353 - New in-Dash GPS thoughts?
 

I'll be refinishing my 353 helm this winter. Was wondering if anyone has done this already and been able to fit a decent GPS into the main dash panel, without losing the electric gages. My boat came with the Garmin 130, which likely hasn't worked in years, or the screen has aged to the point you can't see anything on it anymore.

I don't have smartcraft, as that would make it easy.

Please share any pics of your project!

Thanks,

Eric

This is what I did and it worked great, got rid of the stock crappy speedo, moved some gauges and went with a new carbon fiber dash and installed a nice Garmin.

Looks Great! Who did the dash panel for you? the place on eBay?

Innotech in St. Louis, talk to Steve, they have most of the patterns for Formula's or you can ship him yours and he can make it off of that, if I remember right for all three pieces of dash was around $350 bucks.

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Bad monkey, that looks pretty wicked. What year is that, which GPS?

That may be the same place I sent my 280 panels, a lady namedMichelle hooked me up on piano black for that dash.

Snowrunner, you still working on this over the winter?

I was playing with mine some and thought about leaving all the gauges but ditching the speedo, it isn't even gps!

Here is what I think will work. The Simrad seems to fit the space that I was able to carve out.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B4...2Ztc19mYjE1V3c

Here is the current setup

https://drive.google.com/open?id=19X...0Q4D76SEZEvYsQ

I will need to call Innotech. I might see if they will share the drawing of the main dash panel so I can play with it somemore.

I was able to draw a 8 x 4.25 rectangle in the middle of the dash with the way I arranged the dash in the 1st picture.

-Dave

watch for the latch-catch and the hinge-plates
when it starts getting tight they are a bigger issue than you'd think

I got the dash drawing from Formula, re drew it in Autocad to make sure it was accurate. As Rippem siad, gotta watch the hinge plates and latch. Will e working with Innotech too.

Eric,

The GPS is Garmin 640 (not sure if still available)

Chris

I had the same setup as D2HP and here is what I did. I removed the bezel rings and relocated 2 gauges. I wanted to maximize the screen size.
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I went with the Simrad Go5 since I could also toss the old stereo and remote, all controlled thru the GPS via NMEA 2000 network. My goal was to relocate fuel and volts.

Anyone have thoughts on the old trim rockers or go with the carlings like I see in many new boats?

JTeam, you were able to keep you old dash and made that work? What is the footprint on the Raymarine?

Yup. I had to remove the rings around the gauges to make room, but I like the look better anyway. It is a tight squeeze but at least I kept the old dash. The unit is an e7, here is a link that will provide the dimensions. http://www.raymarine.com/view/?id=29...id=96&col=3021

How hard is it to remove the rings? I like the look without better, and it gains some space.

Just remove the gauge and they will fall off. The rings are a decorative add-on.

Anyone know how to get the Mercury Racing Trim Bezel in Chrome?

Can you elaborate on this a little? is it more than just a latch sticking? or out of adjustment?

no,
it's about cutting the gauge panel for a plotter R or L (not center) and realizing the hinge plates for the panel won't let you use quite all of the width.
and on the top (if cutting for full or high center install) consider the "catch" for the panel "latch" release can also encroach on install space at the top.