Gauge Layout

[BrendellaJet]

Getting ready to install new gauges in my dash. I filled the old holes with wooden plugs, resined them in and filled with layers of mat, sanded smooth and filled the voids with a fiberglass filler. I was planning on having 6 auto meter 2 5/8 gauges. I laid out on paper and they fit with little room to spare, but Im wondering if this will weaken the dash too much. What do you guys think?

[hack job]

i run the auto meter 2 1/16 and i have a total of 6 gauges . i jsut like that size more. my .02

[BadBahner]

i run the auto meter 2 1/16 and i have a total of 6 gauges . i jsut like that size more. my .02
I like the 2 1/16 as well. Everything is more $ when you go 2 5/8. But hey when yo uhave Ladera Ranch Money who cares... lol. ;)

[BrendellaJet]

I like the 2 1/16 as well. Everything is more $ when you go 2 5/8. But hey when yo uhave Ladera Ranch Money who cares... lol. ;)
LOL, funny guy! Fine, you guys got any pics of the "little" gauges? I just dig the look of them, but since I have so many maybe the little ones wont look so bad. time to show n tell!
I will not have an inch around each one, dash is about 4 inches, so Ive got close to an inch top and bottom, but not quite. They were about 3/8 apart when I was playing with the spacing...

[BrendellaJet]

bump!

[flat broke]

Here is the only pic I could find of the new 2 1/16 Autometers in Hacker's boat
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/3583Dscn7652.jpg Lots of room on the dash and they don't look tiny.
Chris

[BrendellaJet]

Geez, I think Ill just start PMing you when I have a question! LOL
That looks killer! My dash is a lot smaller than that, so Ill go with the little ones! Thanks Chris!
Brian

[tahitijet]

here is mine during rigging.. i went the larger gauges.. I originally ordered the smaller ones but they were really small... I figured under way they would be extremely hard to see. So I exhanged them for the bigger size and there just about perfect i think.http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/709P1010005-med.JPG

[tahitijet]

BTW Originally my dash had 7 holes cut across it.. I filled in the 2 on the far right. This winter i will probably be adding oil temp and fuel preasure back into the dash.

[Aluminum Squirt]

I'm not sure if this will look OK in a glass boat but I built an aluminum plate and mounted my gauges in it, then I riveted that to the dash. Obviously you still need the wholes which may weaken your dash but you could always make the plate stainless and a little thicker to give the dash back some strength. Just a thought, may look a little hokey in a glass boat but I think if you measured and cut it well, it would look good. I have a picture of mine but I never mastered that posting pictures thing-Aluminum Squirt
PS-Let me know if you want to see the picture real bad, I think I could figure out how to email it to you

[BrendellaJet]

damn, those 2 5/8 look good again. Bad news is on my boat interior is about 4 ft wide at its widest point, the dash is narrower than that. With the steering wheel(dont want gauges behind it) I end up having like 19 inches of room for gauges. If i go with the 2 1/16 I can fit the tach in there too. If I go 2 5/8 I cant. So, since there will be so many gauges in a small space, I think the 2 1/16 will be the best compromise and still maintain the structural integrity of the dash...I hope!