how to get into the pedestal

[Wayne nicol]

installing the chartplotter, on my 2012 M, is the way into the pedestal, to remove the wheel, the hub behind it, and then to unscrew the black cover?
just dont want to screw anything up on the way in!
thanks
wayne

[Crikey]

Wayne, have you taken the dark plastic cover on the side of the pedestal off? Removing the front will only reveal a layer of plywood behind. Here's me working on my throttle control. I replaced the original with a larger, stronger piece of plexiglass.

R.

[Wayne nicol]

thanks Crikey, i got in!!thanks for the info- saved me some grief!

[dlandersson]

I might need to do that. Where's you get the plexiglass?

Wayne, have you taken the dark plastic cover on the side of the pedestal off? Removing the front will only reveal a layer of plywood behind. Here's me working on my throttle control. I replaced the original with a larger, stronger piece of plexiglass.

R.

[Highlander]

For small holes a can opener , for big holes a chain saw !!!

I installed my throttle control on the other side so as I still have the plexy glass door to use as an access panel

J

[Crikey]

I might need to do that. Where's you get the plexiglass?

At our local Canadian Tire outlet. It was dark grey, not black like the original but half again as thick. I also opened the hole up slightly to make things fit better. Came with a plastic film to protect it from scratches during installation. I added those later...
I chose to do this rather than open up the other side as Highlander suggests. I'm a Molly Duka, and need to use my left hand!
R.

[Russ]

I might need to do that. Where's you get the plexiglass?

You can buy plexiglass at hardware stores and the box home improvement stores like Home Depot and Lowes. However, I wouldn't recommend using plexiglass for the pedestal. Macgregor uses polycarbonate sheets (Lexan) for the pedestal cover. It's a lot stronger than plexiglass and more durable to weather. It is also much more expensive, but in my opinion worth it.

I think the hardware stores sell polycarbonate sheets and you can buy it online as well.
http://www.eplastics.com/Black_And_Whit ... ate-_sheet

I'm going to buy a sheet of it to make new hatchboards for the companionway to replace the fiberglass hatch board. Cut it in 2 pieces and have light in the cabin instead of a fiberglass board wall.


--Russ

[Crikey]

Actually, it might have been Polycarbonate, instead of Plexiglass - for all I know. Good point Russ!
(Ross to Russ - over and out.)
R.

[Kittiwake]

You can buy plexiglass at hardware stores and the box home improvement stores like Home Depot and Lowes. However, I wouldn't recommend using plexiglass for the pedestal. .....
I'm going to buy a sheet of it to make new hatchboards for the companionway to replace the fiberglass hatch board. Cut it in 2 pieces and have light in the cabin instead of a fiberglass board wall. --Russ

Yes, I used a sheet of clear colourless Lexan (polycarbonate) 2.5mm = 3/32" thick bought at Home Depot to make a simple hatchway cover that is very light and is great for brightening up the cabin. This thickness is minimal and flexible and not appropriate to the pedestal application - also I didn't see any coloured Lexan at Home Depot.
Kittiwake