Looking at possibly redoing my dash this winter (if we keep the boat) - I have a bit of room to move things around, but I'm wondering what you feel is the "minimum" amount and type of gauges, and what you would add if possible.

Boat is a 29' twin, stock Merc 330 hps. Will not be upgrading power, this boat will stay with standard, start every time Merc black motors.

Thanks!

Min. amount would be tach, oil pressure, water temp. desirable options would be oil temp, fuel pressure, water pressure. IMO

Oil temp is a critical one if ya ask me. It can show you things are going wrong way before any thing else will.

vacuum

I agree, Tach, water temp, oil temp, oil pressure, water pressure and volt gauges. Oh yeah, and those 2 cute little lights that glow and say "WARNING....WARNING!!!!!"

... Dock...don't forget the "water pattern step spray indicator"...

..bubble light too.

i have a couple gafrig vacuum gauges im taking out of my cig & replacing them with water pressure if anyone wants them.
they were installed by the previous owner. i think it's more important to know when an impeller is about to fail.

Hydro, straight V hull, no step on this boat!

Fred, I was already out on your site pricing the gauges - if I go ahead with this, I'll be calling you for some advice. I hear you've replaced a gauge or two in the past...

Obviously clueless. They will tell you much about intake and valve condition. Excellent prewarning to something bad going on in the top end. The area most big block have problems.

wasn't trying to start anything. big cams equal low vacuum at idle. get on plane & they hardly have any vacuum due to engine load. as far as being clueless i doubt it. i've been a ford tech specializing in drivability & electonics for 20+ years.
like i said wasn't trying to start anything, i just think if you have limited room for gauges, vacuum would not be on my list.