Giffo
25-07-2010, 08:54
I purchased my 4.55 open boat in early 2002 and droped a tiller steer 50 HP Yammy on the back.I made the trailer it sits on as I was not happy with the ones on offer at the time.I also picked up a electric winch for the trailer, for a carton from a mate that had it in his shed.Back then there were bugger all plastic boats about and every trip to the ramp guarateed a lot enquiries .I live with the tiller for a few months and even made a console out of form ply set well back in the boat so I could stand up and still use the tiller steer.Very much like a normal CC with grab rails to hang on to.This worked well but I got tired of having to hang on to the tiller on extended trips, but decided I wanted a real Centre Console.The one on offer from Polycraft did not suit my needs as I wanted to fit 2 x 24 Lt Yammy tanks at the base of the console as well as a few other options.So I decided to make my own console out of 3mm ally.I drew up plans and purchased the ally sheet,traced all the templates on to the plate and took it to a sheet metal worker to guillotene the sheet and put a couple of folds in it for me.Once I picked up the cut and folded sheets I welded the lot together at home.The shelf that holds the Tackle boxes and battery has two return folds on the front(looks like a C section ) to give it strength and to stop the boxes from sliding out.To give the verticle sheets at either side of the openings a bit of strength I have welded a strip of 25x3mm ally flat bar down either side.The sheet that goes from the the upper most point at the top of the console down past the helm and down past the PVC hatch is one piece with a fold at the point where your guts hit the console .Inside the console all the wiring loom sits as well as a sealable PVC box to put the phone and keys.Should all turn to poo ,they are safe in their container.The flat bar I welded at the base to bolt it into the boat is 50 x 6 flat bar.As you can see in the pics I had to weld in a couple of gussets at the rear as a crack started to appear at both sides.You can pick this with the missing paint .(Too lazy to get the spray gun out again !)The console is bolted to the boat via the bolt holes that hold down the infill panels that go up the centre of the boat.I was told by a bloke from Polycraft that is how they lift the boat out of the mould so they should be strong.I have put a Nylon bush between the stainless bolts that hold the console in the boat and the ally to stop electrolisis.This is like a sleeve over the bolt and a washer under the head of the bolt.The throttle control is recessed into the console so that you can hold on to the "O shit bar" on the right side and push the throttle with your thumb!I spray painted the console with ally primer first and then with white Kill Rust epoxy paint.It has been on there for about 7 years and still going strong.I position the console that my Iceytek 115Lt Mackeral box fits between the front cast deck and the console with very little free play.
I did not put a windscreen on the console on purpose as I was crossing two different bars that were surf breaks (Currumbin and Tallebudgerra ) and did not want to get hit in the face by plastic if I took a wave over the bow !Hope this helps someone !Any questions just ask !
I did not put a windscreen on the console on purpose as I was crossing two different bars that were surf breaks (Currumbin and Tallebudgerra ) and did not want to get hit in the face by plastic if I took a wave over the bow !Hope this helps someone !Any questions just ask !