311 SR-1 Dash
 

I installed my awesome C/F Autometer gauges (which are GURANTEED to make my boat at LEAST 20mph faster . . . .:D ) last night and noticed a pair of super thin hairline cracks in the outer surface of the formica on my dash panel. I don't know if they were there before and I just didn't catch them or if I over tightened the retainers. ANYWAY, has anyone else experienced this and do they get worse over time? You literally have to know where they are and shine a flashlight on them to see- but I am concerned that the pounding LOTO can dish out will make them crack big time. Thanks.:drink:

Ok, you are all DEAD TO ME. I got the gauges installed- after making a new wiring harness. I am now at least 25 mph faster . . .

Pictures to share?

I didn't have the camera with me- but, I will get some. Makes a huge difference. Now I want to do a wheel and controls to go with them!!!!!

That's what keeps me from doing this any time soon. I know I won't be happy unless I've "upgraded" everything. so I'm looking at as much as possible to get ideas and then just go nuts all at once.

where did you buy the gauges at? How do you like the autometer? I think Im going to go with them also did you swap your senders out? lets see some pics

Gauges are from Rex. I think the Autometers are killer- and my understanding is that Livorsi gets their sub-assemblies from Autometer anyway. It is difficult to find a non-GPS speedo head in 3 3/8 (and I don't need a GPS to tell me my boat is slow). Only gripe I have is that some of the finish on the rims (not bezels, the actual rim on the gauge) is a little rough on the back side. We will see if they work- if they don't my opinion will change!!!! I will get picks in a couple of weeks- my boat is 250 miles away, so I don't get to play with it as often as I would like.

cool thanks, Rex seems to have the lowest prices

I got mine from Rex good price . Carbon Fiber dash panels on our 272 with Autometer gauges:drink: 272 FORMULA FOR SALE:D :D :D

looks great, what do you use on the rest of the black dash to make it look so shiny

KAHUNA Guard All good forplastic,vinyl,plexiglass,leather,acrylic.wood,& formica. 4239 Holland Rd Suite 784 PMB 588 Va Beach Va 23452 1-877-306-6067 www.kahunachemicals.com:drink: 272 FORMULA FOR SALE :D :D :D

thanks anyone use anything else on the black plastic

88Formula- I used some stuff on it that is the business- problem is it is sitting down on my boat and I can't remember what it is called- comes in a smallish/er white bottle with red accents. The material your dash is made out of is actually formica per the manufacturer. The stuff I used made the black look new- literally. I will be down there in a couple of weeks and let you know/

thanks let me know

Formica that changes my approach

sea have you been down yet??

Yes please let us know. I want my dash to shine also.:D

:)

OK, I have the following to offer:

Now- was I smart enough to remember to look at what I used to polish it? No, of course not. I am not smart- but the stuff REALLY worked. I will try to whizz by the hardware store and get the name of the product.

looks good thanks :)

Nice, very nice!!

Looks business-like and very clean. I think I like that black look better than all the flashy, whacko-colored bezels that are all over the place now. I'd really like to copy your project on my 311. We may need to chat.:cool:

wow that looks great! I'll take one as well for my 311!

Third and Jaybird- if the dash is all there, the guages will bolt right in and I am telling you, that polish business worked like a champ. The only thing that blows is building the wiring harness- but if you do it like I did it will plug right in. I also had to have an "indexed" piece of billet made for the port side tach (the hold was all grubbed out for some reason- may have been an assembly line fix by Formula) to center it in the hole. That is why I had to use the black bezels on the tachs and speedo- but it all looks factory sano. And, I am telling you, the boat is at least 30 mph faster (in my mind).

Sea,
I tried to go on line and buy some of that polish. They don't sell over the net. Plus, they don't list any retailers near me in Upstate New York. Could you (or, would you) like to help me get some?
Dave

I used an over the counter product not discussed in this thread- they sell it at True Value and it was in a white bottle with red writing- it is for formica and stuff (again, the panel is formica- which I would have never guessed). My boat is sitting at LOTO and I am 230 miles away- I will try and slip by the hardware store and see what it is called.

let us know thanks

Yes thank you

I tried this today on the all the black parts. It made what wasnt faded look great and feel smooth. The faded gray spots (three small spots) look better but Im going to keep trying a couple applications of it and try other stuff if I see it, but I was impressed with the wife she did it while I waxed the outside :)

I bought it at Lowes

http://www.gel-gloss.com/

So that is the factory dash panel just w / new gauges? Wow, I'd figured with the square box VDO bezels that they would have left fading or marks on the panel.

My new AutoMeter carbon fiber gauges