Bow dash w/sonar upgrade TZX-ZX update

[blackknife]

For those of you who asked me about the bow dash panel that will hold a sonar unit, I used SkeeterJohn's hull id number so I could be sure I got the one with the sonar. I haven't had a chance to install it, but here are a couple of pics of the unit. I was happily surprised to see that it came with the cover, and it seems that they beefed it up a little with a layer of painted plastic for the TM receptacle, and trim switch. It's painted silver, but could easily be painted any color you wish.

I'll probably shoot a few more pics when I install so we can see just how much fiberglass I will have to cut out so that my 520c will fit incase any of you might like to do the upgrade. It looks like to me that when they put these dash panels in they just cut out more fiberglass so the depth of a sonar unit would fit. Hopefully that's thee case otherwise it will be up for sale! I would have thought that the holes would already be there for the plug, switch & sonar, but it looks like I'll be cutting those in as well.

the "item number" is: 16170304 description is PANEL BOW ZX225-MY03
the cost is around $176.00 plus shipping

FRONT SIDE




BACK SIDE

[fishnmd]

Becareful cutting the glass. If you are mounting a HDS unit the corners should be as tight as possible. The bezel mount leaves little room for error. that with the #6 screws which i could not find in a legnth greater than 2" made life tough. I mounted an aluminum backing plate to mount to. I mounted anHDS 7 on a flat zx 200 plate. I will post pix later.

[blackknife]

damn....I guess we lost a few posts during the move. I ended up painting the inserts red to match my boat.....looks pretty sharp. still hoping someone with this type dash panel can tell me if I have to match the cut outs for the power & trim, or do I make them bigger so that the power & trim only come in contact with the inserts.....kind of hard to explain.

[blackknife]

well the painter finished the inserts, and I used a hole saw (in reverse) for the cut-outs deciding that I would only use the panel inserts to "support" the trim switch & TM power receptacle. My boat is silver with red, so I think it's gonna look pretty good. I think I may also have to put some kind of small "L" bracket on the boat to fasten the front side of the panel to. I should find that out tomorrow weather permitting




and finally the finished product:



if anyone's interested in the install, and cutting of fiberglass shoot me a pm & I will be happy to email you all the pics, and what I had to do. I took about 11 I just didn't feel like uploading all of them.




Modified by blackknife at 4:00 PM 4/24/2010

[blackknife]

I was always kind of shocked at how the original cut out was completely hacked if you ask me!



I basically had to cut out all the raised fiberglass & follow the contour when I made the cut. I used a saws-all for the biggest part then a skill saw. There wasn't much room left for the screws, but I was able to get 4 in the front. Since there is no raised material left in the front I will have to make 2 or 3 small stainless or aluminum L brackets to screw down the front of the panel. I also had to basically remove my trolling motor to fit the saw to make the cuts. I took all but the front most screw out of the TM so I could just swing it away rather than completely remove it

[SkeeterJohn]

Looks good glad it all worked out. Mine cut out was also a bit of a hack job but it'ls hidden by the console anyway.

[fishin couillon]

Nice customization.

[blackknife]

thanks SkeeterJohn, and FC...now if we could just get some descent weather here in RI. I had planned on going out Saturday, but after the dash, and a grab bar install I was beat. now I just have the radio & speakers to install and I think I'm done....for now

[jnbdavies]

very nice...got me thinkin now........

[Ranger391v]

I hear ya Blackknife.

Yea, I can't remember exactly how mine looks (only had it off once) but I do remember I was not impressed (thus a hack job as well). You definately made it look better.

Nice upgrade.

[blackknife]

thanks Ranger (time for a name-change? lol) they must use a grinder, or a saws-all, but whatever they use they're not too concerned with making a nice neat cut

[Ranger391v]

LOL ... yea (on name change) ......... the bad part is I moderate another website and alot of the SC folks on there are here as well .......... I've about got everyone knowing me as just '391' ...................... but it does feel kinda like the redheaded step child in the family with a Ranger name in a Skeeter board all the time .

But I agree too on the 'they not too concerned' statement .......... it reminds me of 'Tim Toolman Taylor' ...... never has the right tool, but always has something either 'way too big' or 'just to get by'.

You did good at making chicken salad out of chicken feathers.

[photocycle]

Very nice! I would love to do that some day... for now I just can't justify spending the $170 or whatever for the mount/bracket from skeeter.

[blackknife]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by Ranger391v &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">LOL ... yea (on name change) ......... the bad part is I moderate another website and alot of the SC folks on there are here as well .......... I've about got everyone knowing me as just '391' ...................... but it does feel kinda like the redheaded step child in the family with a Ranger name in a Skeeter board all the time .

But I agree too on the 'they not too concerned' statement .......... it reminds me of 'Tim Toolman Taylor' ...... never has the right tool, but always has something either 'way too big' or 'just to get by'.

You did good at making chicken salad out of chicken feathers. </td></tr></table>

thanks again "391" and thank God I'm not a step-child....I am a red-head however!!


<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by photocycle &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Very nice! I would love to do that some day... for now I just can't justify spending the $170 or whatever for the mount/bracket from skeeter. </td></tr></table>

yeah, it was a little expensive, but I figure most importantly it gets my sonar off the deck & out of the way. I dunno how many times that thing got caught in a dock line, and it can only increase the value of the boat. I can't afford a new or even newer ZX so the more I can make my boat nicer the happier I am with it