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Thread: Recommended materials size for fabricating side console

  1. #1

    Recommended materials size for fabricating side console

    Hi all,

    I am keen to TIG up a side console for my 4.5 Bluefin. I want to keep it narrow and light but strong enough for some rough bay conditions. I will make it so I can stand and sit at the helm.

    I was thinking a basic frame made from a combination of angle alloy, sheet alloy and tube alloy (tube especially for the fold down windscreen frame).

    Can anyone who has a side console or has been involved with building this type of thing give me some ideas for design but also wall thickness of the tube (I was thinking 20mm x 3mm) and for the angle alloy and sheet alloy and also the best way to frame it up. I don't have a guillotine but have jigsaw, cut off saw etc. I can also procure a pipe bender or weld up to suit.

    Cheers!!!
    Boat: Seafarer Vagabond
    Live: Great South East....love Moreton Bay fishing

  2. #2

    Re: Recommended materials size for fabricating side console

    I have a sheet of 3 mm alloy checker plate that would be ideal that I don’t want it’s about 1500 x 1200 . I have plenty of pics of the one I had in my predator it was screw direct to the floor front and side and a bolt into the turn down on the gunnel ,it was always stable and never came loose in 14 yrs.
    send me a pm and I will send you my number if you want it at a small cost . Matt
    A bad days fishing has got to be better than any day at work......


  3. #3

    Recommended materials size for fabricating side console



    A20 mm rail would be ideal up where my Perspex screen was and then you could screw a flat bit of Perspex on it for a bit of protection from the elements, the standard setup was great and I used to drive sitting and standing and using like a center console in crap conditions. Matt
    I live in Carseldine
    A bad days fishing has got to be better than any day at work......


  4. #4

    Re: Recommended materials size for fabricating side console

    If you are using the tube for hanging on I would go to 32 mm as much easier to hang onto especially for any length of time.

  5. #5

    Re: Recommended materials size for fabricating side console

    Many thanks Gents. Matt I will PM you.

    Cheers
    Boat: Seafarer Vagabond
    Live: Great South East....love Moreton Bay fishing

  6. #6

    Re: Recommended materials size for fabricating side console

    Pm sent . Matt
    A bad days fishing has got to be better than any day at work......


  7. #7

    Re: Recommended materials size for fabricating side console

    If your going to build one anything over 1.six mm alloy is good i built a 1.six mm bait tank once finished it was incredibly strong but my o my is it hard to weld that thin stuff u really need a variable foot peddle for the tig mine are just pre set that is why i tig 4mm so i dont blow holes or make it look shit also can mig 4mm too even mig 3mm but try mig 1.six big mess

    build a home made sheet metal bender there are videos on youtube how to build one from angle iron and two round hinges i bought like six meters of 10mm thick angle iron to make my fuel tanks for when my big boat is finished, i'd show u my small 55cm bender but its buried out in the shed under all the Etec shit

    3 lengths of angle iron that wont flex, 2 round hinges, 10mins to recess the hinges weld her up and shes ready to bend 3 to 4mm thick aluminum sheet

    the one i have the 10mm angle iron for is to make a 1.3m wide sheet metal bender for a 1,2m tank the thicker the angle iron it wont bow in the middle when bending and give a nice radius

    this was the first guy on youtube to build one everyone else copied than uploaded there own videos


  8. #8

    Re: Recommended materials size for fabricating side console

    Thanks to Matt - Bluefin - I have a nice bit of alloy sheet to start bending and cutting. It will form the main section of the side console.

    Cheers

    Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk
    Boat: Seafarer Vagabond
    Live: Great South East....love Moreton Bay fishing

  9. #9

    Re: Recommended materials size for fabricating side console

    side consoles seem to be the flavour at the moment.

  10. #10

    Re: Recommended materials size for fabricating side console

    hey bluefin , on your rig that long storage area you have on the port side, do you counter balance the drivers weight with any weight inside, or you got some other trick .

  11. #11

    Re: Recommended materials size for fabricating side console

    I fabricated up the console and it's come up nicely. I had a 3mm bracket from the console to gunwale (harrow gunwale) and it allowed the console to flex just a little.bit (console also bracketed to top of side pocket and screwed to floor). So today grabbed a 6mm alloy plate offcut and did an outside joined joint and in business. Solid as a rock. I can push my weight against it hard and it doesn't even look like moving. So I will finish off electrics and then do engine wiring. New steering helm and cable in (Teleflex NFB helm and nice cable). Cheers

    Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk
    Boat: Seafarer Vagabond
    Live: Great South East....love Moreton Bay fishing

  12. #12

    Re: Recommended materials size for fabricating side console

    This is it

    Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk
    Boat: Seafarer Vagabond
    Live: Great South East....love Moreton Bay fishing

  13. #13

    Re: Recommended materials size for fabricating side console

    It is no longer a tiller steer. Used TFExtreme cables for the throttle and gear shift that allows 100mm radius bends (very smooth and good for small transom areas). Teleflex NFB helm with dog clutch- no torque steer and can leave steering in any position - like hydraulic but quick helm to helm.

    Some photos of finished helm tomorrow.

    All in all a lot of fun and seating and standing positions are good.

    No flex at all in side console.

    Cheers

    Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk
    Boat: Seafarer Vagabond
    Live: Great South East....love Moreton Bay fishing

  14. #14

    Re: Recommended materials size for fabricating side console

    Quote Originally Posted by catshark View Post
    hey bluefin , on your rig that long storage area you have on the port side, do you counter balance the drivers weight with any weight inside, or you got some other trick .
    The storage on the left is my rod locker ,it can take a 7 foot rod easily and would fit a 9 ft long rod if needed as it has a whole up at the bow to put the end in . I had 2 batteries in that boat that sat on that side as well under the floor in the transom area which counterbalance the boat nicely . Matt
    Sorry I just spotted this .
    A bad days fishing has got to be better than any day at work......


  15. #15

    Re: Recommended materials size for fabricating side console

    Quote Originally Posted by ozscott View Post
    It is no longer a tiller steer. Used TFExtreme cables for the throttle and gear shift that allows 100mm radius bends (very smooth and good for small transom areas). Teleflex NFB helm with dog clutch- no torque steer and can leave steering in any position - like hydraulic but quick helm to helm.

    Some photos of finished helm tomorrow.

    All in all a lot of fun and seating and standing positions are good.

    No flex at all in side console.

    Cheers

    Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk
    Turned out fruit mate ,I hope it makes your boat more useable . Matt
    A bad days fishing has got to be better than any day at work......


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