building a center console for my boat

[k9medic]

I have decided that I am entirely unhappy with the overall size of my console in my boat. I would love to have a larger one, that would have more room as well as a storage area that could possibly hold a porta potty.

I can't seem to find a used console for less than $800.00 so I'm going to attempt my own build.

I have some talent in the wood department, but not so much in the fiberglass area. I was thinking about building a console out of wood and wrapping it in fiberglass.

Thoughts?

[slickster]

Give the corners a generous radius so it's easier to wrap...

[c_mccann]

Build it out of 3/8" ply and glass it. I second the generous radiuses.

[allwhet]

Go for it ! ! I went thru the same when looking at hardtops.------Ended up building one 7 ft. wide X over 8 ft. long , two inches thick, hollow inside for wires, etc. With 1 1/4 stainless tubeing, it was less than 400 bucks for materials. I used plywood with glass over it and white gel coat over that. I Got ten years out of it and it was siill on the boat when i sold the boat 2 years ago. Also was a fun project. Go for it , Good luck.

[shoes]

That's how I built mine. I used 1/2" fir, glued a 1/2 ledger to the inner edges, then glued it all up with PL Urethane. Then I glassed the outside. Next time I'd use okume or meranti so the insides look better. The fir checks a lot.

[k9medic]

did you use gelcoat as well? It's going on a carolina skiff.

[shoes]

I didn't. Just 6oz glass, faired, sanded and painted like the rest of my plywood boat.

[Bly]

You can buy balsa or foam with a fiberglass coating on each side from a wholesale fiberglass boat supplier. I believe 4x8x1/2in thick was less than $200.00 . It will save a lot of work and weight.