You could have a new panel built to your design by Front Panel Express. Go
to their web site and download the free design software. You can specify
instrument holes, mounting holes, corner radius, engraving, material,
thickness, color, etc. The program will then price it for you, let you place
the order with their Seattle plant, and even tell you the shipping date.
Works great. http://www.frontpanelexpress.com/

Rusty O

I use Front Panes Express for most all my custom panels (water maker,
fuel managenent, remote light control, etc) but not those exposed to the
elements. Their panels are anodized 6061 which will not stand up well
to salt water as well as 5000 series alloys.

Rusty O wrote:
You could have a new panel built to your design by Front Panel Express. Go
to their web site and download the free design software. You can specify
instrument holes, mounting holes, corner radius, engraving, material,
thickness, color, etc. The program will then price it for you, let you place
the order with their Seattle plant, and even tell you the shipping date.
Works great. http://www.frontpanelexpress.com/

Rusty O



--
Glenn Ashmore

I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack
there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com
Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com

How about powdercoated aluminum? Most sign companies now have CNC routers and
can even put lines, words and graphics on it after the powdercoating.

Since I'm in curmudgeon mode tinght, and it's too frikkin' humid to do much
else (or is that WHY I'm in curmudgeon mode?) I'll speak for the thousands of
rational people out there and ask the un-PC question:

Why not build it out of a nice wood, treat it properly with some
amber-transparent processed tree sap, and spend a couple of hours each year
keeping it looking that way, instead of spending days finding the "right"
plastic goop for it, and having it look like crup in a couple of years?

Steve "curmudgeon mode off...."

"Stephen Baker" writes:
Since I'm in curmudgeon mode tinght, and it's too frikkin' humid to do
much
else (or is that WHY I'm in curmudgeon mode?)

Sounds like a personal problem to me.

I'll speak for the thousands of
rational people out there and ask the un-PC question:

Why not build it out of a nice wood, treat it properly with some
amber-transparent processed tree sap, and spend a couple of hours each
year
keeping it looking that way, instead of spending days finding the "right"
plastic goop for it, and having it look like crup in a couple of years?

One thing about wood, from compost it comes and to compost it shall return,
applies.

Wood makes great furniture, but on a boat...........

There is a material known as Lamicoid, used by graphic panel manufacturers
supplying the electrical industry.

Does a great job and is very cost effective.

Personally, I like black and white laminated together.

Engrave the white side, exposing the black in the grooves of the letters.

Simple to maintain since the dirt finds it's way into the grooves, which are
black anyway.

BTW, Steve, as a curmudgeon, you are a babe in the woodsG.


--
Lew

S/A: Challenge, The Bullet Proof Boat, (Under Construction in the Southland)
Visit: http://home.earthlink.net/~lewhodgett for Pictures

Lew says:

Sounds like a personal problem to me.

Yeah, it was ;-) Incipient headache that has blossommed this morning into a
full-blown doozer. You have been warned...

Wood makes great furniture, but on a boat...........

Argh - tell that to Columbus, Drake, Raleigh, Magellan, you know the names of
the rest. ;-)

Engrave the white side, exposing the black in the grooves of the letters.

Simple to maintain since the dirt finds it's way into the grooves, which are
black anyway.

Barbarian.

BTW, Steve, as a curmudgeon, you are a babe in the woodsG.

Thanks - that's good to know. I don't want to upset too many folks just cos my
head hurts. I'm thinking of joining Nick's company right now. ;-

Steve.

But Steve,

if the Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria had all been made of Fiberglass, they
would all be on display in a museum to this very day. ;-)

--
Karin Conover-Lewis
Fair and Balanced since 1959
klc dot lewis at centurytel dot net


"Stephen Baker" wrote in message
...
Lew says:

Sounds like a personal problem to me.

Yeah, it was ;-) Incipient headache that has blossommed this morning into
a
full-blown doozer. You have been warned...

Wood makes great furniture, but on a boat...........

Argh - tell that to Columbus, Drake, Raleigh, Magellan, you know the names
of
the rest. ;-)

Engrave the white side, exposing the black in the grooves of the letters.

Simple to maintain since the dirt finds it's way into the grooves, which
are
black anyway.

Barbarian.

BTW, Steve, as a curmudgeon, you are a babe in the woodsG.

Thanks - that's good to know. I don't want to upset too many folks just
cos my
head hurts. I'm thinking of joining Nick's company right now. ;-

Steve.

"Glenn Ashmore" wrote in message
news:xWsLc.6390$Fj6.5379@lakeread07...
I use Front Panes Express for most all my custom panels (water maker,
fuel managenent, remote light control, etc) but not those exposed to the
elements. Their panels are anodized 6061 which will not stand up well
to salt water as well as 5000 series alloys.

While 6061 may not be as corrosion resistant as the 5000 series (and I'm not
sure if I agree with that), it is pretty much the standard alloy for all
extrusions used in aluminum boats (like channels, railings, pipes, etc.
etc.). Also, most sailboat masts are 6061. It's pretty good especially
when anodized.


--
Evan Gatehouse

you'll have to rewrite my email address to get to me
ceilydh AT 3web dot net
(fools the spammers)