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.....

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..