SeaEric
Legendary Member
- Joined
- Apr 27, 2005
- Messages
- 4,370
- Status
- OWNER - I own a Hatteras Yacht
- Hatteras Model
- 41' TWIN CABIN (1965 - 1971)
Apologies to Star Trek.
So I have screwed around and screwed around with my old Hatteras pale green gauges. To recap: When I bought the boat - 4 of the original gauges, 2 oil pressure and 2 water temp had been replaced with new modern aesthetically offensive cheap white gauges. Apparently the original gauges or senders had failed and the then owner or yard didn't choose to try to figure it out, hence the replacements. For some strange reason I thought it would be a simple matter of finding original gauges and senders and getting them back in and hooked up. No so fast. After lots of very long, very drawn out trial and error, error being the operative word, I have working original vintage gauges. The problem is that they don't really work very well. Their accuracy is poor and their response time is very slow. I have discovered that a temp that is creeping up has creeped way faster than the gauge suggests. Not surprisingly, I find this to be unacceptable. I need accurate data about what my antique engines have going on with them.
Current thought process: Leave the vintage gauges in place so they look correct and
1. Research, purchase and install NEMA display panel (or second Garmin display that has gauge display info) with retrofit analog to NEMA senders on the engines. Panel could also perhaps display monitoring of other stuff onboard. Early research suggests that NEMA gauge info works best on new electronic engines with NEMA already there. Several brands and vendors, which one? What will this cost? Will it work acceptably? Any experience out there with this stuff?
2. Purchase and install a second set of modern senders and gauges. Not sure where at the helm to locate them to be useful and not look like I have a 47 year old quad engine boat.
3. Rebuild the vintage gauges with modern innards. Several vendors talk a good game on this until it comes down to "what exactly with that cost?" No solid answer there except that all agree that the final $ is promised to be frightening. This is a bit of a non starter for me which is really saying something as I have spent some stupid big $ on this boat.
Fourth and currently most attractive option is to say goodbye to my vintage gauges and try to come up with a suitable modern gauge replacement that looks like it belongs on my old boat. I have spent quite a bit of time on the speedhut custom design site http://www.speedhut.com/ and photo below is what I came up with so far. Has anyone had any experience, good or bad with speedhut gauges?
So I have screwed around and screwed around with my old Hatteras pale green gauges. To recap: When I bought the boat - 4 of the original gauges, 2 oil pressure and 2 water temp had been replaced with new modern aesthetically offensive cheap white gauges. Apparently the original gauges or senders had failed and the then owner or yard didn't choose to try to figure it out, hence the replacements. For some strange reason I thought it would be a simple matter of finding original gauges and senders and getting them back in and hooked up. No so fast. After lots of very long, very drawn out trial and error, error being the operative word, I have working original vintage gauges. The problem is that they don't really work very well. Their accuracy is poor and their response time is very slow. I have discovered that a temp that is creeping up has creeped way faster than the gauge suggests. Not surprisingly, I find this to be unacceptable. I need accurate data about what my antique engines have going on with them.
Current thought process: Leave the vintage gauges in place so they look correct and
1. Research, purchase and install NEMA display panel (or second Garmin display that has gauge display info) with retrofit analog to NEMA senders on the engines. Panel could also perhaps display monitoring of other stuff onboard. Early research suggests that NEMA gauge info works best on new electronic engines with NEMA already there. Several brands and vendors, which one? What will this cost? Will it work acceptably? Any experience out there with this stuff?
2. Purchase and install a second set of modern senders and gauges. Not sure where at the helm to locate them to be useful and not look like I have a 47 year old quad engine boat.
3. Rebuild the vintage gauges with modern innards. Several vendors talk a good game on this until it comes down to "what exactly with that cost?" No solid answer there except that all agree that the final $ is promised to be frightening. This is a bit of a non starter for me which is really saying something as I have spent some stupid big $ on this boat.
Fourth and currently most attractive option is to say goodbye to my vintage gauges and try to come up with a suitable modern gauge replacement that looks like it belongs on my old boat. I have spent quite a bit of time on the speedhut custom design site http://www.speedhut.com/ and photo below is what I came up with so far. Has anyone had any experience, good or bad with speedhut gauges?
