Dash conversion, Sailfish 272

[TheBlackPig]

Hi fellow Grady Lovers.

I’m in the process of making a new fibreglass dash console add on for my Sailfish 272, 1997. I want to bring this ol’ girl up to scratch with all new electronics. Has anyone out there ever done this on this model before? I’d love to hear your stories and how you tackled the build. Hopefully share some pictures. I can upload some to show where im at at the moment if anyone’s interested. Two 13 inch screens side by side is the order of the day. And the old flapdoor dash console is just waay too small for this. So…lets get building!

 

[Legend]

I just did 2 10 inch Garmins and they barely fit. I opted not to cut any fiberglass. They are mounted on black acrylic and are much easier to see and control mounted forward. 28 Sailfish not the 27 but they are probably similar.

 

[TheBlackPig]

I just did 2 10 inch Garmins and they barely fit. I opted not to cut any fiberglass. They are mounted on black acrylic and are much easier to see and control mounted forward. 28 Sailfish not the 27 but they are probably similar.

Looks great Legend! Exactly what I had in mind, I just thought it it would be a bit underwhelming with two 10 inch screens if going all out on electronic upgrades. I came to the exact same conclusion, 2 x 10” is max for the flapdoor dash. So I would need to rebuild the dash. Which at first felt daunting as I have never really made much out of fibreglass. I have watched a lot of Boatworks Today and Fishbumb tv over the years though, and im a builder by trade, so, hopefully, I can pull it off.

 

[TheBlackPig]

Here are some pics of my mockup plug.

 

[Ekea]

Here are some pics of my mockup plug.

thats going to be awesome

 

[ROBERTH]

Would be really cool to see the steps you are going through to make the plug and make the final piece/install.

 

[DennisG01]

I love using foamboard for templates - started using that about 20 years ago as a "Hmmm, I wonder if this would work?" kind of thing

I even used foamboard for the core of a floor hatch that I rebuilt!

Been thinking of doing something somewhat similar with my '82 - interested to see your steps along the way. I think I may have to cut a recess into the dash, first, though - otherwise the electronics would be too high.

Thanks for posting this!

 

[TheBlackPig]

Thanks for the interest and encouraging comments! Ill post some more pics as I go along. Yea, definitely gonna be interesting to see how this turns out when its all said n done!

 

[TheBlackPig]

I love using foamboard for templates - started using that about 20 years ago as a "Hmmm, I wonder if this would work?" kind of thing

I even used foamboard for the core of a floor hatch that I rebuilt!

Been thinking of doing something somewhat similar with my '82 - interested to see your steps along the way. I think I may have to cut a recess into the dash, first, though - otherwise the electronics would be too high.

Thanks for posting this!

Indeed, the foam board made it super easy to get the shape just so. The front part was made using 2 x 6mm wetted out marine ply with lots of relief grooves cut into them, then clamped into a custom mould, shaped closely after the existing dash console. The original console will have to be cut back by some 90mm to allow depth space for the new screens. Not for the faint hearted!

 

[Legend]

Looks great Legend! Exactly what I had in mind, I just thought it it would be a bit underwhelming with two 10 inch screens if going all out on electronic upgrades. I came to the exact same conclusion, 2 x 10” is max for the flapdoor dash. So I would need to rebuild the dash. Which at first felt daunting as I have never really made much out of fibreglass. I have watched a lot of Boatworks Today and Fishbumb tv over the years though, and im a builder by trade, so, hopefully, I can pull it off.

Good lucK - Post some pics so we can watch the progress

 

[DennisG01]

That's going to look really nice when you're all done. Are you planning on trying to match the existing gelcoat... or maybe a slight contracting color... or maybe wrap in vinyl (black, for example)?

The forming you did around the hardtop support post looks really nice. One quick question... does that hardtop mount have 3 or 4 screws? If 4... can you access it without removing the new dash pod? Although I suppose that removing the pod will actually be pretty simple.

90mm... is that enough? Meaning, you might as well take as much as you can, you know? It'll just give you more working room... or even some hidden storage if you put the MFD mounting surface on a hidden hinge.