Gauges

[grayson]

Hi everyone,
i will be replacing my gauges on my boat and was wondering which were the most essential..
i have pulled out a speedo, oil pressure, amps, water temp.

I know i will turf the speedo for a tacho, but what do i put in the other three holes?

This is a social ski type boat which will have a mild 454 rear mount running through water logs.

thanks in advance

[socal_wrench]

Temp. , Oil Press.,( Volts or fuel)....

[grayson]

Temp. , Oil Press.,( Volts or fuel)....

hey thanks for the reply, do you mean water or oil temp?

[socal_wrench]

I Would Do Water, but whatever your poison.

[grayson]

I Would Do Water, but whatever your poison.

cheers mate, appreciate the help :)

[lebel409]

I'm putting oil pressure, oil temp, water temp, volt on the dash, tach in front of me mounted on the deck.

I lot of the boats have them mounted on the motor...sou you could have a speedo/tach/fuel and have the oil and water gauges at the front on on the cover.

My tanks are 5 1/2" tall...fuel sender would be usueless. Speedos are pretty useless (and wrong) for the most part...Although some would prefer them I guess

The new GPS/tachs seem like a good idea...pricey.

[FC-Pilot]

I personally like having the tach, oil pressure, and a temp (water or oil) in front of my face or on the dash. Things like volt are not quite as critical to know while you are screaming across the water. But if the temp or oil pressure goes away you need to know about it, and turning around to check them may not be that easy. Just my thoughts. The last boat I built had a tach, oil pressure, oil temp and water temp.

Paul

[grayson]

I personally like having the tach, oil pressure, and a temp (water or oil) in front of my face or on the dash. Things like volt are not quite as critical to know while you are screaming across the water. But if the temp or oil pressure goes away you need to know about it, and turning around to check them may not be that easy. Just my thoughts. The last boat I built had a tach, oil pressure, oil temp and water temp.

Paul

you know Paul that makes some good sense to me, if you have no volts, you will probably know about it- ie. something wont be working, but temperature is something you need to be warned about!
thanks again everyone for responses its great

Grayson

[RiverRacer]

Unless you have the water dump on the side like a circle boat, I would have a water temp gauge because you can't see if water is going out the back!. Oil temp gauge is also good to have since that is critical, oil should be within 185-225 to do it's job!.. Any gauges on the motor is a total waste unless you have eyes on the back of your head, and as far as I'm concerened mechanical gauges are the only reliable ones!...

[raysoninoz]

Have a look at the Nordskog GPS/tach.
As far as water temp, oil temp & oil pressure go, mechanical gauges are hard to beat, particularly the Autometer Pro Comp liquid filled units. I'm sure the performance boat vdrive gentlemen would agree. These a very popular gauges with the 'racing fraternity' so shop around for a deal as plenty of places sell them.
I'm sure someone on here will be able to point you in the right direction.
Cheers

[RiverRacer]

Can't beat Autometer, I bought my memory tach in 91 and never missed a beat, but if something should happen, they'll replace it no questions asked can't beat the customer service!..

[grayson]

thanks !:cool:

[flatbroke]

Something to consider, just cuz I have seen it happen. It is possible to overheat just half of the engine. In my case an impellor blade broke and plugged the hose to the left side of the block. The left side got hot but the right side actually ran cooler but not by much. I run 2 temp gauges, one mounted to each head.

[grayson]

Something to consider, just cuz I have seen it happen. It is possible to overheat just half of the engine. In my case an impellor blade broke and plugged the hose to the left side of the block. The left side got hot but the right side actually ran cooler but not by much. I run 2 temp gauges, one mounted to each head.

sounds good, my friend had two mounted on his .. ahem -outboard motor, one was aftermarket one was factory, he said it was for the same reason.

[RiverRacer]

I run 2 temp gauges, one mounted to each head.

Do you look at them when you're haulin ass!.. :D

[flatbroke]

Nope, if it gets warm I don't know till I slow down. And it is usually the rear seat passengers that spot it first.

[RiverRacer]

Nope, if it gets warm I don't know till I slow down.

Or you cook it like I did!..:rolleyes::D

[flatbroke]

thats always a possibility but it usually starts to ping at 200*. for that you dont need a gauge, just ears.

[RiverRacer]

Except you can't hear pinging with open headers at 7500r's!..:D

[shooter2]

Except you can't hear pinging with open headers at 7500r's!..:D

And heading into the turn in rough water. While keeping an eye on the gauges, and the water and the other boats.

[RiverRacer]

And heading into the turn in rough water. While keeping an eye on the gauges, and the water and the other boats.

Yep, that's why when I raced I always clocked my gauges so the needles were pointing straight up, they were always in the vision but I didn't have to look at them, but if any were to change it would get my attention!..

[shooter2]

I did the same, if I saw a needle then I knew I was ok, then I put idiot lights on them as well and that made it easier as well. Mounted them right on the steering post.

Brian

[FC-Pilot]

I did the same, if I saw a needle then I knew I was ok, then I put idiot lights on them as well and that made it easier as well. Mounted them right on the steering post.

Brian

I have to admit I like the idiot lights too. It makes it a little easier to notice especially when things get a little crazy for the driver.

Paul

[RiverRacer]

Those Autometers are good, even in the bright sunlight you can see them bright as can be!.

[shooter2]

Those Autometers are good, even in the bright sunlight you can see them bright as can be!.

Yep when my 510 decided to eat a lifter(my fault) and it got trapped between the crank and an oil passage at the back of the block that light sure was bright. Worth every penny, just wish it never needed to come on. Oh well shit happens, lesson learned.

Brian

[RiverRacer]

Yep when my 510 decided to eat a lifter(my fault) and it got trapped between the crank and an oil passage at the back of the block that light sure was bright. Worth every penny, just wish it never needed to come on. Oh well shit happens, lesson learned.

Brian

I think we all learned them lessons at one time or another!..:rolleyes::D

[Bigblock]

I run a Tach, speedo, oil pressure,Water Temp & volts.
I also have a red idiot light for oil presure (shut it down) & yellow idiot light for water temp (slow down and check your gauge).

A small price to pay for some extra warning.

Bigblock

[RiverRacer]

A light is a good idea for oil pressure, I run my water dump out the side so it's easy to notice if there is a problem, I don't like electrics!..:D

[Bigblock]

RR

That is a good idea to run it out the side to make sure you have flow. Funny if you start your boat too close to someone else or racing side by side around a corner the guy or gal next to you will cop a squirt in the face for sure.

But, what is the signal that your engine is hot? Steam comming out the hole??
It is probably too late to do anything by this time, other than shut it down and limp home.
You should probably want to concerntrate on looking forward than watching a stream of water out your side all day.

Cheers
Bigblock

[RiverRacer]

Nahhh, no way would you spray someone,lol, all the circle boats are like that and it's because you don't have time to look at gauges when you're racing, but it's in your vision and you can see water flowing especially when in the turn, if you don't see water you know there is a problem!..:D

[Bigblock]

Cool, I have all ready checked out Rex Marine for the fitting in me hull. will be easy to install.
It will be just a bit scarey drilling a hole through me hull.
Sorry for getting a bit off topic, but thanks for the info.

Cheers
Bigblock

[poncho]

RR

That is a good idea to run it out the side to make sure you have flow. Funny if you start your boat too close to someone else or racing side by side around a corner the guy or gal next to you will cop a squirt in the face for sure.

But, what is the signal that your engine is hot? Steam comming out the hole??
It is probably too late to do anything by this time, other than shut it down and limp home.
You should probably want to concerntrate on looking forward than watching a stream of water out your side all day.

Cheers
Bigblock

It has happened to me twice and yes you will see the steam and hopefully avoid disaster and yes i burned my fingers good not believing my own eyes :eek:

[poncho]

These are a really nice gauge when replacing the old bouncy Sun`s and Stewart Warners that were in everything back in the day,trying to keep a period correct look is tough with the bling bling Autometers

http://www.mooneyes.co.jp/english/shopping/Auto/gauges/

[poncho]

Once more in English


https://www.mooneyesusa.com/Store/product_info.php?products_id=582

[Roaddogg 4040]

Drilling the first hole in your hull is the toughest... Just measure carefully (more than once) and have at it... It gets easier the more you do it...:)

Steve

[RiverRacer]

These are a really nice gauge when replacing the old bouncy Sun`s and Stewart Warners that were in everything back in the day,trying to keep a period correct look is tough with the bling bling Autometers

http://www.mooneyes.co.jp/english/shopping/Auto/gauges/

Those are cool looking, in fact I think I still have some!. I used them before and I almost lost a motor, they are worthless since they are direct bolt in and it's a real bitch at 90mph trying to look back at the motor to read the gauges!..:D

[warpt71]

Hey Art,

Something I have been wondering for a wile now, do you run a fuel pres. gauge w/ your FI? If you do Im assuming its a mechanical gauge right?

[RiverRacer]

Hey Art,

Something I have been wondering for a wile now, do you run a fuel pres. gauge w/ your FI? If you do Im assuming its a mechanical gauge right?

No, no gauge don't need one I had the pump flowed so I know what it puts out, if the pump starts to go away it will tell me right away the way it runs, only time I put a gauge(temporarily) in is to set up a high speed!..

[warpt71]

No, no gauge don't need one I had the pump flowed so I know what it puts out, if the pump starts to go away it will tell me right away the way it runs, only time I put a gauge(temporarily) in is to set up a high speed!..

The original set-up had one and I couldn't figure out why after I learned how the sys, worked. Just didn't make sense. Well that's another hole to fill!!!

[RiverRacer]

The original set-up had one and I couldn't figure out why after I learned how the sys, worked. Just didn't make sense. Well that's another hole to fill!!!

Guess the guy just liked to see the needle in the gauge move with the tach, LOL..:D