Center Console

[richvi]

Please direct me to plans for a wooden center console, like the Boston Whaler type. The easier the plan the better.

[RonW]

places to look..looking is half of the fun....

http://www.glen-l.com/subdesn.html

http://www.boatdesigns.com/cgi-bin/store/web_store.cgi?page=bycategory.html&&cart_id=1043511_8126

http://www.bateau.com/index.php

[Mike Vogdes]

All you need to do is mock up what you want out of cardboard, fool around with the fit utill your happy with the way it looks, then take apart your cardboard mock up and transfer the lines to ocume ply, assemble your pannels stitch and glue style.

[RodB]

I was trying to decide on a console and happened to see a great setup on a bay boat that offered an extremely stable position for the helm station. You stood comfortably at the helm with the option of settling back about 3 inches to rest your fanny on the leaning post. Then you could rest your feet on a nice angled foot rest. The steering wheel (Tilt type) was on an even level with the "T" handle of the engine controls so you had maximum control with lots of comfort and stability.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid148/p449df51c82d562e68fde4021cf5c4d4e/f610250c.jpg

I drew up a rough diagram of said design after taking a few measurements, then redrew it on large graph paper with 1 1/2" equal to 1 foot. Thus 1/4" = 2" for a very nice large scale drawing.

Just figure out what you want, draw it up to scale and then build it. Set up a mock steering station using a bar stool for the steering wheel and one for the seat just to get all necessary meansurements to fit your needs such as steering wheel height, seat height and location, windshield and grab rail height, etc.

I put several custom features in mine such as a flush mount large diameter compass located in a small square level platform at top dead center, maximum sized 40 gallon Inca polyethylene fuel tank, two one-litre bottle drink holders, custom easy removable engine guage panel, foot rest, stowage hatch, grab rails, protected ignition switch, and large cutouts along the console sides at the floor for easy wash out of inner compartments, etc, etc. NOTE: Fuel fill allows one to use a simple dip stick to check fuel level...lasts much longer than any fuel guage. I even set up the eye height so that when standing you were just above the windshield and grabrail protected by the jet stream comming off the windshield, but when you sit down, you are looking through the windshield.

Just cut out panels, glass them, fillet inside joints/corners, radius and double tape outside corners/joints. It looks like a nice molded console with the only limits...your imagination.

Look at lots of consoles to get a good idea of exactly how big you want yours to be plus you will get lots of ideas for features that you want to incorporate into your design. This conceptualizing is the most fun especially when you see it finished just as you saw it in your head.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid148/p287985d8a52bf47146d8a92116c062a3/f60fc0c5.jpg

Good Luck,

RB

[ 12-09-2004, 11:45 AM: Message edited by: RodB ]

[richvi]

RodB, what type of wood and what thickness did you use? Thanks to all of you. It will interesting to be on the look-out for good consoles.

Richvi

[RodB]

I used Okoume marine plywood throughout my boat except for the bottom extra layer of 1/4" Merranti. Original construction was 3/8" material for sides and bottom, but the additional layer of 1/4" on the bottom brought the bottom thickness to 5/8". The console was 1/2" (12mm) but I could have easily used 3/8" (9mm), It was one of those decisions made for lots of strength but I wish I had gone a bit lighter. Those kind of decisions add up in weight.

The Okoume I used was Malvaux, from France, purchased from World Panel in Miami. I compared it to several other samples from wood suppliers around the country. The Malvaux was the finest Okoume I have seen and I sent the samples to my designer, Tracy Obrien, for his review... he loved it too. All sheets were labled Lloyds certified marine and the material was really great. By the way, I bought this French marine ply before 9/11, I would not buy French products now for patriotic reasons.

RB

[ 12-01-2004, 09:13 PM: Message edited by: RodB ]

[WOODZOWL]

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid120/p4a0d4692fa95e033897bc4640418413b/f858059c.jpg
Here is a C.C. that I built for a skiff already fitted with bench seats. One sheet of mdo ply was used. It has room for a bat. & 6gal. tank.
J.M.

[RodB]

Nice clean simple console. I like it.

RB

[schlaboatnic]

Not sure how to post a link, but this site has a plethora of BW info.

http://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/drawings.html

[Mike Vogdes]

Schlaboatnic, (intresting name)
Great site! ... Lots of good Whaler info, thanks. Instant bookmark...

[richvi]

Woodzowl, re: your C.C., where does the battery and fuel tank fit? Is there a door? Please share the dimensions/plan.

Richvi

[WOODZOWL]

Rich
Since a recent computer crash, things aren't working quite right. Send me an email and I'll forward scanned copys of c.c. prints from a set of my plans. Go to my home page then click (contact me). Jerry