Advice needed in control panel placement in cockpit

[jen1722terry]

Happy Holidays to all CDers!

We're over here in Nova Scotia for the early winter and enjoying the ice on the harbor and all the migratory waterfowl who have opted to winter here (common and hooded mergansers, loons, buffleheads, black ducks and the ubiquitous mallards).

But today, we got an email from Andy at Director/Robinhood about the new Beta Marine engine we're having installed this winter. Specifically, the new cockpit control panel we ordered is somewhat larger than the old one. Yes, it has four gauges and five warning lights - all good an useful - but it is also larger in length/height than the old panel.

So, we have some choices:

1. Install the new panel in where the old one resided, which would mean moving he bilge pump to the lazarette.

2. Install a simpler panel in the hole left by the old one, then install two extra gauges next to the panel.

3. Glass in the hole left by the old panel and install the new panel on the front wall of the cockpit, just below the bridge deck. We like this approach, for it would make the gauges much easier to read.

We like the 3rd option, but were wondering if others have went through this same thought process.

Any thoughts or comments would be appreciated.

And, again, a very Happy Holidays to all of you.

Jenn and Terry

[mgphl52]

If the effort and/or cost don't matter, I'd go for option 3.
I would love to have KAYLA panel there as well.

[Jim Walsh]

When I replaced my engine I bought the instrument panel with the full gauges. It was mounted in the original location. I can see the gauges well enough but the tiny engine hour meter takes a contortionist to view clearly. The engine hours don't hold a lot of significance to me on a daily basis so I'm fine with it. I'm fond of my instrument panel but I really wouldn't care to have it staring me in the face at all times.

[John Stone]

It depends on what your plans are. If you intend to do some offshore sailing, you can expect, at some point, to end up with a cockpit full of water. That could potentially damage the panel as none of the panels that I am aware of are designed to be flooded.

I have never understood the need to have an engine panel on diesel engine sailboat constantly visible. You're not going to be looking at it all the time anyway. If you are motoring with an auto pilot, by definition you are not looking at it. I'd recommend you put it below decks where it's out of the weather and less likely to get damaged, corrodeded, etc.

You can wire in a temp guage and put that in the cockpit or better yet wire in a very loud temperature/oil pressure alarm that can be heard anywhere on the boat.

[Maine_Buzzard]

After a weekend sail on a Lord Nelson 41 (thank you Greg Koski and Veneeni), I have also given up on the engine panel down where it can't be seen. Lord Nelson places it in the companionway, easily seen, but flush.

Along with a rebuild of the aft cabin plywood panel, the battery switch and starter key are going inboard of the existing circuit breaker panel.

Tach, Oil Pressure, and cooling temp gauges (and warning lights for oil, alt, and overheating) are going into a small 4x8x3" pod just inside the starboard side of the companionway. While motoring, they are available with a glance. (tiller boat)

The former panel area near the throttle gets waterproof pushbuttons for preheat, start, and stop. In the end, the engine can be started or stopped at the tiller or while peering into the engine compartment.

This is the very last, final, once and for all time that I will be messing around with the wiring!

BTW, new circuit breaker and other faceplates are coming from Front Panel Express (http://www.frontpanelexpress.com) Will post in the projects section.

Are you getting a "C" panel? Tach, Oil, Temp, Volts... it is large.

Mounting to the vertical forward wall of the cockpit is certainly favourable.

Option 2 is possible too. Lose the voltmeter and refit to the original panel. Moving the harness around will be a bear. A new panel to the old size, drilled for the new gauges and switches will be easier.

[Steve Laume]

I would definitely want to be able to see the tach and to start the engine from the cockpit. At that point you might as well have the entire panel where it is accessible from the helm.

While the #3 position might be convenient I would look at what it does to the already horrible engine access. If you mount it there, you are not only going to have the back of the panel but also a mess of wires and the stop cable cluttering up the area over the engine. I can barely get my head in there now to check the trans fluid and change out the heat exchanger zinc.

As bad as it is to have the panel where it is there probably isn't a much better place if all things are considered. I just wouldn't make this harder than it has to be, Steve.

[jen1722terry]

Thanks to all for the timely input on the control panel location for our Beta Marine 25 repowering.

We're opting for going with the smaller "B" panel, in the same location to the right of the helm as the old panel, and adding the two extra gauges on the cockpit wall near the new panel. This would mean much less glass work, not having to move the bilge pump to the lazarette, being able to reach the start switch quickly from the helm and, most importantly for us, not further restricting access to the rear of the engine.

This approach provides all the data that the "C" control panel would, minus one extra battery warning light. We also note that the new panel would not have the old push-pull engine shut off switch, which I always worried about kicking. Yes, the gauges would still be hard to read while standing, but the addition of extra warning lights makes up for this.

We further note that we are not offshore sailors and don't plan to be, so cockpit flooding is less of an issue for us.

Thanks again to all for taking to time to share experience and thoughts. Very appreciated.

And, of course, our best wishes to all for warm and happy holidays and a happy, healthy and prosperous new year with many fair winds.

Jenn and Terry

[Ben Thomas]

There is a waterproof B-panel available as well for the Beta's
cheers

[bottomscraper]

I can see the gauges well enough but the tiny engine hour meter takes a contortionist to view clearly.

The LCD hour display on our Beta "C" panel is almost unreadable under most lighting conditions. I installed a second engine hour meter down below. It was about $12. Mostly out of habit I record log the engine hours every day. It was significantly more important with the Mr Leaky Perkins. I hooked up the new hour meter to the battery and let it run for 2 days to catch up to the engine panel meter. They are still synced within 1/10 hour after one season.

[Neil Gordon]

The MD7A never had an hour meter, so I never got into the habit of checking/logging. With two seasons on the Beta, I'll try to remember to take a peek in the Spring, maybe even write it down.

[mgphl52]

The MD7A never had an hour meter, so I never got into the habit of checking/logging. With two seasons on the Beta, I'll try to remember to take a peek in the Spring, maybe even write it down.

Since KAYLA was my first Cape Dory with a diesel, I figured it would be important and added a meter...
but I also forget to check all that often except when I do oil changes, or the like.
I've never been one to log every detail... instead I just enjoy the sail.

[Neil Gordon]

>>I've never been one to log every detail... instead I just enjoy the sail<<

If I'm out around the buoys, I don't log the details, but anything longer than that, I'll record my position, course and speed, every 15-30 minutes or so, depending on how close the hazards might be. Fog, etc., happens and it's nice to know where you are even when the GPS batteries are dead.

Without significant detail, for the most part, I have a log of 100% of every sail for the last 20 years. I keep rough notes on departure/arrival time, plus the details noted above. It's part of my routine, plus a good, legal record. (If you're accused of whatever, a well kept log can provide an alibi.)

[mgphl52]

(If you're accused of whatever, a well kept log can provide an alibi.)

So true... maybe I should develop some new habits...

[sgbernd]

I went thru the same path this spring, in replacing the 1982 Volvo panel with the Beta waterproof C panel. I just increased (sawed out with my sabre saw) the size of the original hole to accomdate the larger new pannel and called it good although I confess it is pretty awkward to see at ankle level. This saved any glass repair issues as well. I purchased the protective case from Beta which recesses it and protects it from spray and rain with a plexiglass cover but also makes it harder to see and to get to the heat, start, and stop controls. And the recessed panel also allows me to put a sun shield (a piece of cardboard) over the panel when not in use to protect it from fading and uv damage and it is so low anyway, it gets little direct sun.

As the lights on the Beta are not dimmable (unlike the old Volvo panel's) I did not want them facing me as I find them too bright and distracting at night ( I do a lot of night passages). I appreciated the old Volvo dimmer and back light controls for this but sadly they are missing on the Beta. I prefer a mostly dark or very dim cockpit at night with just enough light to see what I need but nothing more to disract me. Thus, I would recommend placing the pannel where your eye at night is not going to be attracted to it which means, unfortunately, somewhere that is harder to see and not facing the stern as the watch is likely facing the bow and the forward quarters mostly.

I also complain about the LCD hour meter which is nearly illigible unless you stick you head right down to it and look straight on. I log this information when I fuel up or during sheduled maintenance,and it is a bit inconvenient.

s.g.bernd
Valhalla

[Joe CD MS 300]

Happy Holidays to all CDers!

We're over here in Nova Scotia for the early winter and enjoying the ice on the harbor and all the migratory waterfowl who have opted to winter here (common and hooded mergansers, loons, buffleheads, black ducks and the ubiquitous mallards).

But today, we got an email from Andy at Director/Robinhood about the new Beta Marine engine we're having installed this winter. Specifically, the new cockpit control panel we ordered is somewhat larger than the old one. Yes, it has four gauges and five warning lights - all good an useful - but it is also larger in length/height than the old panel.

So, we have some choices:

1. Install the new panel in where the old one resided, which would mean moving he bilge pump to the lazarette.

2. Install a simpler panel in the hole left by the old one, then install two extra gauges next to the panel.

3. Glass in the hole left by the old panel and install the new panel on the front wall of the cockpit, just below the bridge deck. We like this approach, for it would make the gauges much easier to read.

We like the 3rd option, but were wondering if others have went through this same thought process.

Any thoughts or comments would be appreciated.

And, again, a very Happy Holidays to all of you.

Jenn and Terry

How did the repower go? Any issues?