"Make" Drive Indicators?
 

I have a very old setup right now with a huge drive/trim indicator. A new indicator setup is pretty expensive and I was wondering if I could just fabricate some slots in the dash area (re-doing anyway) and get a printer to make up some numbering.

Thoughts?

What you're describing sounds like the way Fountain goes about their drive & trim tab indicators. Here's a couple pics to help you visualize it. Sorry I can't be of more help.
Dan

That's the idea!
 

Thanks. I do think this is the idea. Now, the question is can I make this work with the parts I have? Check out the pics of this VERY OLD SCHOOL set on my boat now. I think the issue is the long travel. I'd have to make slots 8 or 9 inches long instead of the 3-4 on these fountains. How do the newer indicators have such a short throw?

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/a...1&d=1163142272

Where are they mounted on the tabs / drives? the farther out they are mounted the more travel they will have.

If you can't solve the travel issue, you can fab up a small pulley system to shorten the throw... it would basically be a big pulley mounted to a small pulley. or you can mount the cable coming off the drive/tabs to directly to a pulley if you can find the right spot. it's just going to take some experimenting to get it right.

They use a very flexible cable on the new panels.

I'm glad to see that the old girl is still in the shape she was all those years ago. Hopefully you're planning on leaving it like that. If you decide you want a pleasure boat, let me know. I'll take her off your hands.

Here's my answer to indicators - true old school. Clean, simple, and to the point. Only cost me the price of the dice. 2 tabs, one drive.

You get used to what the heights mean.

Works better than laying them down for sit down boat..............

Pretty cool.
 

And a very small footprint as far as dash space usage. Creative!

cool looking.

I like that a lot im assuming you just pull up until desired trim and then they stay?

Not my assumption
 

I assumed there are switches somewhere that control tilt and trim and these are just driven by cables to SHOW you where you are...not actually used to move the drives/tabs.

Right?