Carbon fiber Back-lite Helm Panels - Caver 3207
- Thread starter mjkkemper
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- Joined
- Feb 8, 2011
- RO Number
- 32479
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these look great! are they something you ordered, or made yourself?
Those look great! We already have your aft bimini on our boat, now I'm envious of those dash panels. How did you ever stencil the lettering? The last time I was in Florida at the giant Dania boat flea market I priced some custom made new panels from some of the vendors who had booths there. They were so expensive it just wasn't worth it.
Laser cut stenciling maybe?
(If you ever need a job in life you could make piles of money retrofitting old carvers with swim step stairs, dash panels, radar arches...)
Laser cut stenciling maybe?
(If you ever need a job in life you could make piles of money retrofitting old carvers with swim step stairs, dash panels, radar arches...)
Not sure how they made them but there is a few company's out there that make labels like these.
Out of curiosity do you remember how much they were asking? I think I remember seeing a replacement set going for about $300. I'll have about $175 in material when complete. Maybe I'll make another set and throw it on EBay.
I have to order the LED's and will update with a picture with back-lites installed.
I can't quite see from the pictures -- those labels are separate little pieces inset into the panels? Ohh, I thought the lettering was actually cut or etched into the plastic/carbon fiber panels themselves.
I visited three vendors at the Florida show (http://www.daniamarinefleamarket.com/) and the best quote I got was about $120 per panel. With four dash panels -- assuming I don't replace the panel under the steering wheel, since that's tarnished but blank anyway, that was going to be $480 before tax and shipping. I was really hoping to find somebody to do replacement aluminum panels so they matched the original -- and still matched the lower helm panels which of course have never seen weather and still are perfect --but etching lettering and lines onto aluminum was even more expensive. The three vendors were technografic http://www.tecnografic.com/ and another was Prospect Plastics http://www.prospectplastics.com/custom-boat-accessories-ft-lauderdale.html
Can't remember the third one but their prices made me toss the business card. Even though they don't match the old aluminum panels, your approach may be better. I can't see the darn labels in the dark and I was going to install a red dimmable LED light bar on the bimini rail over my head. If the labels could glow (dim red maybe) then I could skip the LED lght bar which would probably be better for night running anyway.
I visited three vendors at the Florida show (http://www.daniamarinefleamarket.com/) and the best quote I got was about $120 per panel. With four dash panels -- assuming I don't replace the panel under the steering wheel, since that's tarnished but blank anyway, that was going to be $480 before tax and shipping. I was really hoping to find somebody to do replacement aluminum panels so they matched the original -- and still matched the lower helm panels which of course have never seen weather and still are perfect --but etching lettering and lines onto aluminum was even more expensive. The three vendors were technografic http://www.tecnografic.com/ and another was Prospect Plastics http://www.prospectplastics.com/custom-boat-accessories-ft-lauderdale.html
Can't remember the third one but their prices made me toss the business card. Even though they don't match the old aluminum panels, your approach may be better. I can't see the darn labels in the dark and I was going to install a red dimmable LED light bar on the bimini rail over my head. If the labels could glow (dim red maybe) then I could skip the LED lght bar which would probably be better for night running anyway.
FWIW, for the budget minded, 3M makes a product called DiNoc. It's a stick-on CF look. The kids use it on car hoods, door pillars, etc. I've not seen the stuff fail yet.
If you do buy the stuff, make sure you buy 3M brand because the scammers out there are making knock-off materials.
If you do buy the stuff, make sure you buy 3M brand because the scammers out there are making knock-off materials.
I am going to use this on the next phase of the project. The old gauges have seen there day and I just don't like the looks of them. I am planning on laminating 3/8" HDPE routed on the corner for a new instrument panel with new gauges. (Burl wood)
- Joined
- Feb 8, 2011
- RO Number
- 32479
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- 363
I'm planning to laminate HDPE burl wood inserts to my dash panels as well, I have no lit toggle switches, so it makes the upgrade easy. Be nice to have lit switches tho...
John B (First Light) I will have left-over material if yr interested for some of yours...we'll talk...
John B (First Light) I will have left-over material if yr interested for some of yours...we'll talk...
- Joined
- Aug 5, 2008
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Nice job I did a similar project a few years ago. I already had the back light dash but I refinished using carbon fiber as well.
Sorry the pictures are not in order but you can get the idea.
http://s447.photobucket.com/albums/qq198/phonemd8154/Dash Panel/?start=all
Sorry the pictures are not in order but you can get the idea.
http://s447.photobucket.com/albums/qq198/phonemd8154/Dash Panel/?start=all
Your project turn out great! That's the look I was hoping for. Below are the finished panels. In about 3 weeks the new gauges will be in. I need the lower panels out to replace the gauges so the panels will go in after the gauges.
- Joined
- Aug 5, 2008
- RO Number
- 30499
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- 6,405
Yours are looking great as well! I enjoyed the project and happy with the results. Where did you buy the carbon fiber? I ordered my on line from Dragonplate dot com I still get emails from them about specials I may have to make another panel I had to replace my radar display and I have been meaning to make an insert for it as well.
- Joined
- Mar 6, 2009
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Matt, lookin' at the platform you made it sets real low to the water, How's do on plan and following seas ?
