Instrument Consul Mark 2

Learning from modifications already made and tried, the previous instrument consul which worked pretty well had room for improvement. The main items to be addressed included

1. The main sheets could (and did) become snagged on the top corners when going about - especially if the sale had been let out.
2. The angle that the radio was installed at meant that the display was impossible to see in sunlight
3. There was no capacity to install further instrumentation

Mark 1 Consul - cart plotter exposed to passing main sheets!

The solution was to discard the original consul and build a mark 2!

The new consul was again constructed from 18 mm Iroko which was treated in oil to give a weather resistant finish. The new layout apart from accommodating the VHF, chart plotter, compass and switch panel also houses the displays for a NASA log (connected to the chart plotter) and NASA wind instruments - connected to the masthead units

Consul being mocked up prior to fitting electronics

I installed two grade 316 stainless steel frames over the top of the consul to prevent the main sheets catching on the instruments. the frames were bent from stock lengths of 25 mm tube. They are held at the bottom by being sunk into recesses in the fixed floor boards and at the top of the consul by stainless steel bolts. This makes them pretty robust.

Completed Consul

The cup holders and holder for the hand bearing compass have been refitted to the sides of it.