Switch and Gauge Panels redone - Maxum Boat Owners Club

jamanati · 03-10-2014, 01:36 AM

Been looking for an easy, inexpensive, and hopefully long lasting product that can add some new life to my old switch and gauge panels. I checked out some companies that do acrylic laser-cut panels, and although they would probably look awesome, just didn't want to spend that amount. Thought about redoing the panels in some type of marine wood, stain and seal them, but that would be a lot of work to build new panels.

I came across a 3M product called Di-Noc. Its a self-stick vinyl product, they claim 5-9 years for outside use. I saw some youtube videos where they actually put it on a car, so I thought what the heck, if it can stay on a car and deal with the UV rays, weather, etc, then it should be pretty much okay for my helm panels. A pretty wide arrangement of colors, patterns, and styles.

I bought a 15 inch by 60 inch sheet from metrostyling.com for all 4 panels (see pictures below), and also bought the can of primer to add extra stickiness. Took the panels out, tagged and labelled all the wires and switches so I would know what goes where when I put it all back together, brought the panels home. Cleaned them up, wiped them down with alcohol, wiped on the primer as per directions, and stuck on the vinyl. Trimmed it out with a sharp razor knife. I bought all new indicator lights from a local Sea Ray/Maxum dealer, and some new SS screws and finish washers. I think they came out pretty decent looking considering the Di-Noc vinyl cost about $50 and the primer another $20.

All I have to do is get a white-on-clear label maker and make some labels to show what the switches are for, I may place them on the rocker switches, or even on the panel.

mmwjr · 03-10-2014, 01:46 AM

Turned out very nice.

Would it be easier to do the labeling when it was apart?

jamanati · 03-10-2014, 01:58 AM

It all depends, if I can fit them on the switches themselves, then it could be done at any time. If its on the panel, probably easier to draw a straight line with some blue/green tape and place them on that tape. But if I come to that, I can simply pop the switches out now (since they have been cleaned) easily and do them there right on the helm. Thanks!

dbriceno · 03-11-2014, 07:11 PM

Look into replacing the Rocker Switch Actuators http://www.searay-parts.com/Switch-s/34.htm

They have many designated with labels/icons for there use

njones · 03-11-2014, 09:52 PM

That turned out great. Excellent job.

However, I believe the website URL you purchased from is http://www.metrorestyling.com/

Diggin2day · 03-15-2014, 03:34 PM

Check out ebay... You can buy illuminated rocker switches with the labels on them. I wish I had seen these switches before I spent $75 to have my newly powder coated switch panel laser engraved.

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Diggin2day · 03-15-2014, 03:52 PM

Oh, sorry.... Your panels look amazing! And for $70 holy cow! I had to sand off the old wood grain Finnish and wound up spending $150 to have them powder coated and another $75 for engraving of the switch names... I'll post a separate thread later with pictures.

jamanati · 03-17-2014, 02:12 AM

I considered new illuminated rocker switches, they would definitely look nice, but the panel already has the round light holes in them, plus I *heard* the switches aren't all the same size and if they weren't exactly the same size as the cutouts in the panel, I would have to fabricate something.

Yes, the site is http://www.metrostyling.com

Thanks everyone.