Replacing Original Gauges on '83 Hatt

[adt2]

One of my pending wishlist projects is to update / modernize the gauges at both helm stations on our boat. They still have what I assume are the original gauges, some of which don't work.

In broad terms, what am I looking at in terms of the process here? Is it a simple matter of removing the old gauge and putting a new one in the hole? Am I going to have to pull new wires? New senders?

Can I get remote-read fuel gauges so I don't have up pull up a floor panel to check that?

Regarding the wires, the gauge panel in the engine room has multiple kinds of connections - looks like maybe a hydraulic or pneumatic fitting on a couple of them (oil pressure and drive oil temp) and some sort of braided wire on the other two (water and oil temp). Any way to standardize those, or will replacement units have the same fittings?

What about tank level monitors? We have an electronic panel that theoretically monitors our water tanks. It's currently reading "full," "med," and "low" all at once, so every shower is a roll of the dice lol.

 

[SEVEN]

A friend of mine did exactly what you would like to do now. In fact, he just finished it yesterday. He had a professional do it and the cost was $30,000. He had to run all new wiring. He lowered all the power to 12 V, he did add the Fuel gauge sending units and put those on the dash as well. He rewired the entire lower and upper helm. Fabulous job. It does take all new sending units that match the gauges. I’m not sure if the wiring was necessary but the boat is 50 years old so he went to the expense of running all new wires.

 

[adt2]

Come on, folks...surely someone has done this for less than $30k. Speak up

 

[jmooney]

Come on, folks...surely someone has done this for less than $30k. Speak up 

I replaced all the gauges except the tachs with Stuart Warner gauges . New senders also . About $2000 . I got these from Lauderdale Speedometer. They are very knowledgeable about our older Hatteras and gauges in general. The S-W transmission oil pressure gauges use VDO senders which Lauderdale Speedometer will supply . You will have to run wiring for remote fuel tank gauges. We have remote gauges for fuel and water. Well worth the effort. Especially the water tank level . This can be time consuming, try to get the boat home before you start this .

 

[SEVEN]

The gauges were the least expensive of the whole process. They were just a couple of thousand dollars. It was the rewiring that took over a month to do.

 

[MarioG]

The factory did a great job of using long runs of seemingly oversized wire for the gauges. in the process of my repower, my engine gauges are now monitor screens with one long run of a NEMA 2000 wire from the engine to the monitors. in doing so I pulled ALL the engine gauge wire runs and the wires were in good shape. in fact, i kept the wires and will repurpose it where i can.

 

[SEVEN]

My friend installed KUS fuel and water gauges. They screwed into the opening like the old ones. All stainless steel.