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  #1   IP: 69.250.109.188
Old 01-03-2021, 09:42 AM
scratchee scratchee is offline
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Where do you guys have your engine instruments?

When motoring I generally sit on the starboard side with the throttle and gear shift between my legs. The fan, choke, and starter button are down by my feet in a recessed panel, and I can operate them by feel. The problem is that the instruments--tach, oil pressure, and temp--are down on the same panel as the controls and I have to bend down like I'm tying my shoes to see them. I'd really prefer something that I could check at a glance. Does anyone have a creative solution? I suppose I could just mount another panel on the other side of the cockpit, but is anyone using a digital panel or other remote system that could be easily relocated?
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Old 01-03-2021, 10:13 AM
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I have a seat on the transom and sit behind the helm. Gauges are on prt side by in line with the binnacle. I actually have to bend forward toward the wheel, toward the stb side and glance to the prt side to see the gauges. From my perch on the stern of the boat I can see directly through the dodger and can easily make a slight move here and there to glance anywhere. All of my sails hae a slight Yankee cut for visibility, no deck sweepers. Makes life easy. In the pic I'm sitting on my perch.

Sometimes I move to one side or the other but not that often.
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Last edited by Mo; 01-03-2021 at 10:29 AM. Reason: pic added
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Old 01-03-2021, 03:34 PM
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I too have a seat on the transom that lets me sit behind the helm, on either side of the backstay.

Engine instruments, and depth gauge, are on the vertical face of the bridgedeck. Chartplotter, autopilot, and radio remote mic are mounted on the pedestal guard and reachable from the helm seat. Engine controls are standard Edson controls on the pedestal.
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Old 01-03-2021, 04:07 PM
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I guess one issue is my tiller steering, which traditionally requires sitting on one side of the cockpit. So the controls are located on the side, and the instruments with them. When I think about putting them on the forward bulkhead of the cockpit, it just seems like a lot of real estate required inside.
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Old 01-03-2021, 05:25 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by scratchee View Post
I guess one issue is my tiller steering, which traditionally requires sitting on one side of the cockpit. So the controls are located on the side, and the instruments with them. When I think about putting them on the forward bulkhead of the cockpit, it just seems like a lot of real estate required inside.
The other issue is guests. If they sit with their back to bulkhead you won't see your gauges. I have that issue with the kids all the time with the depth sounder.
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"Odyssey"
1976 C&C 30 MKI

The pessimist complains about the wind.
The optimist expects it to change.
The realist adjusts the sails.
...Sir William Arthur Ward.
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Old 01-03-2021, 09:36 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mo View Post
I have a seat on the transom and sit behind the helm. Gauges are on prt side by in line with the binnacle. I actually have to bend forward toward the wheel, toward the stb side and glance to the prt side to see the gauges. From my perch on the stern of the boat I can see directly through the dodger and can easily make a slight move here and there to glance anywhere. All of my sails hae a slight Yankee cut for visibility, no deck sweepers. Makes life easy. In the pic I'm sitting on my perch.

Sometimes I move to one side or the other but not that often.
That is my original gelcoat color. My wife wants to repaint the boat back to that.
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Old 01-03-2021, 11:41 PM
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water temp and oil pressure are on the aft end of the cabin and can be seen from anywhere in the cockpit. (on the firewall)

Tach and ammeter are in the cabin.
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Old 01-04-2021, 06:52 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by joe_db View Post
That is my original gelcoat color. My wife wants to repaint the boat back to that.
Joe, that color is very forgiving. It was one of the reasons I bought the boat. My first C&C 24 was Stars and Stripes Blue as well. I was in the Arctic running a clinic when I saw a pic of the 30 I now own....maybe it was the familiarity of the color. Anyway, via satellite link I talked to the owner and bought it. Never even saw it....what could go wrong? She needed work, I knew that, and it took me 8 weeks working on her everyday to bring her around summer 2007.

That color doesn't show rubs, scrapes etc as clearly as a darker color...good compromise.

PS, I love the 35 and the 40. Good boats.
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"Odyssey"
1976 C&C 30 MKI

The pessimist complains about the wind.
The optimist expects it to change.
The realist adjusts the sails.
...Sir William Arthur Ward.
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Old 01-04-2021, 04:06 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by scratchee View Post
When motoring I generally sit on the starboard side with the throttle and gear shift between my legs. The fan, choke, and starter button are down by my feet in a recessed panel, and I can operate them by feel. The problem is that the instruments--tach, oil pressure, and temp--are down on the same panel as the controls and I have to bend down like I'm tying my shoes to see them. I'd really prefer something that I could check at a glance. Does anyone have a creative solution? I suppose I could just mount another panel on the other side of the cockpit, but is anyone using a digital panel or other remote system that could be easily relocated?
OIL-WATER-FUEL at the helm and these on the cabin bulkhead:
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Old 01-04-2021, 04:58 PM
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Old 01-04-2021, 05:05 PM
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If my boat were fresh I’d just send ordinary data such as rpm/temp to wifi (nmea probably) and display it on the tablet. Audio alarm for anything critica amd probable shutdown. This would eliminate holes in the boat, misreading and fires common to wiring. But as it is, my boat is 50 years old and came with a holes precut and the birds nest pre-wired. As per the pic. Easy viewing.
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Last edited by cowlum; 01-04-2021 at 05:12 PM.
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Old 01-04-2021, 08:21 PM
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My best answer might end up being audible alarms for low oil pressure and high temp. The two I feel compelled to check frequently are RPM and temp (rpm for reference, temp for engine health). I could put a couple on the bulkhead but I don't want them ALL on the bulkhead.
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Old 01-04-2021, 08:25 PM
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Oh looky here....(engine warning kit from Moyer):

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Old 01-04-2021, 08:42 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by scratchee View Post
My best answer might end up being audible alarms for low oil pressure and high temp. The two I feel compelled to check frequently are RPM and temp (rpm for reference, temp for engine health). I could put a couple on the bulkhead but I don't want them ALL on the bulkhead.
I have that and am looking to add coolant flow. My fuel pressure gauge has a warning light for under 1 PSI.
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Old 01-05-2021, 09:00 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by scratchee View Post
I guess one issue is my tiller steering, which traditionally requires sitting on one side of the cockpit. So the controls are located on the side, and the instruments with them. When I think about putting them on the forward bulkhead of the cockpit, it just seems like a lot of real estate required inside.
In my Alberg the instrument panel is tucked under the Starboard bench. Also being right handed helps such that I always sit on the Port side. That, or I stand with the tiller between the legs for a stretch.
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Old 01-05-2021, 10:51 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by joe_db View Post
OIL-WATER-FUEL at the helm and these on the cabin bulkhead:
Joe, Nice tach!
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Old 01-06-2021, 11:37 AM
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Exclamation Choice~~trust or worry?

Personally I trusted the A-4, my work and the modifications I made. The only gage of the 3 mounted that registered on my panel in the cockpit was the oil pressure and since it was electric I did not trust it. I later did a complete engine re-wire and still did not trust the lone operating cockpit gage. I mounted a manual oil pressure gage to the block and never really looked at it underway unless I heard something as it was on the engine itself as was the fuel pressure gage, a must. The other gages, ammeter, tach, vacuum gage, temp and volts were mounted in the nav station below. I ran like this for over 30 years and never had a problem as the A-4 properly maintained is very trustworthy indeed. I had no fuel gage and used a stick gage for that purpose.

I did do cold starts with the engine box open and used the permanently mounted start button on the engine. I even mounted the choke below at the nav station. This way I could see and monitor the systems when starting. Once I decided everything was OK and she idled without the choke I would close her up and be on my way, with no worries!!

I think that if your worried about everything you should get things upgraded until you trust the motor more than the monitoring and enjoy the ride or sail.

Dave Neptune

Last edited by Dave Neptune; 01-06-2021 at 11:41 AM. Reason: forgot the tach
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Old 01-06-2021, 08:47 PM
scratchee scratchee is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave Neptune View Post
I think that if your worried about everything you should get things upgraded until you trust the motor more than the monitoring and enjoy the ride or sail.
That's a fair and insightful observation. My engine is running well now, but a few years ago I had a series of over-heating events that by all rights should have damaged my engine (some very stupid mistakes worthy of a separate confessional thread). In retrospect I came to believe that I probably had a number of outings where my engine was baking and I had no idea because the gauges were out of sight and the engine sounded OK.

Prologue: I'm currently putting some thought into how to get it running a little hotter...I'm sitting at about 120-125 under load.
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Old 01-07-2021, 08:00 AM
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A loud alarm is what you need, you can't always stare at the gauges.
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Old 01-07-2021, 10:06 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by joe_db View Post
A loud alarm is what you need, you can't always stare at the gauges.
+++! When we first bought our boat, I discovered that the sensor for the high-temp alarm was disconnected. As soon as I reconnected it, I found that it went off every time we left the fuel dock! This was the result of shutting off as soon as we docked. The latent heat of the block, with no more cooling water, quickly brought the temp up over 200, which tripped the alarm as soon as we restarted. By simply idling in neutral for 30 sec or more before shutting down, this did not occur, and a subsequent rework of the cooling system eliminated this problem.

My point is, you need that alarm! Up until then, we had not noticed the brief overheat because we were busy undocking and not looking at the gauges. I'm guessing the PO got tired of hearing it and just disconnected it!
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Old 01-07-2021, 11:52 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sastanley View Post
Joe, Nice tach!
That tach has its very own thread.
https://www.moyermarineforum.com/for...ese+tachometer
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