Has anyone refinished their instrument panel in the cockpit? Mine is faded badly and I am considering repainting.
Quote from: glennd3 on May 15, 2020, 01:29:04 PM
Has anyone refinished their instrument panel in the cockpit? Mine is faded badly and I am considering repainting.
i'm about to under take this shortly. i sanded the fiberglass bezel and the plastic plate that holds the instruments. seems like some krylon plastic spray paint should work fine for the instrument piece. i got stuck on how to deal with the letters though, i'm sure there's a solution i just haven't researched it
If you are talking about the engine instruments faceplate, there is an option. It is expensive and features "shameless" Catalina Direct branding, is thin plastic, but it works, and I used it on my boat (under protest)....
Check with Dennis to see if he has any left or is still fabricating them.
Dennis Igarashi
digarashi@earthlink.net
(626) 374-6422
As an alternate, there are websites that you design a faceplate online, any color, any layout, any lettering you want and it magically shows up on your doorstep.
https://groups.io/g/Catalina30/message/101092
https://groups.io/g/Catalina30/photo/63719/7?p=Created,,,50,2,0,0
https://newwiremarine.com/custom-marine-switch-panels/
https://www.acemonstertoys.org/cnc-engraved-instrument-panels/
https://www.frontpanelexpress.com/
https://www.nameplatesmanufacturers.com/control-panel-plates/
Another option is to give your refinished (or newly made/cut-out) panel to a vinyl graphic shop and have them apply the graphics/text. It would be vinyl and not "permanent" but it will be covered with plexi anyway (and will be as permanent as vinyl boat lettering/graphics.)
I cleaned mine up by sanding off old covering Cleaning the letters as good as you can. Paint the whole thing white. Then sand off the white leaving it in the letters. Follow with clear and you wind up with this.
Could have used finer sandpaper and better clear paint, but behind the clear panel on the boat you can't tell.
On the same note I am doing the main panel. Layed Up a sheet of carbon fiber and Blueseas panels.
Wow, that looks like a lot of work but I'm sure you'll be pleased with the results when finished.