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 Captain's View Shown above is a console that is not symmetrical, meaning it's shaped quite differently on the port and starboard sides. The port side is angled in at about 3° with a windshield hand rail attached. The starboard side has the same 3° inward angle, the same windshield hand rail, but is inset several inches for rod holders. Using different lengths of SMITH clamp-on standoffs this console was easy to fit.  Port Side View On port we chose two mid length clamp-on standoffs. They provide enough length to offset the upright beyond the windshield rail while creating an attractive inward lean of about 3°. We could have placed the standoffs anywhere on the vertical tubes or on the crossbar. The locations we chose, on the mid bar and on the rear leg tube, are as high as possible and they are thru bolted to stiff spots on the console.  Tighter view of port side standoffs  Starboard Side View On starboard we used longer clamp-on standoffs than we used on port to hold the upright out beyond the rod holder inset while creating the same inward lean as we have on portside. The windshield rail is well inside the rod holder inset and is not a factor in choosing standoff lengths. The upright feet on port and starboard have been positioned as close to the console as possible to maximize walking space beside the console while matching the inward lean on the port and starboard side.  Tighter view of Starboard side standoffs  Front V-brace casting mounted through the extra long windshield. The front V-Brace finishes the SMITH bracing system. This particular console is different from most in that the windshield overlaps way down over the console covering the best place to mount the V-brace casting. No problem. We simply traced the casting onto the windshield and used a Dremel tool to fashion a matching hole. The V-brace casting fits neatly thru the hole and mounts solidly onto the face of the console. To finish the install we bolt the canopy on the uprights, add the SMITH rod holders and you are set to go. Elapsed time for this installation with two handy men working, from opening the cartons to whipping down fingerprints, 4 hours. |