Gauges
 

Has anyone ever used or seen any VDO gauges in a boat? I see they offer a marine set of gauges and was just wondering how good they were? Tia.

I believe some of the older Scarabs had VDO in them. VDO has been used quite a bit in the marine industry in the past...not sure if they still do or not..

I think alot of Warlocks used them as well...?
as far as quality i would say they are a very distant
3rd place behind Gaffrig and Autometer... do you self a
favour and buy good gauges.. it will save u alot of trouble down the road.

My '88 Formula came from the factory with VDO gauges as well as many others boats.

Gaffrig has a nice line of gauges but they're a little high priced for me. I looked around to see what other companies make marine gauges and found several.
I've always been partial to Stewart-Warner and they have a nice looking line of marine gauges. When I do change mine I think I'll go with them.

Stewart-Warner Seaworthy Gauges

I was going to buy gaffrig/livorsi and I still might but I've heard a few people complaining about problems with them and I didn't want to just go out and buy them because everyone else was. I talked to an autometer salesman and he told me they only sell them through gaffrig? I think he's wrong but that's what he told me, don't they have just autometer/marine gages not under gaffrig's label? The reason why i asked about VDO was i work with a couple car guys that swear by them and say that's all they will use? I still need to look into a few others like nordskog and faria but i have all winter so i'm in no great rush. Thanks for the info.

A guy in the Autometer booth at SEMA told me "no marine gages".
But then I went to the Autometersite asked the same question, different answer. They said ,"Sure go to Rex Marine"
You can get Autometer marine pro comp in white, ultra
lite, and carbon fiber, from Rex marine. The rexmar site only shows the white.

Can you get them from somebody other than Rex Marine? I don't know.

For anyone interested, I'll be starting a new company the first of the year selling a complete line of performance marine gauges. All the quality of the top dogs at about 1/2 the cost.

If anyone is interested in doing prototype testing PM me.

I will charge a small amount for the prototypes which can be returned and money refunded anytime within the first 6 months. I only ask for specifics as to what you like and don't like about them.

The only gauges I do not have are gps based, liquid filled, and trim which are in the final design phase.

My 1991 Python came with VDO marine gauges. They seem to be a good gauge. I recently (last spring) updated my interior and changed to all Gafrig. They are a really nice gauge but I am having issues with my 0-100 MPH speedo. The speedo will not start to read until the boat is doing 35-40 MPH on the GPS. I have tried Gafrigs recomendations of making sure the pitot tube is clear and they said that the gauge will work with the stock Bravo one pitot set-up. Gafrig says to return it and they will test it but that before anything leaves their facility it is calibrated. They have been good to deal with as far as customer service goes Mike is a good guy. I agree they are a little more money but I guess you get what you pay for.
Hope this helps.
Brian

My VDO tach has not worked properly since I purchased my 1989 Sunsation in 1999. The previous owner had sent the tach to a repair facility and was told that it worked OK. Upon further checking I learned that this tach required an adapter when used with MSD. Had the adapter installed and now the tach works OK at low RPM but is still erratic at high RPM. Anyone have any ideas.

Hey I would love to give you a try. As my good freind has stock Gafrigs in his Fountain. I feel that the suck as none of them work corectly ie: oil presure 60 lbs and the low presure light on, the fog up and none of them match not to mention the red needles fade. So let me know Single BBC in a 95 Wellcraft. [email protected]

For those who asked:

I only have

2 0-80 speedo
1 1-100 speedo
4 pyrometer with amplifier and probe
4 0-6k RPM
2 0-8k RPM
6 ammeter (shunt)
6 voltmeter
6 oil pressure with senders if needed
6 oil temp with senders if needed
6 water pressure (mechanical)
6 water temp with senders if needed
6 compound boost/vacuum (mechanical)
6 Fuel level
6 hours

I wouldn't give ten cents for Gaffrig guages. The electric ones in my boat, oil pressure and temp, water temp, fuel pressure, and voltage are nowhere near accurate. Even the mechanical boost guages are off. I'd be interested in trying a different manufacturer.

I am afraid I have to add my problems with gaffrig to the list. I have a new Fountain and every gauge fogged up the first time I used the boat. They are going to warranty the items but I am told by Fountain that it will only happen again. They, Gaffrig, need to get a handle on this problem and solve it quick. The gauges seem to be accurate in my boat...gps speedo is really nice.

GF

Vdo Gauges were used in alot of boats in the 80.s
they were pretty reliable. I decided to change for cosmetic reasons.


These are Original VDO gauges in this 1985 HustlerLe32

This is the after shot these are Livorsi Gaffrig Gauges
Cost approx $3400.00

Requires alot of patience and most important Many 30
packs of Budlite.

Very nice update!!! Hard to tell it is the same boat.

Nice job there caveman.

The previous owner of my boat installed VDOs in 1990 and they still work good. Never had any problems (except for one gas guage workning backwards, but that another story)
I'm going to change them out because I'm tired of looking at them.
DS

I have VDO's in my boat, all still work and never fog. These are 15 year old guages.

I'v had problems with the Gaffrig Performance gauges
I just installed in my PowerQuest, 4 of the 12 gauges fogged the first time I started the boat, and have not gotten any better since

We do have Autometer "marine" Pro Comp in stock. In White, Carbon Fiber, and Ultra Lite (silver). Including GPS's. They are all now on the website (edited 1/6/04)