CENTER CONSOLE

[dthorton]

DOES ANYONE HAVE STANDARD DIMENSIONS FOR THE CONSOLE,NOT MANY CENTER CONSOLE BOATS IN MY AREA OR I WOULD GO LOOK AT SOME,SHOULD YOU DESIGN THEM FOR A STANDING OR SITTING POSITION, ANY HELP WOULD BE GREAT. THANKS.

[brad9798]

Standard? Hmmm ... not hat I know of ... but I'm no expert.

Mine is a sit-down type ... there are many stand-up models as well ...

Check Some of the big boating catalogs ... they sell center consoles, t-tops, rigid hard tops to fit them, etc. You could probably get the specs from the catalogs ...

I'm thinking 'Boater's World,' 'West Marine,' etc.

I'm sure others will have some great suggestions, so hang tight.

Brad

[RodB]

Designing a console is based entirely on your use and requirements. Sitting or standing depends on whether you need to have lots of visibility while at the helm such as a flats boat, or say you are in deep water mostly and just want to sit comfortably and steer.

Check this post: center console design (http://media5.hypernet.com/cgi-bin/UBB/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=2&t=002816&p=)

For good diagrams of consoles and why they were set up like they were...
console examples (http://media5.hypernet.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=003873)

Questions to ask yourself:

Will you stand when steering?
Will you sit when steering?
Do you want a wide enough console to offer protection from the wind for two people standing or sitting side by side?
Do you require space on the dash for several instruments or only a couple.
Will your console house a fuel tank and/or a battery?

You see, the parameters of your console really depend on the criteria you decide on for your use.

Generally, center consoles are about 24 " wide to accommodate two people side by side. ( Manufacturerd consoles are 24" wide in many cases, a few are narrower ). If protection from the elements is not an issue the console can be narrower... Height is strictly a function of your steering stance and if standing, where your arms comfortably extend to rest on the steering wheel in a comfortable grip with both hands (elbows bent). If you never need to stand while steering, then the console can be much shorter and matched to the height of the seat you will use. Note: a short console still needs to be high enough to allow you to rest your hands on the top of the steering wheel while standing.

Windshield height is a function of your eye height and whether you want to look over the windshield or through it. Remember a windshield via air flow allows you to look over it and still be protected from wind and rain. I set up a leaning post/seat that while standing and steering, I can see over the windshield with nothing to impair my visibility. The air flow over the windshield offers me extended protection without actual windshield in my field of vision. When I lean back and rest my butt on the leaning post, I am looking through the windshield, and even more protected from wind and rain. There is a diagram of this in the second post above.

If you want other features incorporated in the console such as drink holders, battery housing, fuel tank housing, flush compass, guages in the dash, switches, location of engine controlls, etc etc.

Look at lots of consoles and study them. Sit at the helm and see what you like about the setup. You will figure out real soon what you like and what you don't. Your preferred steering position dictate the parameters on your console design. The two postings above should give you a good starting point on what you require in a console.

One very specific example I chose was to install a tilt steering wheel because it was about 3" higher than standard setups. This height made for the actual steering wheel height off of the dash exactly the same height as the Yamaha T-handle engine control that sits beside it in a binnacle mount. Thus, when at the helm, you place your hands on the wheel and only move your right hand a few inches to touch the engine controll, which requires very little movement to control the boat. A nice setup that I saw on another boat and decided to copy. I just drew up a rough sketch and made some measurements while sitting at the helm...

Analyze what you like and need and I bet you have a good time doing the homework...

Good luck,

RB

[ 01-28-2005, 02:59 PM: Message edited by: RodB ]

[dthorton]

That's a lot to think about .thanks...

[Buddy]

Wow, good advice. I would add that - after you first draw it all out on paper- you mock this thing up out of scrap.Cardboard or foam core board dry wall screws and duck tape work wonders fast. Give it a "test ride" on the trailer- see if it fits your wife as well. Bear in mind your windshield vision line will change with boat trim. You can simulate that on the trailer too.
Then make the real one.

[RodB]

Definitely do a mock up of the console, even if only a cardboard box set at the height you are contemplating.

I used a bar stool for a test seat (leaning post) and another bar stool as the steering wheel (setting on my livingroom couch at the desired angle on a couple of pillows).

Also a simple model of the console can be put together pretty quick with cardboard if you have any construction issues to work out. Radiusing corners and double taping them makes the finished product look like it was molded in fiberglass... Be sure to glass all surfaces that will be exposed to the sun and weather and I even glassed the interior surfaces of the side panels for enhanced protection along the floor.

A couple final notes. If you install a shelf in the console make it removable for better access to batteries and the rear approach to the installed guages. Also don't install the key switch in the open on a console panel where rain and spray will get to it, this only causes problems. Install the key switch just inside the console on a small panel attached 90 degrees to the side of the console...covered by the dash etc...so that you have to reach down and inside a bit to start the motor...The results... the key switch lasts a long time simply because of being protected from the elements.

RB

[ 01-28-2005, 11:25 PM: Message edited by: RodB ]