Instrument panel guard?

[Euphonyx]

My instrument panel is mounted just below the companionway. It couldn't be more vulnerable to kicks and bangs. I was thinking about some kind of SS guard like you'd find on the lights of a landrover but I cant find anything online. Has anyone come up with a solution? I cant be the only one with this issue, surely?

 

[Graham_Wright]

Oven cake tray?

 

[[163233]]

You often see a perspex panel used for that kind of thing. Depends if you've got a tacho etc under there that you might want to see.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

If it's recessed a perspex cover split and hinged to allow access, if it's not recessed three buttons of wood screwed around the panel then the perspex cover as above fitted to that. Or make a recessed panel to hold the instrument panel and let that into the space where the panel is which will need enlarging. Depends on how good you are at making moulds and GRP work.

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

If there is an engineering firm near you that works with s/s (more PC than "SS" ), they should be able to produce something for you in, say 6mm wire. You would make things easier for them by measuring carefully and making a 1:1 scale drawing.

 

[rogerthebodger]

I have a Polycarbonate cover over both my cockpit bulkhead instrument cover and ny steering station instrument/switch such both have slide off hinges for easy removal.

 

[jwilson]

My instrument panel is mounted just below the companionway. It couldn't be more vulnerable to kicks and bangs. I was thinking about some kind of SS guard like you'd find on the lights of a landrover but I cant find anything online. Has anyone come up with a solution? I cant be the only one with this issue, surely?

My engine control panel in the cockpit had a perspex cover panel that kept getting broken. Changed it last year for a clear polycarbonate panel, not broken yet. Polycarbonate also seemed easier to cut and shape than perspex, very tough but less brittle than perspex/acrylic.

 

[bushwacka]

Always thought it was a bad idea siting an unprotected instrument panel beneath the companion way. The electrics at this point would appear to be exposed to a serious pooping event for the bluewater inclined perhaps with the risk of knocking out the only way of strarting the engine, no?

 

[Euphonyx]

Always thought it was a bad idea siting an unprotected instrument panel beneath the companion way. The electrics at this point would appear to be exposed to a serious pooping event for the bluewater inclined perhaps with the risk of knocking out the only way of strarting the engine, no?

As a general rule I avoid pooping at my engine control panel

 

[Euphonyx]

thanks for the suggestions.

 

[reeac]

I moved the instrument panel on my Sadler 29 from its original position down below immediately below the companion way to the aft facing side of the bridge deck. Made a shallow hardwood box with the panel forming the bottom and a two section perspex cover with the lower section being removable ( semicircular finger hole on its lower edge). You had to remove this cover in order to insert the key. Seemed to be fully splash proof. Simply turned the panel from forard to aft facing ....the wiring needed no alterations. I never understood the original panel positioning .....seemed to assume that you had a ship's engineer down below to start the engine and report the revs. to the helmsman, the latter being in charge of the engine control.