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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Round Instruments

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juswalk
1st Mate

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USA
34 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/24/2013 : 07:00:42

The previous owner of my 1986 Catalina 25 removed the old round instruments and the covered the exterior holes with starboard or something of the like. This still leaves two huge holes above the galley and the exterior patch is not all that attractive.

I can cover the interior holes with something but would like to replace the round instruments. Any ideas where I can find these with the transducers? And, is it worth it?

I currently use my iPad with chartplotting software for navigation and a Hummingbird GPS/fishfinder for speed and depth. Not a huge fan of the latter but it works.

Thanks!

Hull#5484 1986 Catalina 25 TR/FK "Lorelei" NAS Pensacola

Edited by - on

dreddick
Navigator

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117 Posts

Response Posted - 04/24/2013 : 07:06:23

Check out Moor Electronics. They may be about the only company still making round instruments.

Edited by - on

awetmore
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1144 Posts

Response Posted - 04/24/2013 : 08:53:45

Most square instruments made today still fit into round mounting holes.

There are some inexpensive depth finders that fit round holes, like this model:
http://store.humminbird.com/products/410035/HDR_650

I don't like mounting instruments on the cockpit wall for that very reason. On my Catalina 25 I mounted the fish finder and GPS to the teak "eyebrow" since that is easy to replace.

Edited by - on

Derek Crawford
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3321 Posts

Response Posted - 04/24/2013 : 09:20:03

Signet Marine also makes round ones.

Edited by - on

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4304 Posts

Response Posted - 04/24/2013 : 16:28:56

You could just replace the round holes with this [url="http://www.lewmar.com/product-listing.asp?action=search&type=57"]Portlight[/url]

There used to be a C27 in the slip next to me that had one of these on each side where the instruments used to be.

Edited by - GaryB on 04/24/2013 16:36:09

juswalk
1st Mate

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USA
34 Posts

Response Posted - 04/24/2013 : 17:45:10

Thanks for the advice, and interesting idea with the portlight! More ventilation is always great!

Who manufacured the original Catalina instruments (circa 1986)? I ask because I have a line on a set of Moore instruments that should fit perfectly. My only concern is that the thru hulls will be a different size because they are original or replacements but different than original. How common are thru hull sizes?

Thanks again!

Edited by - on

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3466 Posts

Response Posted - 04/24/2013 : 17:51:40

I mounted a fishfinder with a Ram Swing mount. Starboard circle covers the outside of the hole but I put the bolt circle within the existing hole held by another piece of Starboard against the bulkhead cabin-side. That Starboard piece serves to bolt up with the bolts holding the outside circle by basically a tight friction mount and the Starboard also serves to mount the Ram Swing Arm from inside the cabin. The Starboard on the inside cannot possibly move since it is also flush with the companionway fiberglas edge and again it's held with the bolts clamped tight from within the existing hole circle, so no addl holes were necessary to be drilled.
More photos are on my website along with details of the install.

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awetmore
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1144 Posts

Response Posted - 04/24/2013 : 21:56:10

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by juswalk
 Who manufacured the original Catalina instruments (circa 1986)?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I think they were all dealer installed or aftermarket. My 1984 Catalina 25 came with almost every feature (I have the original invoice with checkboxes (filled or blank)) and no instrumentation. The only hole in the companionway bulkhead is for the compass.

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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5377 Posts

Response Posted - 04/28/2013 : 07:53:19

I took the guts out of the depthfinder and replaced it with a smaller round depth display that fits behind the glass right inside the old unit. I haven't replaced the speed indicator (looks like crap but it still works). Not sure what I'd replace it with except an extension speaker for the VHF. I'd want a 4.5" round weatherproof unit. Any suggestions?

Edited by - on

juswalk
1st Mate

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USA
34 Posts

Response Posted - 04/28/2013 : 17:18:47

Good idea on the speaker

Edited by - on

bigelowp
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1776 Posts

Response Posted - 05/01/2013 : 18:37:46

I went to a plastics fabricator and had a plate covering my old round instrument openings then mounted current Raymarine on the plate. It looks fine. The new instruments utilize the old openings for wiring but look custom installed. You don't have to stay with round!

Edited by - on

Arlington
Navigator

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USA
196 Posts

Response Posted - 05/02/2013 : 10:00:42

Benjamin my 89 came with Data Marine (DM) Depth and Speed Instruments. I changed a broken DM Depth to a Standard Horizon (SH) model. They are all round, and the SH fit in the same hole. The original DM transducer is compatible with the Standard Horizon. Just check the kHz frequencies and they should be similar, figuring that they operate with a deviation of + or - 5%. My original DM transducer cable simply plugged in the back of the replacement SH. The original instruments are still around, and their are places that repair them. You can also pull up the original manuals online. Just Goggle DM or SH.

All that being said you can get a new Lowrance combo Chartplotter/Depthfinder aka GPS with fishfinder or sonar with the transducer for about $380 now. It is newer technology and provides a lot more information than the original instruments.
http://lr.factoryoutletstore.com/cat/35371/Lowrance-Elite-5-Series-Fishfinders.html?cid=82161&chid=1&gclid=CLO_4abl97YCFYPd4AodLxQAmw

I kept the original instruments, and installed a Lowrance Elite-5 DSI Gold. 'Gold' means it includes Navionics coastal charts on an SD Card. I mounted the included transducer embedded in wax, inside the hull so no holes to drill or fill, I can compare the readings, plus now I have a Chartplotter and GPS and it works just fine.
Doug

Edited by - on

awetmore
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1144 Posts

Response Posted - 05/02/2013 : 12:18:15

I was able to use a 20+ year old 200khz sonar transducer with my 2013 Raymarine MFD. In general they interoperate just fine if you can figure out the wiring and make an adapter.

Edited by - on

Stu Jackson C34
Admiral

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844 Posts

Response Posted - 05/02/2013 : 20:55:09

Datamarine stuff is still supported and they sell new stuff, too. www.dmimarine.com

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CarbonSink62
Navigator

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USA
208 Posts

Response Posted - 05/06/2013 : 08:48:12

Does anyone know of a place that sells round disks of teak or starboard to blank off equipment openings? My old compass left a 5 3/8" hole that the new one can pass completely through.

With my punch list getting longer and not shorter, I'm considering just buying a larger compass. The work involved in making a decent looking round plate and then installing & waterproofing that just so I can be at 'ground zero' for making the new hole for the new compass...

My google searches are coming up empty.

Ken

Edited by - on

awetmore
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1144 Posts

Response Posted - 05/06/2013 : 09:18:14

Seateak sells round pieces of teak, they are sold as winch pads.

I've made my own round pieces of Starboard using a router with a circle cutting jig. It doesn't leave the smoothest cut though, so I cut it slightly oversized and cleaned it up on the lathe.

Edited by - on

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.