2001 was the last year with the "stepped" dash panels. This one is flat with a bunch of holes. The GPS will actually have (4) 1/4 holes for the screws and one 3 inch hole for the antenna/power wire assembly. I'm waiting to hear from a local lead. (a friend of a friend that supposedly can do this work).

I can do the work if its just flat. It doesn't eat much into my friend's time. This would just be a piece of bare aluminum though.. you would have to clean it up and get it powder coated.

Call Formula and get the original Blank bent panel from them

I don't need the bent panel, they switched to flat panels in 2002 (I even have the original factory panel that came with my boat). I did call them and they don't have any panels before 2004 and claim there are minor changes that won't allow it to fit on my 2002

Russ, if you still need the panel done, let me know. You can send me the original to get the correct outline, I'll take it into CAD and then layout your new one and have you check it. Then I can get my fab guy to just pnch it out. Let me know. Or just send me your paper layout oif its to scale. Either way I can help you out.

t500hps will the flat panel work thats what i was planning on doing but need to get back to boat to see

I called Formula.....I have a 2002 model. Apparently the 2001 model and earlier 382's have the "stepped" dash panel. In 2002 they came from the factory with a flat panel. From what they told me that the early 382's-2001 are one style, the 2002-2003 are a 2nd stye, and for some reason the 2004 and up are a 3rd and that those won't even fit my boat. I've never looked at one like your 1997 (or any other stepped" dash panel), so I don't know what the differences are.

Today I finally put in a call to the guy I was told might be able to do this. I haven't heard from him yet. He won't have access to a CAD and I'm sure that you could do a much cleaner job.......you just might be hearing from me.
I just finished creating a to scale, complete line drawing of every cut/hole that needs to be made (the one in my first post was drawn with markers and the bezels were added in for a visual check)
Do you have the aluminum material that I need for the panel. Can we discuss this on the phone????

Russ C.
8O4-9I4-2628

This may have just gotten easier......My graphic designers at work just scanned the drawing I did and re-created the entire layout in Illustrator. From that we can create a number of file formats or even print-out mulitple copies of the full scale layout.

With a .dxf cadd file, its an easy job. Someone who is going to do it by hand will charge much more money due to the labor.

Someone with a cadd file programs it right into cam, and the water or laser jet cuts it out in seconds.