Helm pedestal top rebuild

[ris]

We could not find a place to put our gauge that gives all the motor info so we built a new top for the pedestal. This was very time consuming but we like it. We built it out of 1/2 inch starboard. If you look closely you can see that it overhangs on the port side. The shifter for the outboard sticks out 2.5 inches further than the new pedestal top on the port side. The box that holds the gauge does not interfere with the turning or tilting of the garmin chart plotter. We put a new fuse panel in the pedestal also. It uses the ATC/ATO fuses that light up when they blow out. Next up is to finish the wiring and install the smartplug receptacle, for the smartplug shore power cord, in that large hole you can see above the seat with the wires hanging out. There was a very large compass in that hole, that we have to fill before installing the smartplug. PM me if you are in need of a large compass.

BEFORE



Finished look

[WASP18]

What 3M product did you use as a sealant for the screws? I plan on mounting a fish finder on the top of my pedestal. Also, the screws on the side of my binnacle (pedestal) are always loose and I'd like to screw them in with something that will hold them in and withstand both screwing-in and removal of the screws.

[Jimmyt]

Nice job!

[ris]

Use butyl tape if screws or bolts are beveled, if using pan head screws or bolts 3M 4200. Only use 5200 for permanent installations. We did not use anything on the starboard, it is kind of self sealing around the screws. We replaced our pedestal or binncle side panels with starboard. The holes in the fiberglass from previous removal of the side panels were too enlarged to reuse, so we filled them with epoxy and screwed the new panels in different places. If anyone knows of a anchor that would allow you to take the panels off repeatedly without wallowing out the holes in the fiberglass, let us know about it.

[Y.B.Normal]

ris,
I've used rivnuts successfully.
It takes a little work to install them, but they're worth it.
I used them for the dinette table to connect it to the wall brackets.
I haven't used them in my helm as I rarely take off the side panels.

[Tomfoolery]

I've used the rubber type rivnuts to hold things to the thin plastic headliner, with great success. I don't remember the details any more, but I would assume they're available for thicker materials, also.

[Spector]

I just Gorilla glued some blocks of oak behind the screw holes and predrilled them for the screws. Works like a charm. Used them at the cover under the anchor locker too