1. Use the full 4 digit year for everything you are asking your question about. Example: 1962, 1988, 2000, 2011
2. Include the correct name of your Whaler model. Example: Montauk 17, Montauk 170, Outrage 26, Outrage 260
3. Include the length when necessary. Example: 16, 17, 18, 20, 22
4. Do not post your email address anywhere on this site as it is already in your user profile.

helm area black matting or decal replacement?
lowelife	#1  Posted on 02/13/14 - 7:14 AM
Member Personal Page Posts: 37 Comments: 0 Joined: 01/06/13	Greetings all, Been working on my 1986 18 Outrage. Getting ready to repower with a 150 ETEC or 140 Suzuki. I’m also replacing the twin cable steering system with a Sea Star hydraulic system. While I have the boat de-rigged, I’d like to improve the appearance of the black matting or decal around the steering wheel-the area between the port and starboard gauge panels. I’d be interested in information about what the options are. Has anyone removed this and replaced with something? Painted it? Thanks in advance for your comments or suggestions. Mike 1986 Outrage 18', 2014 Suzuki DF140A
Phil T	#2  Posted on 02/13/14 - 7:26 AM
Administrator Personal Page Personal Album Project Albums Posts: 6991 Comments: 6 Joined: 03/26/05	If you do a search, you will find that owners have done many different installations: wood, starboard, aluminum or gone back to gelcoat. The OEM material was called Tac-mat and is no longer available. Here is one of many threads that discusses options: http://www.whalercentral.com/forum/vi...post_64086 I would visit a sign shop that uses vinyl. For the gauge panels, you can replace them with OEM blanks. They are available through the parts department at a Whaler dealer. Twin Cities Marine (WI) is a great place to source them. Contact Sue Lodel.
aeriksen	#3  Posted on 02/13/14 - 7:36 AM
Member Posts: 242 Comments: 0 Joined: 07/24/12	I replaced the black matt with a piece of Teak plywood edged with Teak stock to hide the laminate edge of the plywood. I also did the top of the consul where the compass is and again edged it with teak stock. Very classy looking and get lots of compliments. I found the plywood on Craig's List. But it can be found pretty easy and its not as expensive as you would think.
Tom W Clark	#4  Posted on 02/13/14 - 7:37 AM
Member Personal Page Posts: 4280 Comments: 7 Joined: 09/30/05	Most sign vinyl has no texture like the original Mat-Tac, but I found a black vinyl that has a sort of leather-like texture it is very similar, there there is a slight sheen to it. I may have enough left over for a standard console...
Tom W Clark	#5  Posted on 02/13/14 - 7:41 AM
Member Personal Page Posts: 4280 Comments: 7 Joined: 09/30/05	I have also restored the original Mat-Tac by *very carefully* peeling it off with a heat gun and then sticking it to a piece of waxed paper, smoothing it flat and cleaning and applying some 303 Aerospace Protectant. After restoring the console shell I re-adhered the Mat-Tac with some 3M 30NF contact cement I had, and which is considerably stronger than the original adhesive on the Mat-Tac. That console, on a 1988 Montauk, is still going strong five years later.
huckelberry145	#6  Posted on 02/13/14 - 8:34 AM
Member Posts: 401 Comments: 3 Joined: 03/10/12	I just applied Seadek to my console helm. Personally I think it is great for this application because I could tighten the mounts for the compass and depth finder and it didn't mush down under the base. The only thing is I would order a template and have them cut it if you want beveled and rounded edges. If i had it to do all over again, I would use the roll on truck bedliner I had there before. It rolled on with a nice looking texture and had an almost semigloss finish to it.
Finnegan	#7  Posted on 02/13/14 - 12:48 PM
Member Posts: 1926 Comments: 16 Joined: 05/02/08	I used black carbon fiber adhesive vinyl on mine, and it is very tough and durable, and looks great. I've had many compliments on it from other Whaler owners. I just helped someone install it on the vertical center panel of a 1988 console, the application you are talking about. Looked good, and plan to do it on my Outrage 25 also. http://smg.photobucket.com/user/lgolt...5727442702
huckelberry145	#8  Posted on 02/13/14 - 2:00 PM
Member Posts: 401 Comments: 3 Joined: 03/10/12	That's the stuff I tried to buy last year and they were out and didn't know when a new shipment was going to come in. Good looking job on the console Larry.