Winter dash project
 

We are redoing the dash on the Sonic this year. Here are the pictures before the steering wheel was replaced and after. The rest of the dash is being worked on. Hope to have pics of the new throttles and shifters next weekend.

Steering wheel looks good. I wish I could find one in teal to match my gauge bezels.

Looks nice bill ! I still like that boat. Of course I would have had to build an even bigger garage.

Looking good, what else are you going to do?

New guages and VHF radio.
For the rest of the boat - we have new red Eddie Marine step pads, flat screen TV, hot water heater and maybe a new microwave if we can find one that fits.

All ready changed the GPS last year

Hey Bill looking good!!! I need to get my mircowave out. If you find one that fits let me know. How does that thing come out. Did they clue it in also?

I like the steering wheel, very nice. That is allot of gauges to replace! Are you replacing the VHF with another white one or black to avoid the sun fade?

Bill,
What hot water heater are you going to use? According to the wife it's a necessity!

Chris, did u drop a tire on your head? It's a water heater, not a hot water heater. U can't heat hot water:p

Hey Carrboy, give Chris a break, it was his wife that said "a hot water heater is a necessity!" Chris is just trying to satisfy the wife. :D

B&P, the wheel really sets it off. I can't wait to see the throttles in, and anything else you may do.

You could throw some red paint on the GPS cover, and that glovebox/cooler door is begging for a vinyl graphic.

Ok starting with Vagrant's question:
Haven't got the old microwwave out yet but have heard it is a chore. It is glassed into a box that is set into the opening then glassed and screwed in place. Sounds like a lot of fun to remove. Might just remove the old and make a storage compartment out of it and get a small microwave for counter use. We will have to see and I will let you know what I find out.

Z06's question:
We all ready have a new white VHF that will not be mounted in the same spot but under the steering wheel on either the right or left. A new stereo head unit may go where the old VHF is now (not sure yet)

Go4broke question:
Hey Chris we are putting in an insta-hot that we got from West Marine (not sure of the make/model) The wiring is all ready there just need to install and hook up to a new breaker. Will let you know the make and model soon as well as how much a pain in the a$$ it will be.

Carrboy:
True

Sydwayz:
Thanks for the compliment we thought it looked good too. As far as what else is being changed you'll just have to wait and see, but you'll be impressed.

Thanks Bill, The only thing broke on mine is the door opener. But I need to get the stupid thing out to fix it. So I was just going to intstall a new one. Looking forward to seeing how it goes. Thanks for the update!

David

Well if some a hole didn't need to have tractor trailer tires thet weigh 200# each, and then want warranty work on his truck ( his initials are carr boy) I wouldn't be too tired to think when I get home from work!:Whatever: And as often as I've been in hot water, I know it'll always get hotter!!

Bill, thanks for the reply, good luck with it.

Z06, thanks for the defense! It'll be vette time again soon! I was trying to convince the wife we need another one for a commuter car, she's not buying it.

Putting the insta hot water heater in should be easy. Our 386 has it and from what a remember all the lines were run in our 358 that didn't have one. Sonic just added an extra "t" to tie in the hot side even though it was cold water. On the 358 and the 386 the fittings are in the cabinet to the left of fridge. Hope this helps.

Where is it installed in the 386?

They mounted it right on the wall in the cabinet to the left of the fridge. The fittings for all the water lines are right above it.

The insta hot Sonic used on ours works pretty well, you just have to run the water alittle bit to let the system warm up. Then it is warm enough to wash your hands and some dishes without burning your self.

Hey Bill looking good we are doing the same project to our 358. I have the same icom vhf that discolored from the sun, I am trying to locate another radio in white with a trim ring that fits the hole but nobody make that style anymore. The new surface mount you have to be able to have access behind the radio and with our Sonics that is not possible. Any suggestions?

Does anyone else make them, Dana has a nice one but not the size I need 11 7/8 x 5 1/2?

Nope. We did a group purchase a while back and Eddie custom made them the right size for us, then added them to their catalog.

Jim,

Do a search on here for "sonic step plates"

You should see a few posts come up. Eddie Marine is the place.

Thanks Guys :D

Jim, The Eddie marine step plates are bad azz. I Dont think you will find anything better. I Just put a set on. They are one of the best upgrades you can do. (except add power)
I will see if I Have any pics.
Timmy.

Just finished my dash on the 320 Velocity.
Before
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/i...320/1038_1.jpg
after
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/i...DSC_0006-6.jpg

Wow, night and day change!
Looks good.

Thanks Go4Broke

Well ordered some from Eddie today, Thanks :D

David and others interested....my on-line search indicates that this is the smallest microwave available.
http://www.sailorsams.com/mall/tm5030.asp
We will get the boat back next weekend and start tinkering to see if we can make it work. I talked with Duane from Sonic this morning and now they use a microwave that is over 10 inches in height and is a 0.7 cu.in. microwave but, according to him, the box they put the microwave in hasn't changed. Back in the day, they just went to the nearest Best Buy or SAMs Club and bought bulk...but things change and so have microwave dimensions. The Tappan is a 0.5 cu.in. and 9 5/8" in height. Not that I care about the size, it is the dimensions that matter.

We will provide more info as we get it.

Patti

OK time for more pictures

First we replaced the step pads on each side with the new Eddie Marine step pads

Next came gauges, starting with tachs, old vs new

Oh yea the big switch was the throttles and shifters. Switched out the standard white for Livorsi billet and switched the shifters to te left and the throttles to the right. Did not like left handed throttles.

Also repalced the standard white bolster name plate with a fresh new custom red one.

One last pic showing some more work done including replacing the drive and trim indicators with LED indicators. Hope to have finished this weekend but had too many other projects to do as well. Will keep updating as progress continues.

Man you have been busy, the new gauges are nice... :D

Looks good Bill!! Keep up the great work.As far as the Velocity, looks like 2 different boats! So you added speakers and removed the in dash compass and gps bracket and re gelled the holes?! Nice job.

Looking great Bill. Other gauges went out today. Should have them for the weekend!!

Kirk



CLICK ON THE BANNER!!

Looks nice. You gunna do the Jammin on the James poker run this year in the sonic?

Yes, already signed up. :ernaehrung004: