Please Help Me Make My Boat Look Cool: "Star Wars" Gauges

[tybouff]

Hi everyone,

I am nineteen years old and I just bought a 1990 Bayliner Cobra in superb condition. It is black/red/silver with a 150 force outboard. I honestly think I have the coolest looking boat ever made. The gauge bezels in the dash are square, but the gauges themselves are the conventional circles. I want the "star wars" gauges... I don't care if people think they are lame, I think they are really cool. I included two pics of two different styles of the "star wars" gauges. I would prefer having the green curvy ones as there is no blue on my boat at all (yes, I am anal about aesthetics). However, I am wondering if they even made any of the green "star wars" gauges for outboards. Every time I find a set on ebay or wherever, they are off of cuddys. I was told by a boat mechanic that these gauges will fit right into my dash but the tach needs to be off of an outboard in order to work. Does anyone know if the green curvy "star wars" gauges exist for outboards? Does anybody have a clean, working set for sale or trade (green curvy or blue grid)? Remember, the tach has to be able to connect to an outboard and oh yeah, the speedometer needs to be able to read at least 75, up to 80 mph since my boat is VERY fast. Thank you everyone for your time and willingness to help the next generation enjoy this spectacular pastime! Best regards to all of you,

~?~ Tyler J. Bouffard

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Please Help Me Make My Boat Look Cool: "Star Wars" Gauges

75mph with a 150 on a Bayliner is a bit optimistic there pard'ner. You'll be luck y to get much over 50. I can't imagine why you would want those gauges, but to each his own.

 

[r.j.dawg]

Re: Please Help Me Make My Boat Look Cool: "Star Wars" Gauges

Check out this thread. It may be of some help.
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=381861

 

[bajaunderground]

Re: Please Help Me Make My Boat Look Cool: "Star Wars" Gauges

75mph with a 150 on a Bayliner is a bit optimistic there pard'ner. You'll be luck y to get much over 50. I can't imagine why you would want those gauges, but to each his own.

I think a 60mph speedo will be more than adequate?! I like the gauges...you might want to check and see if there is a adjustment for the tachometer, you might be able to just switch to the 6P position?! Don't know much about the I/O and their associated tachs?

 

[Don S]

Re: Please Help Me Make My Boat Look Cool: "Star Wars" Gauges

Those gauges are Faria gauges, they used to fix those gauges like new, not sure if they do anymore or not. Might be worth a phone call to find out. https://faria-instruments.com/forms/?form=new

 

[Utahboatnut]

Re: Please Help Me Make My Boat Look Cool: "Star Wars" Gauges

Dont want to sound like a jerk but before you get all concerned about the asthetics and cool guages, make sure the hull is solid throughout. That vintage Bayliner is right in line to be rotted out, not saying it is but is very possible. Have you checked the transom, deck, and stringers for any soft spots, rot, etc. Thats where I would be focusing most of my efforts to start with. A 150 is alot of power and weight on a possibly rotted transom. Just want you and your passengers to be safe out on the water, as it sounds like you intend to go on some high speed runs. Never get close to 70 though sorry..

 

[SteveRoss]

Re: Please Help Me Make My Boat Look Cool: "Star Wars" Gauges

Tyler....

I thought long and hard about a response to your post. Believe me, this comes from the heart. If IBOATS wants to ban me, so be it.

First... At 19, you shouldn't be asking "what makes my boat look cool".... Maybe you should ask, "how am I going to pay for this?? or what kind of job can I get to pay for it??

Second... Maybe your parents bought the boat for you. Bad mistake on their part and worse for you to accept it it!!

OK... I'm sure I don't know the whole story, it just sounds too much like "fairy land" to me. At any rate, don't let the boat drive you into debt. Only buy what you can afford and then, do it with that "green stuff"... Cash !!

Very respectfully,


Steve Ross

 

[Cheetah 210es]

Re: Please Help Me Make My Boat Look Cool: "Star Wars" Gauges

Hi everyone,

I am nineteen years old and I just bought a 1990 Bayliner Cobra in superb condition. It is black/red/silver with a 150 force outboard. I honestly think I have the coolest looking boat ever made. The gauge bezels in the dash are square, but the gauges themselves are the conventional circles. I want the "star wars" gauges... I don't care if people think they are lame, I think they are really cool. I included two pics of two different styles of the "star wars" gauges. I would prefer having the green curvy ones as there is no blue on my boat at all (yes, I am anal about aesthetics). However, I am wondering if they even made any of the green "star wars" gauges for outboards. Every time I find a set on ebay or wherever, they are off of cuddys. I was told by a boat mechanic that these gauges will fit right into my dash but the tach needs to be off of an outboard in order to work. Does anyone know if the green curvy "star wars" gauges exist for outboards? Does anybody have a clean, working set for sale or trade (green curvy or blue grid)? Remember, the tach has to be able to connect to an outboard and oh yeah, the speedometer needs to be able to read at least 75, up to 80 mph since my boat is VERY fast. Thank you everyone for your time and willingness to help the next generation enjoy this spectacular pastime! Best regards to all of you,

~•~ Tyler J. BouffardView attachment 137375View attachment 137376

Am I reading a different post to SteveRoss?

 

[scrit9mm]

Re: Please Help Me Make My Boat Look Cool: "Star Wars" Gauges

Tyler....

I thought long and hard about a response to your post. Believe me, this comes from the heart. If IBOATS wants to ban me, so be it.

First... At 19, you shouldn't be asking "what makes my boat look cool".... Maybe you should ask, "how am I going to pay for this?? or what kind of job can I get to pay for it??

Second... Maybe your parents bought the boat for you. Bad mistake on their part and worse for you to accept it it!!

OK... I'm sure I don't know the whole story, it just sounds too much like "fairy land" to me. At any rate, don't let the boat drive you into debt. Only buy what you can afford and then, do it with that "green stuff"... Cash !!

Very respectfully,


Steve Ross

I couldnt disagree more.

So what if this thing puts you into debt. You can always make more money. I got my first boat that was a junker and I spent way more fixing it than I got back when I sold it. That learning experience developed my knowledge of boats and what to look for when I bought a newer boat.

All of these comments do not help you with your question.

I wonder if the responders saw your age and forgot the purpose of you post. Anyhow, good luck finding your gauges.

 

[Philster]

Re: Please Help Me Make My Boat Look Cool: "Star Wars" Gauges

The best suggestion so far is to contact Faria. That right there is a good learning experience and might have the most bang for the buck. You have to communicate well and interact with a company that should be able to assist, etc.

It's also a good suggestion because looking around for the stuff pictured is practically a witch hunt.

 

[1973Chieftain]

Re: Please Help Me Make My Boat Look Cool: "Star Wars" Gauges

Nice looking gauges!! I would submit that Ross is all wet on this, I was buying and repairing boats at 16 so enjoy man!!

 

[coastalrichard]

Re: Please Help Me Make My Boat Look Cool: "Star Wars" Gauges

Post #1, line 1, words 6-9: "I just bought". Says it all for me...it's your boat, Tyler, go for it if that's what you want. And also, please be sure to register for a boating safety class...at your speeds things will happen pretty quick

By the way, can you post a few pics of your baby?

 

[SteveRoss]

Re: Please Help Me Make My Boat Look Cool: "Star Wars" Gauges

OK... Guess I'm in the wrong forum with an "upper crust" of people way above my class.

Would one of the Mods please canx my membership.

You all seem to be the ones with the big ski boats who love to try and swamp my little 14' Jon.

 

[NMShooter]

Re: Please Help Me Make My Boat Look Cool: "Star Wars" Gauges

Well Steve, I can agree with your last post. You are definitely in the wrong forum.

Tybouff, Good on you for landing a boat. I desperately wanted a boat at 16, and bought a beater at 19. I loved that thing, problems and all.

I notice that your post is a bit old. Any updates?

I would hit the salvage yards... put together an email with photos of the stuff you are looking for, and send it out. There are a bunch of old rigs returning to ashes right now, and I betcha you can find exactly what you are looking for.

I'd also like to encourage you to learn electronics.. you can build / rig / repair a lot of cool stuff for you boat.

Above all, we are going to need pictures! Lots of them.

 

[NMShooter]

Re: Please Help Me Make My Boat Look Cool: "Star Wars" Gauges

You know what? I may just happen to have the mph gauge that you can have for free. I am unaware if it actually works though.

Send me a PM.

 

[RogersJetboat454]

Re: Please Help Me Make My Boat Look Cool: "Star Wars" Gauges

You all seem to be the ones with the big ski boats who love to try and swamp my little 14' Jon.

No...
We're the ones who support a young mans decision to purchase a boat instead of drugs.

Last I checked, 19 years old was an adult, and his parents didn't need to be involved in this decision/purchase. He didn't start off the post by saying he just financed a brand new boat with a part time job bagging groceries. He bought a 22 year old boat, that probably didn't set him back any more than a brand new 14ft jon boat with a 9.9hp motor. He will probably learn several things working on this, and in the end will have allot more to show for him self then your typical 19 year old leach, that lives in their parents basement playing video games all day.

Kudos to you Tyler.
I hope you get it fixed up just the way you want it, and have a fun (while being safe) time with it.

 

[coastalrichard]

Re: Please Help Me Make My Boat Look Cool: "Star Wars" Gauges

no...
We're the ones who support a young mans decision to purchase a boat instead of drugs.

Last i checked, 19 years old was an adult, and his parents didn't need to be involved in this decision/purchase. He didn't start off the post by saying he just financed a brand new boat with a part time job bagging groceries. He bought a 22 year old boat, that probably didn't set him back any more than a brand new 14ft jon boat with a 9.9hp motor. He will probably learn several things working on this, and in the end will have allot more to show for him self then your typical 19 year old leach, that lives in their parents basement playing video games all day.

Kudos to you tyler.
I hope you get it fixed up just the way you want it, and have a fun (while being safe) time with it.

ditto ditto ditto

 

[lakegeorge]

Re: Please Help Me Make My Boat Look Cool: "Star Wars" Gauges

BYE BYE Steve, don't let the door hit you in the *** on the way out. Your reply was way off base.

 

[oops!]

Re: Please Help Me Make My Boat Look Cool: "Star Wars" Gauges

well......now that we have that all sorted out.

Hi everyone,

I am nineteen years old and I just bought a 1990 Bayliner Cobra in superb condition. It is black/red/silver with a 150 force outboard. I honestly think I have the coolest looking boat ever made. The gauge bezels in the dash are square, but the gauges themselves are the conventional circles. I want the "star wars" gauges... I don't care if people think they are lame, I think they are really cool. I included two pics of two different styles of the "star wars" gauges. I would prefer having the green curvy ones as there is no blue on my boat at all (yes, I am anal about aesthetics). However, I am wondering if they even made any of the green "star wars" gauges for outboards. Every time I find a set on ebay or wherever, they are off of cuddys. I was told by a boat mechanic that these gauges will fit right into my dash but the tach needs to be off of an outboard in order to work. Does anyone know if the green curvy "star wars" gauges exist for outboards? Does anybody have a clean, working set for sale or trade (green curvy or blue grid)? Remember, the tach has to be able to connect to an outboard and oh yeah, the speedometer needs to be able to read at least 75, up to 80 mph since my boat is VERY fast. Thank you everyone for your time and willingness to help the next generation enjoy this spectacular pastime! Best regards to all of you,

~•~ Tyler J. BouffardView attachment 137375View attachment 137376

you really like the curvy ones ?
i was allways partial to the ones on the left.

the bayliners of that era really set the trend on style....the 90 capri is still copied today. they are really slick cool looking boats.

one thing to remember, it is easier to swap the entire panel, than just the gauges.
there should be a ton of those around, as they were a common boat.....and most are now in boat heaven, but lots of parts were removed before hand.

if you swap the entire panel...it will still bolt on the dash.....and you will be able to clean the whole thing before you install it

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Please Help Me Make My Boat Look Cool: "Star Wars" Gauges

View attachment 137420

Well, Tyler, I am in the middle in my opinion of this one: Your post does read a little immature to me but then again, I am 67 and you are 19. I was your age once. And I made all the young mistakes.

Your boat is very fast--yeah-- the 150 is a strong engine but you will never see 70 or 75. Depending on the hull, you may see 60 though.

Now, as far as the gauges: Yeah, it is your boat and you need to fix it as you want--if the star wars gauges please you, why not? After all, I am the one who always quotes Mr. Monk as my mentor.

However: my suggestion is that while you are looking for working gauges, you concentrate on making the hull sound then pretty. Work with logic, not emotions.

Inboard gauges use a different type signal than outboard tachs AND Force and Mercury require a special tachometer. You may be able to find them on Bayliners because the standard engine for almost any Bayliner outboard was a Force. There are a couple of boneyards over the Commodore Barry Bridge in Jersey and that distance is do-able for you.

Now, here is a 14 foot hull with a Force 125 and it tops out at 60. I did have a 90 on it and it topped at 55. I will eventually do more mods to try for 65. Yes, it IS fast, but I have seen a lot of faster boats blow by me. You will note that while it looks ratty, it is structurally sound. The cool paint job will come after final modifications.