Trim switch / throttle control
#1
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Trim switch / throttle control
First post on this site and this project I did fits the "boating on a budget" title of this section to a "T". I have an older 95 Nordic Sprint. Definitely not an Offshore Boat. I wanted the trim on the throttle like all the newer controls but didn't want to plunk down $700.00. So I made my own bracket and it works well. I also up-dated the look and made it semi-custom. You would think it’s a high dollar unit from the dock or another boat.
I don't have pics of the start or all the steps, but here is what I did.
First I stripped off all the black paint, sanded the stainless with 600 grit and then polished the levers. Here is a stripped throttle Vs. the polished shifter.
Then I took some 1/4" aluminum and cut out a switch bezel.
Then I cut out some thin aluminum to replace the plastic covers. I had to do some final hand filing to get them to fit flush.
I don't have pics of the start or all the steps, but here is what I did.
First I stripped off all the black paint, sanded the stainless with 600 grit and then polished the levers. Here is a stripped throttle Vs. the polished shifter.
Then I took some 1/4" aluminum and cut out a switch bezel.
Then I cut out some thin aluminum to replace the plastic covers. I had to do some final hand filing to get them to fit flush.
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Then I cut out some thin sheet stainless and used a wood template to shape a stainless cover for the stock plastic base.
I ran the wires for the switches inside a sheath down the back and over the front. You can barely see it. The switches are ground triggers hooked to two relays. I did not feel comfortable with 12volt power running through the throttle. This pic is before final cleaning and polishing. It turned out nice and total cost was about $30.00 and three days time.
I wish I could have made the bracket fit flush, but I could not find thinner switches. So it resembels the factory Mercruiser Racing controlls. The white one with the Red switch mount that sticks out. Not the coolest throttle, but what do you expect for $30.00
I did this project inconjunction with some new carpet and polishing some other things on the boat, seat bases, storage door frames, switch bezels, ect. The polished throttle looks at home now Vs. the ugly black paint and plastic that was there before.
I ran the wires for the switches inside a sheath down the back and over the front. You can barely see it. The switches are ground triggers hooked to two relays. I did not feel comfortable with 12volt power running through the throttle. This pic is before final cleaning and polishing. It turned out nice and total cost was about $30.00 and three days time.
I wish I could have made the bracket fit flush, but I could not find thinner switches. So it resembels the factory Mercruiser Racing controlls. The white one with the Red switch mount that sticks out. Not the coolest throttle, but what do you expect for $30.00
I did this project inconjunction with some new carpet and polishing some other things on the boat, seat bases, storage door frames, switch bezels, ect. The polished throttle looks at home now Vs. the ugly black paint and plastic that was there before.
Last edited by justfloatn; 04-03-2008 at 11:07 AM.
#7
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I posted this in another thread on trim controls. $20 from Dana Marine for Gaffrig controls.
click here
click here
#8
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I posted this in another thread on trim controls. $20 from Dana Marine for Gaffrig controls.
click here
click here
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And to everyone else; thanks for the complements!
Last edited by justfloatn; 04-04-2008 at 09:32 AM.