Upgrading the dash is a big plus, I used a marine grade polymer. You can get it out of Mcmaster-Carr. http://www.mcmaster.com/#plastics/=b336z7 I'm positive you can use something much cheaper, but I had this laying in my shop already. I then used my old as a template and used hole saw's. Take time filing around the perimeter though, that's where I screwed up. http://s192.photobucket.com/albums/z188/sadde10/
Another thing about these Force's to watch out for is water getting through to the stingers right around the area of your motor mount. There a holes for water to go through but the wood is not protected very well. So be aware of that particular fault. Luckily I haven't had that issue yet. I just have had engine issues. Its a heavy boat for a single engine!
It's good to see someone else on here w/ a 265. There are a few other Force guys on here and a few other sites that have a lot more experience, but I will help you w/ anything I might know. Check out the link on Irish's post, they are good people that'll help out also.

@whoya-NICE!!

Hey Borderline..I owned a 1988 265 Force for about 10 years....made about every upgrade you could imagine to it. It came stock with a Bravo 1 & 330 hp 454. I upgraded the dash and gauges with a set from a 342 baja. I made the panel out of 1/8" aluminum then powdercoated it. Then used a graphic vinyl over that for the look I wanted. I upgraded the engine to an HP500 that I punched out to a 509, did some porting and polishing to the heads, and yes, added a 250 B&M sc unit with dual 750's..the old boat would do 67-68 gps, but it didn't care how many people you had in it. I could have upgraded the prop & might have seen 70..I ran a 26p Bravo... I had to use a shoe horn to stuff her in there, but I got it!..I traded her off last spring to Shogren for a '99 33OL..I think a local island bar..Barneys? bought it and uses it to get to their bar on the island..Shogren put a wrap on it that makes it look mean as hell! You can see a picture of it in the Sep issue of Perf Boats pg 43 bottom.

your old boat was on ebay for sale not to long ago i think it sold about 3 or 4 times before it actually sold ? i remember the graphics

Nice boat! We go out to Blarney island all the time, I will keep a eye out for it.

yeahp, we just got ours back in the water july 4th weekend last year. after a 3-1/2 season in the driveway stringers rebuild...ugggh. I have a rebuild thread on speedwake.com that I havent updated in a bit. Got compliments the sec we backed it off the trailer at metro beach. i love the lines on that boat. looks like a bullet. of course modern boats look even sleeker and make my bullet look slow, lol. Too bad wallet ran out of "if only..." money.

oh yeah.....


http://www.lakestclair.net/forums/in...=post&id=65214

cept that was before we pulled it out but she still looks the same.

oh and on topic I was gonna redo my dash with some alumiinum diamond plate I bought and then realized yeah I want the sun bouncing right back in my face....ummmm maybe not.

Got to be the meanest force 265 out there, love the work on the dash.. Awesome ride..