Dash plate?

[red314]

I am looking at redoing my dash plate on my older Ranger. Can I see some options I know I am not the first one to do this.

Ranger seems to be around $150-$200 and I have to send in my old dash plate to get reproduced.

Thanks Randy

[red314]

[hansaullo]

Hey Red, believe me, that dash can get a lot worse! Doesn't look bad at all. I've got an '89 361V that I'm re-doing right now. I wrapped my dash in carbon fiber looking vinyl and hate it but staying with it. Tried painting it first but that looked really bad. The vinyl was all I found I could live with. you'll notice it's the outside edge of the panels that's going to drive you nuts. Edge trims can't make the sharp turns. A lot of work to do it knowing you'll be doing it again soon. Some guys here bought formica sheets and did a whole lot of work but it looks good. The sun is going to chew that stuff up quick. That's why I'm thinking yours isn't bad enough yet to warrant this job. I wish Ranger cut better holes under these plates so we could just drop the guages right into the gelcoat surface without a dash panel.

[igs65]

Carbon fiber veneer is a great solution, you can do it yourself
http://www.dragonplate.com/eca...ID=12

[red314]

I know what you mean about the holes under the dash plate. The picture makes the plate look better than it is. I did read posts with using formica and I have talked to a few trophie shops in the are and they did not have any material I liked.

Randy

[sarmst100]

This looks really cool!! Maybe an idea for you.

http://www.bbcboards.net...69589

[red314]

Those look good but I am not into the carbon fiber look.

I Found marine Marks which would redo it for around 170. Has any one else used them?

[Firefighter615]

I just redone the dash on a 1983 Ranger 372V that I am working on. If you look on my web page it will show you what I started with and how the new dash looks. If I can answer any questions please let me know. http://home.comcast.net/~boats615/ranger.htm

[joeyp]

Red,
I would check with a cnc shop or waterjet cutting business to cut you out a new dashplate out of aluminum if you are not looking for a woodgrain look. My buddy cut my dash out of 1/8th inch aluminum and put my own finish on it. If I can find my old post, ill send a link.

[joeyp]

Before:


After:

[red314]

What did you use to grain the allum. I thought about using something like that but thought it might be to shinny.

[joeyp]

If I remember right we sprayed some bulldog on it first so the paint would stick to the aluminum. Painted it black then silver and went over it with some low grit sandpaper and scuff pads. We tried about 5 different ways to get the look I wanted. It finally turned out how I wanted it. We then sprayed about a 3 coats of clearcoat over it.

[lure buddy]

Joeyp good looking dash

[red314]

I just sent mine out to Marine Marks For $177 it is not worth all the time it will take me to mess with it besides the formica sheet is $70 than I would need glue than hole saws and expense to get wording cut into it. I should be close to $177 so he can have the mess.

[omcforever]

I used 1/8 inch plexiglass and used old one for template and painted it black on the back side so the paint would never be damaged. Then matched holes/cut/ and used transfer letters from some I bought off line......looked really good. No pics,,,sold the boat last year,,,