DIY 1980's Boat Dashboard Upgrade - Analogue to Digital - Part 1

We decided to upgrade our 1980s boat dash to make it more modern, and change from analogue to a Veratron digital dash.
Today we remove all the old dash, sort some wiring and construct our new dash layout, complete with a carbon fibre effect wrap.
The welder we are using -yeswelder.com/...
10% off at YESWELDER When you use the code SHIPHAPPENS
(only available in USA & Canada)
Our Digital dash - veratron.com/p...
#boatlife #boat #boating #boatupgrade #marineelectronics #veratron #yeswelder #DIY #welding

[@AndrewJackson-mf5qp]

I prefer analogue myself as electronics dont like me and I don't like it. It's a reliability thing for me. I'm a retired mechanical maintenance engineer so have an appreciation of simplicity. But whatever makes your boat float the two systems do the same job. Having both systems for redundancy would be the way to go. The dash is going to look awesome. Nice one you guys.

[@aib0160]

It may be a generational thing but I much prefer analogue and mechanical devices over digital electronic devices that are less reliable and obsolete in under 10 years.

[@johnnybuss5637]

Possibly I had changed the instruments to new ones with a white bottom 👌.

[@johnheuts9230]

And I like that in one view you see all the values you need to see.

[@moosenbeans903]

100% with you on that mate

[@michaelbird3183]

I'm on the fence. I do love the older, analogue dials but the new digital meters will scream at you if something is getting even slightly too hot or too pressurised e.t.c.

[@davidelliott5843]

Large area touch screen is easy to read but some things need a solid switch. Especially on a boat rolling over Atlantic swells. I’m sure Simon has that sussed.

[@holgers5216]

looks great, but I am a 'steam gauge' man myself, love the analogue style gauges

[@holmesjunction]

Never thought all this 'carbon fibre wrap' was actually a 'Blue Peter - sticky back plastic' job! Now I understand what you are doing (and showing my age).😁

[@gregbolitho9775]

You an me both m8!

[@simsjef]

Simon, you are an amazing man with such good technical skills - this was an another great episode.

[@bookman106]

Nice job! You two always amazed me. Oh we don't know how to do that, then you do a wonderful job.

[@andrewjones-productions]

I am very impressed! Very good job indeed! Many in the comments section seem to prefer analogue dials over the digital ones. This isn't a point of view that I am unsympathetic to, nevertheless, the argument of digital ones not working and thinking that analogue ones will continue to work is not really a good one. If you have a power outage to the system, then those analogue looking dials and gauges will not work either. The information that can be gleaned from the new digital systems are far superior. Digital displays can also be customised to certain extents, so you can still have analogue looking gauges and whatnot if that is what one prefers. I do however, oppose putting key controls in road vehicles deep into menus and dials, knobs and buttons are definitely better. A boat however, is not a vehicle and the circumstances of operation are very different to a car.

[@jwb8335]

Looks really good…. Very professional… well done..

[@ShipHappensAdventures]

Thank you very much!

[@glyndevonport7802]

Looking good. A suggestion for bending sheet metal. Clamp the box section level with the edge of the chipboard. Then clamp a piece of ply to the underside of the area being bent, this will apply equal pressure along the full length of the bend helping to prevent any bulging in the middle of the sheet.

[@pwilliams8051]

Shallow cuts in the back of the aluminium might of helped with the bends

[@xvdd1]

Personally I love analogue gauges and their inherent resilience if you lose a gauge it does not effect the others whereas if you lose a multipurpose screen you lose everything.

[@seankearney2592]

Well done Si,That was some Spaghetti Junction of Wires you Sorted Out.

[@jacobhilbert5583]

Wow! You two are awesome! Fantastic job!

[@brianstevens9469]

Very impressed!

[@neilwharton720]

Nice bit of welding,as you mentioned the tanks must have been a nightmare with the contaminants lovely when you have nice clean aluminum 👍👍👍 Very nice job of that dash well done.

[@ShipHappensAdventures]

Thanks 👍

[@user-jn4gf3ek5r]

I've enjoyed bending metal using home-made brakes, too! Clamping your free end between a couple lengths of 1-by will let you get your bend radiuses tighter. When you get close, you can pull the inside board, and finish your bend using a hammer on the outside board as a cushion between your work and the hammer. Nice work on first attempts with such a big, thick chunk of aluminum. Nice welding, too!!

[@stevenholton438]

Fantastic indeed! You could've warmed the aluminium before bending methinks!

[@barrywood5357]

Looking good The fact you updating a classic model to the futuristic digital age will also give you safety factors as well as information at your finger tips crack on

[@BANKYTWO]

My admiration for you Simon has gone to amazing. Your skills are amazing . Great work .

[@ShipHappensAdventures]

Thank you so much 😀

[@dvdallison]

WOW, well done, that looks the doggy doo dah's 🤗 Haha I have many purchases like that, I don't need it, I don't need it but that little voice in my head .....go on, you know you want to!!!!! I've got to say I think the second screen looks fantastic

[@shelleyregnier6671]

Si, I am constantly amazed at the quality and scope of work that you do! Even when you first approach it not knowing exactly how you will accomplish it, you always pull it off. You were undaunted by all those wires and just did the job methodically. It must feel really great to be able to accomplish these tasks yourself in such a well thought out way.

[@moosenbeans903]

Fish finder. Get 12 ft of cable so you can move it into the back when your drowning bait😊

[@jimmyquinn9639]

Another good video

[@ShipHappensAdventures]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@Omri.Collects]

New dash and instrument display looks fantastic, cheers

[@johnheuts9230]

I was writing about reflections when I hear you talking about glare.. it will very important especially in sunny days. Take it in account !

[@robokiss7822]

I upgraded my dash it is good to see everything going on with your engine. I found a night the reflection from the dash wasn't good on my eyes so I had to redo the dash again and angle the dash so it didn't interfere with my sight at night

[@everestyeti]

That new console is brilliant, especially like the carbon wrap. At least with your auto pilot control being black it won't stand out, just this what it would be like if it was any other colour. Simon with Tig welding you need to be doing it all the time, at least you're willing to have a go which is great. 👍

[@kevinmartin3859]

Thats brilliant looks great well done

[@ShipHappensAdventures]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@cybermatstrikes7557]

A second Axiom, wow you guys are lucky ducks.

[@mariekfishing]

Great job

[@peetjepoo]

Great job, Just a good old tip from sunny New Zealand,make a cover over dash,so when boat not in use ,Sun and Dust and stealing eyes cannot get to it .👍💪👀

[@frednutz1604]

That new dash looks sweet.

[@shaunwade1103]

Just a hint.. wear a mask when cutting Aluminium. Aluminium dust is nasty stuff. Great video guys! Still hooked watching! All the best. - Shaun.

[@johnnybuss5637]

Analog instruments are much more reliable very important at sea, and if an analog instrument breaks you just replace it.. The new surface is nice but keep the analog instruments! (Google translation😉)

[@jimmyquinn9639]

Another good video 🚤⛵️🛥👏👏👏👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@richardgould240]

Great job you two 👍, making the boat your own 🛥️.

[@grahampardner3241]

Just a a thin grind behind corner you need makes it easy to mold to the shape you want

[@boyscott7193]

That's going to look great but I would have nightmares about reconnecting all that spaghetti correctly!

[@ShipHappensAdventures]

Part 2 is out now!

[@hamshackleton]

I hate to tell you, Simon, but your bench top was bending! Good thinking - to be your own vice! 🙂 - -

[@ozmazone]

Love the comedy screwdriver - add it to your range of merch?

[@mechanick1000]

i very rarely give compliments unless something i see is very good and i admit i can be very critical but this dash is extremely good work very well done

[@cardroid8615]

Simon mate you are such a good handyman, a jack of all trades. Where did you learn all of these skills?

[@jgriff3218]

Looking great. Easier hook up than I though. Was expecting to change the sending units also.

[@LukeOrlando-mo1fi]

You should keep the analogue as a backup!

[@joeglenn1480]

You're ability to jump right in an tackle such a job shows much respect from the rest of us?

[@eldonmontgomery2465]

Thank You Again for such a wonderful video! Your personalities and content have me feeling great. What I think? I'm going to Patreon.🙃

[@Shady-Shane]

I've said it before,I Iove a bit of wiring.

[@carltontweedle5724]

Looking good you need to get shades for the windows or the wrap will fade in the sunlight, plus help keep it cooler if we see the sun this year.

[@offshoretinker]

Annealing the aluminium would make bending a whole lot easier.

[@nicktomlin9137]

Another brilliant job. Digital is the way forward. It gives you so much more information, and any issues can be seen earlier, in my opinion, because you can see the information to a single digit or less. The wrapping looked beautiful. What is the issue with the auto pilot. Can it be fixed?

[@MarcelEling]

Looking great. Christmas will be great too.

[@jayben00]

Simon, the human sheet metal brake

[@regpain3811]

Only problem , if the display gone down then you’ve lost all instruments. Concorde was analogue ! 😊

[@whitneylake2107]

Very cool project !

[@johnnorth77]

Wonderful job folks 👍⚓

[@rolandtb3]

Approved and sealed.

[@rossjon4795]

Make a metal break Simon! 2 pieces of angle iron and a couple of hinges welded together with a handle welded on!!! KZbin it, you'll see what I'm talking about

[@brian.7966]

did they not have a song recorded about you two ah yes it's called ROSY & JIM. LOVE WATCHING YOU YWO, iF I AM DEPRESSED I WATCH YOU TWO :)

[@Sluf7]

Nice job Team ya both amazing in what ever challenge ya do. If ya don,t try ya will never know.😅 The digital thing be more for resale as that's what people want. 😮😂 It,s not ya average DiY thing Si with his bike and car experience helped here. 😮Even bending the new dash just epic. 😅 I am in process of ripping the dash out of my Twin outboard 24 footer 😮 so has given me some ideas. 😅 Keep at it now.😅😅😅

[@crabapple1974]

When converting from analog scale into a digital one and getting the reported units to match up it is practice to do at least a two-point calibration. That is to take two different measurements of for instance voltage and see what unit that translates into. ie 1V is 1000 rpm 3v is 2000 rpm. A common error is what you did and that is to use the "0" ie 0V would equal 0 rpm as one of those datapoints. This might work but some analog data have an offset either on the sent data or on the gauge even. For instance the temp gauge does not start registering unitl say maybe 60 degrees. So be on the safe side I would do a two point calibration of data from the gauge working and also if you have a cheap signal generator where you can set outputs you can use that to verify that you have correct calibration. ie set an output to for example 1v and connect it to the old gauge and then the new electronic one to see that they show the same. A lot of good gauges and sensors (probably your VDO ones) have datasheets for them with voltage values and offsets. I would actually start there (if you can get hold of them since they are old). It is a cool project and really nice work from the both of you :)

[@Warped65er]

Great work, looks Great, and thx for the vid.

[@teddyshepherd2854]

You're a better man than I Gunga Din.

[@gregbolitho9775]

Nice job m8s, lost me, and you did a rippa job, Thanks m8s, stay vertical Eh!

[@woodlandtroll4976]

As a sheet metal worker u should have taken it to a shop to get it bent properly

[@denis9450]

Looking great guys

[@ShipHappensAdventures]

Thanks 👍

[@douglasreeve3591]

I think the original analog dashboard is better and more attractive.

[@dadedubbledee]

Fantastic job Simon, do ya fancy popin ova to Texas and doing the dash on my 58 Apache?

[@jiminauburn5073]

I realize you have a lot of experience with that table saw being a coach builder, but you really should have that blade lowered to just above the material. With that much exposed, it is much more dangerous.

[@TheCNCDen]

Peppered with alu, my world every day. Rather cut that than MDF though.

[@garyphillips7993]

Can the Veratron? Unit have a repeater display? Always good to have a back up for essential stuff 😉 Plus, it’d allow the Autopilot to sit in the middle with the Veratron either side - even more symmetrical 😉

[@thescot1163]

should blowtorch the Aluminium to aneal it just like you can do with Copper.

[@donwilson6617]

That SMALL digital panel is going to be very hard to see in reduced light and stormy conditions...You will eventually miss the analog panel...AGE and Glasses favors analog...especially because of glare...

[@anfieldroadlayoutintheloft5204]

good vid on channel nice work keep up the goodr vids you do on channel

[@scottmitchell8273]

If it aint broke ,dont fix it !

[@drewbale]

Not going to ask how Gemma broke that screw braver 😂😂😂

[@davidlyon2690]

dont forget the cup holder

[@debeeriz]

if that screen goes down you have lost the lot, l would not bother to do this myself

[@adriannicholson8819]

heat gun the wrap

[@arkangel13th]

You don't have a riving knife on your table saw,could be hazardous.Be carefull! 😕

[@davidmurn772]

Is there a reason you're using a Veratron instead of simply using the Dashboard mode of the Axiom?

[@nortonmolly]

Did you wear your Lest we forget sweatshirt for ANZAC Day?

[@tonydewey3023]

Better spending time on Sarinda

[@chrisbartlett6022]

I keep thinking, there must be a limit to your talents. Then you do a thing, then another thing. And on and on. Now you are doing another thing. So I have pondered long on this one. Come up with an equation. A thing + a thing x multiple things = no limit to talents.

[@alan-sk7ky]

Gloves Simon, Gloves. do you really want UV burnt hands.

[@curlywirly1945]

How many boats you got.....where is the wood one.....??

[@ShipHappensAdventures]

The wood one, Sarinda is on our main channel

[@ronaldsmith6072]

You could have scored the metal for an easier bend, peace

[@denniswray470]

Are you not using your new shed workshop or is time stopping you?

[@ShipHappensAdventures]

Time! There just aren’t enough hours in the day to get it finished

[@RobertBlake-zd4cs]

Looks very now and pretty but I don't like the idea of having to turn pages to see what the boat is doing. Analogue gauges are always there, always visible, less likely to be missed or overlooked. Modern cars have these screens and are prone to going wrong. Don't put all your eggs in one basket is a saying that has stood the test of time for good reason...🤔😲👀😳

[@ShipHappensAdventures]

Analogue gauges only work by looking at them, even if we have a problem with a gauge on a different page it will still give us an alarm, easier to miss things on the old gauges unless you spend all the time staring at them, then you miss the beautiful views!

[@adriannicholson8819]

lol🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣Simon funny as all way 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@seanhanlon5867]

Is the plan still to sell this boat, because its starting to look like your moving in 😂👊🏻

[@kimberlydeann]

LOWER THAT BLADE.

[@idiotdoesproperty424]

You guys are awesome.

[@MrSnookerballs]

why did you not put a rebate across the aluminium using your table saw where the angle needs to be and would have bent perfect. adjust the saw to 1.5mm depth half the ali thickness

[@dannmohr5721]

Really awesome job on the new dash……kudos dude…….👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@ShipHappensAdventures]

Thanks! 👍

[@MrOldfart47]

Great job, Matey's!