Spent all day yesterday working on building a vacuum form mold for my 210s console switch panel. Have to remove the Mega Link and go to rockers. Parts are very difficult to come by, so I will just do it myself.
Spent all day yesterday working on building a vacuum form mold for my 210s console switch panel. Have to remove the Mega Link and go to rockers. Parts are very difficult to come by, so I will just do it myself.
Nice
GETFISHED !!!
Great idea on the mold! You could sell the panels as more and more people will be doing the conversion back to rockers on 210’s, 200 elites, and 183’s.
I have a 2007 210 that I would be interested in buying one of these panels from you.
Well here is the first run. Actually the second, this one came out slightly better than the first one. 20220527_182044.jpg
nice!
It looks great. I need to make some replacements for my Stratos. would you mind sharing how you did it?
Thanks,
First off, YouTube is your friend. There are a bunch if how-to vids there.
I built a mold for 24"x24"x1/8" ABS. It is 22×22 to allow 1" overhang all around. Mine is 4" deep, and I used a shop vac to pull the vacuum.
The mold is primarily made out of "fix-it-all". It is a available patching compound that has fiber in it, and it can be sanded, drilled and carved, once it is hard. I lined the inside of the old panel with plastic wrap and poured the compound on the inside of the original panel. Once the rough mold is hard, I used some basic wood working tools to shape it up and dress up the inevitable flaws. I overpoured to fill in the divot left by the megalink pad mount. Once dried, I used bondo to get anything else out and dress up the sides.
You need to use a piece of plastic with a lot of overhang so the vacuum pulls it tight to you mold. I drilled three small holes that do not go through the mold in order to make a small mark on the inside of the panel for my ignition switch, 12v power plug, and what ever this other sensor thing is (temp?)
You can just make out the marks on the finished piece. I then used silicone to glue the mold to a 16"×13" piece of MDF. I screwed that to the vacuum box. I drilled 1/16" holes along the outdid of the mold, and about 1" all around the outside of the MDF. There is only one critical angle one this panel, so I drilled holes at the base to ensure the plastic is drawn in.
I used one of those weed burning propane touches to heart the plastic, but you can use all kinds of methods. (Again, YouTube is your friend)
Be careful not to over heat the plastic like I did on my first attempt. It will get very thin. I am working on a good way to cut this (I don't have a C&C machine or drill press. I am going to use a side cut bit in a dremel, but there is significant risk there.
The pics are pretty self explanatory, but feel free to hit me up with questions.
Last edited by Army Flyer; 05-30-2022 at 05:23 PM.
Thanks for sharing!
Okay, haven't made an update in a minute, so here is where I am on this project.
I have made and cut out a vacuum formed replacement panel.
I found New Wire Marine online and they are designing and creating a customer switch package and circuit breaker panel for me.
The switches will be installed in a Faux carbon fiber flat panel that I will screw onto the panel I made.
I don't think I will be cutting a hole for the new circuit breaker panel and just mount it under the driver's console. I may change my mind once I have everything in hand.
This is revision 3 and we are finalizing revision 4 before building the panel.
They save these designs and if you are interested I have attached contact info. Their designers will send you PDFs and will work with you to make exactly how you want it.
This design is called "2006 champion 210".
16551392236488546030094138343665.jpg20220613_093206.jpg20220613_093240.jpg
Keep us posted with your conversion project and your control panel looks OEM by the way.
Also, not sure if you have room for a USB port but that would be a good spot to put one.
Last edited by jeffleo; 06-14-2022 at 11:29 AM.
Well, the panel came today! Got to say I couldn't be happier
20220715_173528.jpg20220715_173532.jpg
20220715_173537.jpg20220715_173812.jpg20220715_173623.jpg
Okay I’m interested in this. I’ve got a 200 elite and would like to have this in case of mega link failure. Did they supply all of that stuff?
The switch panel and the CB panel were all made by New Wire. I made the plastic angled panel.
Looking good Andrew! Did they supply timers for the Auto functions?
Reggie where are you as far as supplies go?
duplicate entry...
Last edited by Army Flyer; 07-19-2022 at 04:50 PM.