Can I cut through this??

[fearthisinc]

Ok.. So I am really wanting to add a wired remote to my factory system along with an ipod cable.. The Jensen radio that came with the boat is not the greatest but i think i may just upgrade speakers and add an amp but figure ill just keep the headunit.. but definately would like to add the wired remote so i can change stations, track, volume, etc from the driver seat.. i got the cutout size off the Jensen website but for the life of me found nowhere to put it.. it needs almost a 3 inch cutout to fit.. so i was circling the boat and found only one spot where it will be easily accessible and fit wihtout a problem.. but the only issue i have is the integrity of the overall boat and whatnot as i dont want to cause damage to anything.. i mean i have seen guys on here make cutouts for speakers and whatnot so i dont think it will be a problem.. but like i said i dont want to cut it out and then find out later that now if any pressure is put on that area it will just start cracking and ruin the boat and whatnot.. also didnt want to have problems with water leaking or anything.. well anyway.. the spot is the angled piece right in front of the throttle and foward/neutral/reverse levers... i put both levers all the way foward and look like it will have more then enough clearance where it wont hit the remote or anything.. and (depending on whats behind that) i should be able to run the cable from the remote and just feed it through the side and find a spot to come into the area behind the cluster.. i will see that once i unscrew the throttles baseplate and take a peek.. but main concern is finding out if i can cut through that safely.. here is a pic of the area im talking about..

X marks the spot...

 

[Dr Honda]

more or less... it's empty back there, but there are wires.

just pop out your controls, and make sure they are pulled away when you cut.

 

[fearthisinc]

thanks for the fast reply.. yea my main concern was the integrity of the fiberglass or whatever in that area.. i mean obviously if you cut a 3 inch diameter hole into anything its going to lose some integrity as far as strength goes but just wanted to make sure it wasnt going to be something that if someone leans on that spot that it will crack or start getting cracks spurring from that spot all the way down the side of the boat or something...

 

[RFoster130]

Yeah what he said. cutting that fiberglass wont hurt a thing. Once you cut it, you will see just how sturdy it really is. Pull those controls out and push them out of the way to make sure you dont cut anything by accident.

Should look good there. Just make sure that spot is totally flat. It looks kinda curved in the picture. Use painters tape to cover the entire area. When you first start cutting it might walk the drill around a little which marks up the gel coat. Use a hole saw and a corded drill. A cordless drill lacks the oooomph. A good drill will cut it like butter. Take pics when you are done.

 

[fearthisinc]

thanks for the input.. just gotta get all final dimensions to triple check that everythign will fit and not get in the way.. that piece does curve a little but as long as you center it, it should fit like cake... but we will see... definately will update with pics as i install stuff.. i was actually admiring some pics in older posts with your lighting and everything.. would love to do all that but truth is I highly doubt this boat will ever see night use... so kind of a waste for me.. but it looks killer... as posted in my toher thread i am thinking of adding a vhf radio and a horn to the boat...just have to see if i can find all the right parts and see what these are like to work on... will keep it posted..

 

[RFoster130]

I dont use mine much at night either. It just looks cool for those rare occassions and only cost me $40.

 

[fearthisinc]

Where did you get the lights again?? maybe ill check and see if htye have any yellow lights..

 

[RFoster130]

oznium.com They are also on ebay. they have like 12 colors.

 

[fearthisinc]

thanks for the info...

Back to the topic of cutting through this... I just went down by the boat and started looking it over.. i found that I can actually gain access to that angled piece from the console area.. so i reached through and didnt feel any wires or anythign like that behind that piece which was good news.. bad news is that i cant remove the baseplate for the throttle lever... i mean i take the plate off but then it has another piece that looks like it wont come off as easy.. i will have to see if its something more simple but i was actually concerned on the thickness of the fiberglass.. basically the remote will slide through the mounting surface and you just screw the backing on to make it tight.. but i have no idea how thick this piece is.. I mean once i cut it thats it.. anyone know how thick this piece might be.. i mean just from touching it felt like it was going to pretty thick if that makes any sense.. dont know what i would do if I cut the hole to only find that its too thick.. not sure what i could do with a 3 inch diameter hole lol.. hopefully ill have more time tomorrow to take a better look... but wiring looks like it might be easier then i originally thought...

 

[RFoster130]

I dont see why it wouldnt work. The fiberglass on my boat is like 1/2 inch to 3/4. I am guessing yours is similar. I dont see why it wouldnt work. I dont know how that actual remote works, but you should be able to adapt it somehow.

Also on the throttle control, once you life that plate up, there should be another set of screws that comes out then it all lifts out.

 

[fearthisinc]

yea.. i lifted the white plate off and then under was what looked like a black plate but everythign was connected.. so basically i just unscrew the black piece and it will all lift out? That would help a lot lol. especially in judging the thickness.. the remote unit only has like 1 or 1 1/4 inches behind it.. so if the fiberglass is 1inch thick then i only have a 1/4 inch to screw on to make tight.. but if its any thicker id be screwed lol.. well i would just have to find a way to make it work some how.. thanks again for the info...

 

[RFoster130]

I had to cut another hole in my boat today to add the wired remote on the swim deck. So i measured the thickness of the fiberglass. It is 7/16.