Removing Nasa Clipper instruments - need a blanking plate or something?

C

chrisbitz

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I'm selling my old boat, an 18ft Micro Challenger, and bearing in mind the depressed market, if someone's going to offer me some ridiculous low offer, I don't want to give them my virtually new £400 of electronics!

So I'm thinking I can remove the speed/depth and wind instruments, and put a neat cover over them.. Can anyone suggest a way of covering the holes neatly?

One thought was maybe a nice block of mahogany with the compass screwed in?

or maybe just a sheet of thin GRP clamped from behind? (can you get ready made pieces of gelcoated grp easily?)

Any other suggestions?
 
If they're in an amenable position, how about making the holes into a neat rectangle shape & then make a window with a sheet of smoked perspex? I've done this in one of my washboards, using butyl tape to seal (or you could use sikaflex) & stainless allen nuts/bolts. The result looks the part & is useful. I guess what you want to do is not make it obvious that there were instruments there & that you've removed them...
 
V1701 said:
If they're in an amenable position, how about making the holes into a neat rectangle shape & then make a window with a sheet of smoked perspex? I've done this in one of my washboards, using butyl tape to seal (or you could use sikaflex) & stainless allen nuts/bolts. The result looks the part & is useful. I guess what you want to do is not make it obvious that there were instruments there & that you've removed them...
Click to expand...

That's a stroke of genius! :-) is Perspex easy to cut with a jigsaw and then sand to make the edges smooth, or should you get the suppliers to cut it or what?

thanks!
 
chrisbitz said:
That's a stroke of genius! :-) is Perspex easy to cut with a jigsaw and then sand to make the edges smooth, or should you get the suppliers to cut it or what?

thanks!
Click to expand...
Its easy but can i find straight lines escape me. There are several online and ebay suppliers that will cut to size.
 
To be honest, if the instruments are on the boat when they view it, they aren't going to buy it if the instruments then go missing. If the instruments are not on it they will be likely to be offering you less. Sorry, but its probably a chicken and egg problem; you may just have to grit your teeth and leave them on the boat.

But making a small window could be a neat little solution to the question you asked!
 
Perspex/acrylic sheet cuts quite easily with a jigsaw with metal cutting blade, but go slow or it will melt in a spectacular fashion. Straight lines are easy if you clamp a straight board to the workpiece as a fence to guide the saw. You can use a belt sander (gently) to take the saw marks out of the edge, but they usually run a bit fast and can do damage before you can stop it.

I agree that taking the instruments may significantly affect the price you can achieve, so make the most of them as a feature and if you've made them dettachable be sure you've agreed a price either with or without the instruments. That's boating for you - you spend a grand on new kit and it adds a hundred to the value!

Rob.

P.S. Leave the protective sheet on the acrylic until you've cut it or the faceplate of the saw will scour away at the surface.
 
Comrade Red said:
Its easy but can i find straight lines escape me. There are several online and ebay suppliers that will cut to size.
Click to expand...

If you go this route, do yourself a favour and have the supplier cut and finish it to your size - you get al colours and thicknesses done as CR says. I have just had a small white inspection cover made like this and looks fine when in place - like its part of the boat, not just plonked on to cover something up!
 
Rigger Mortice said:
To be honest, if the instruments are on the boat when they view it, they aren't going to buy it if the instruments then go missing. If the instruments are not on it they will be likely to be offering you less.
Click to expand...

Can't agree. It is not a new boat. A cheap 18ft yacht without instruments will not attract an offer £400 lower than the same boat with them.
The vendor can always be honest and say the instruments are nearly new and he will refit them for an extra £350 or so.

Just get some thin white plastic sheet and "fit" it with white silicone sealer. It'll bond on really well, but be removable if the new owner wants to fit instruments.
 
Thanks for all the advice, I rang up NE plastics, to get a rough price and for a single window, 5mm clear acrylic, 5" x11" it's about £40. If I want anything more than square edges, it's another £40, or if I want smoke, it comes out of a half sheet, and it's £150! :-)


I guess I'll start looking on Ebay! :-)
 
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