I missed your caption labeling the picture as mine. I was really surprised to see a picture of my dash - I instantly knew it was mine and not just a similar one. The open bin seems fairly useless - but it does beat the alternative - big hole

Bad Dog - How about a thick, colored, acrylic panel, with the edges/corners beveled? Black to match the dash or colored to match you stripe/trim. Starting with it as a base, you could mount just about anything - depth finder, stereo, GPS map, computer LCD panel...

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Reddog
mailto:tsfloyd@bigfoot.comtsfloyd@bigfoot.com</A>

[Jamesbon]

Or make a glove box out of it, with a nice hinged door.

[rms]

Bad Dog, My boat is also an '87 (see the aerial view red/white photo above). Most likely your boat originally had the same glovebox which mine has, although it may have been removed and the hole enlarged. I can measure the opening size of mine this weekend, if the issue is not resolved by then.

[Scott Pearson]

Bret,
Holly S**T is that a big hole. You can mount a BRAVO drive in that thing. If it was me. I would glass that thing in and spray it with gelcoat or paint. You have a great brake off edge on top and bottom that can be rolled and then melted (Blended) off to the side.

Any one have a cement mixer???

(NJ)Scott

[Bad Dog]

So you guys seem my problem. What an ugly eyesore!

The guy who owned it before me didn't do any favors either by screwing things up around the hole as well.

I'd prefer to fit a glove box back in it and paint and fix around it, but the glove boxes from West Marine and Overton's are too big.

Anyone know where I can find a glove box that might fit?

I thank everyone for their posts and their pics.

Bret

[Kent Perroux]

I had a similar problem. Previously I had a radio installed in the passenger side, but salt and radios do not get along. I wanted to go back to gelcoat and a grab handle like the original '83.

I cut a piece of plywood exactly the same size as the hole, with much hand-work to make it tight. I put a layer of e-glass with epoxy on both sides, then trimmed to fit again.

On the face of the dash, I clammped a flat board that had four nail heads approximately 1/8" out installed to give me a 1/8" setback for the filler board I just made. Epoxy the board in place making (should have a 1/8" set-back from the face now.

When dry, remove the face board and clean up front and back. Another larger piece of glass can be layed over the back side of the filler board for extra strength.

Looking at the front you now have the hole filled with approx. 1/8" for gelcoat to go in.

Feather the edges of the holes gell.

Now a new flat board is required (no nails.)
You can either face it with glossy mica (waxed) or just use wax paper. Fill the hole with gelcoat(same color as dash) and place the cover board on till gelcoat is hard. You will have to fill a few gaps to fill, and a lot of wet-sanding but you cannot tell I ever had a hole in my dash.

Kent