Looking for recommendation on gages

[jeff pierce]

I am interested in opinions on what gages I should install in the dash of my runabout. The boat will be powered by a vintage outboard (two stroke) which does not have a generator.

I plan to use Stewart Warner "Wings" series gages. I am thinking of a three gage cluster, though I could be convinced to add more. What seems important to me to monitor is fuel level and battery status, because running out of gas or "electrons" would leave me stranded somewhere.

I suppose motor temp might be a useful indicator of problems with the water pump. A tachometer? I'm not sure what I would do with the information. A speedometer? It just doesn't seem that relevant. With 35 HP I'm not going to be going fast enough to impress anyone.

Incidently, how would one pick up the signal for a tach off an old outboard? or is this simply not done.

[Doug Tutty]

I've never driven a run-about, yet alone a vintage one. In pictures in my "The Classic Boat", applicable gauges would be Gas, Battery, and RPM. Gas is easy. The details I can base on my knowlege as a Stationary Power Engineer. Battery: you need to know more than voltage: Due to internal resistance, the voltage at the battery temninals (which is where it should be measured by any gauge) varies with load as well as state-of-charge. "juice left" can only be estimated with no load on the battery. See if you can find a gauge (Analog to fit the look) that keeps track of Ah in and out. On our house battery bank (really in our home), we have a Cruising Equipment E-Meter that takes into account battery Temp and the rate of discharge which both impact how much juice you can suck out of the battery.

RPM: there must be an upper limit, and since you won't be going very fast, you don't want to over-tax your engine if you are in a situation where you may wish you could go faster.

I haven't seen them on small marine engines, but consider an exhaust-gas temperature: the hotter it is the harder the engine is working.

But I'm a land-lubber on engines, so what do I know?

[jeff pierce]

Originally posted by Doug Tutty:
...Battery: you need to know more than voltage: Due to internal resistance, the voltage at the battery temninals (which is where it should be measured by any gauge) varies with load as well as state-of-charge. "juice left" can only be estimated with no load on the battery. See if you can find a gauge (Analog to fit the look) that keeps track of Ah in and out. OK thanks, but since the motor has no charging capability, there are no amps in, only out and only during starting. The only use for the battery other than starting the motor is the lights, which I expect to seldom use. My point being 95% of the time I'm using the boat, there is no draw on the battery so might a voltmeter be enough? I just want to keep tabs on whether its time to recharge the battery (with my home charger).

BTW, I intend to keep a spare, charged battery on board at all times, just in case. (Actually, I intend to keep an electric trolling motor for backup in case of mechanical breakdown as well)

[Bob Perkins]

Hey Jeff,

In terms of charging ..

The first year I had my sailboat (outboard) I figured I'd monitor the battery with a gauge and take the battery home for a charge once in a while. A big P.I.T.A

Then I got one of those 8W flexible solar panels. Battery is always 100%.

Of course, if the runabout will always be on a trailer.. it may not matter.

Take Care,
Bob

[ 10-08-2003, 01:17 PM: Message edited by: Bob Perkins ]

[Gresham CA]

In order of importance the tach is the most important gauge you can have for your outboard. It can tell you a lot. If your boat is over loaded, prop pitched too high, if there is something wrong with the motor, and even if the trim is wrong on your motor. If I could only have one gauge, it would be a tach.

[Randy Sweet]

If you could pick up water pressure, that would be good. It would give you a quick head's up if the intake were clogged or the pump died

[Bob Perkins]

Jeff,

I looked at the instruments you have found. I like them - they have a good shot at being my instrument of choice when I get that far. I have to get the boat flipped first (Late winter I'm shooting for..)

I have a question though..

Most (all??) boats have an hour meter for engine run time. Those instruments have an odometer (on the speedo). Is the odometer relevant?

Just wondering.

[ 10-08-2003, 04:21 PM: Message edited by: Bob Perkins ]

[rustnrot]

The Stewart Warner Wings gauges are nice. Here is their 5" combo gauge in a replica Gar Wood. The gauge comes with the senders also.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid83/p37242e2e8e4f4dce10a0f2577a036049/fae00666.jpg http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid83/pb51ade0abde98eaaae4da8c58a8c8107/fae00668.jpg

I put a tach to the right of the wheel since they have no matching 5" tach. And yes, that is a foot throttle for the Ford 5.0L.

[jeff pierce]

Wow,

That is a really nice looking boat, "rust". The gage is nice, too. I didn't realize they had a combo like that in the Wings line.

Bob, in reference to your question, I was leaning away from a speedometer anyway so I wasn't too worried about the fact that it was an automobile speedo with an odometer. You might want to contact SW and see if they make a boat version of the speedometer in the Wings line with an hourmeter and more reasonable speed range (160 mph, yikes!)

[Stephen Smith]

If there is no mechanical device on the engine to allow a tachometer drive cable to be fitted you could always fit an electronic tachometer. I am not familiar with marine gauges currently on the market but I know that there are quite a few "retro" looking gauges for the automotive world. The ones I have used in the past have a re-chargable battery built into the head and have a wire that is taped onto a spark plug lead. These rev counters can be bought to suit almost any engine type and configuration; I have used them on both single cylinder and twin cyclinder 2 strokes and 4 strokes as well as on four cylinder 4 strokes . Hope this helps
Steve

[jeff pierce]

Sorry for reviving a "retired" thread, but I have a better answer for Bob Perkins.

I contacted Stewart Warner and they do not make a marine speedometer in the "Wings" line.

What I have found that you might be interested in is that Classic Instruments, Inc makes a retro look marine speedometer as well as a marine tach with an hourmeter. If I understood them correctly, the marine gages were only available in their "Vintage Series" line.

[Bob Perkins]

Thanks Jeff!

Take Care