Re: Center console dimentions
I'll try and share my console build with you. First as far as weight,needs a little heft to it so it will stand solid. Used half inch plywood, exterior, if your planing on glassing it well, that should solid it up good. Of course you will be framing the inside as you go I guess, that will make it even more sturdy and once fastened to the floor will be even more solid. I plan to use something to go thru the floor with a wing on it then fill the hole, like mounting bolts in a foundation, then finishing with screws and sealer. Gets fairly rough here at times I want something that will stay with me.
As far as demensions I tried to build mine to fit me. Another words where my arms felt most relaxed while standing, but not so high that it would be uncomforatable to sit at. Thought about what my needs were for a console, in my case it was storage and a place for the wife and child to sit. I even plan to attach a seat belt to it for my sons car seat so I don't have to be worried about him while running at speed. Alot of the time it's just him and me, putting him in front of me will be a great peice of mind. Also I designed it with the fact in mind that I may want to put a gas tank or battery in there some day.
As far as demensions, I looked in catalogs got a rough idea of sizes and went from there. Decide weather you like to sit or stand, your height will depend on one or both. I like to stand so I designed mine with that in mind. May install a leaning post or may use a seat not sure yet. And also what type of steering that you will use. Some older ones like mine take up alot of room under the dash some are round and take up little space under the dash and remember you can't make the radius in your steering cable less than 8 inches, more is better so it doesn't bind the steering.
To give you an idea I made my console roughly 31 inches high 26 inches wide 18 inches deep to the back rest, the height of my seat is roughly 17 inches like a chair bottom. my console is roughly 36 inces long. you can have a door in it were you sit or leave it open like mine. You also need to account for your gauges that you will use and there placement, a guage is no good if you can't see it comforatably, you'll forget it's there. I did put guages in, but I like to run by feel and check the guages occasionally. Once you get used to your boat you'll see what I mean.
The steering wheel should be centered in the center of the dash so don't forget to sit your console in the boat and make sure it sits to the style of your hull. I mounted my wheel center and didn't think about the angle of the console once mounted in the boat. Had to cut 1 1/2 inches of the back at the bottom to make it look right in the boat, this made my steering wheel to low. So I moved my wheel up in the dash an 1 1/2 to make the correction. Looks a little odd at that height but works well for me. So I'm pleased.
This isn't the only way to build a console just the way I built mine I hope this will help on designing yours, be interesting to see how yours comes out. Remember the deminsions are from memory so there not exact.
Hope this will help! maxum
