Category: How-to

At first I was just going to replace the electronics panel at Gizmo’s lower helm, but I got carried away!  And at this point I’ve got a boat that I can’t start — because the engine instruments, and much else, are disconnected — in a slip that I’m just bumming until the real occupant’s boat is launched (which accounts for slow posting here).  But the project is going well, and I’m particularly pleased with the Azek expanded PVC board product I’m experimenting with for the dash panel(s)…

There are numerous cable labelling devices and styles, as folks have commented about in the Gizmo schematics entry and the systems forensics saltwater pathogens entry (;-).  I even have a low-end, but decent Dymo LetraTag Plus whose tape labels can be made work okay on cables.  But last week I noticed, and bought, this newish Dymo Rhino 101, which can be used with self laminating cable labels.  I like it; it’s simple, light, and fast, and no batteries are required.

There’s an old thread at rec.boats.electronics on how to best install a plotter in an open cockpit so it can be easily removed. Sandy offered the interesting suggestion of using “finger cots” to protect the loose power and data plugs when the unit is put away. Finger cots? …

My obsession with NMEA 2000 instruments continues. To better test and photograph them in real light conditions, I installed the array in a single, more serious panel. The weapon of choice was…

All the well-informed feedback I’m getting to my marine electronics maintenance query reminded that a fellow named Joseph Howard wrote me last week about the NMEA 2000 hobby project he’s pursuing, and also documenting over at MarinetteBoat.com…