Cracked Steering Console
 

Hi guys,

My steering console has a crack in it. It was like this when I bought the boat. It doesn't affect the steering or performance of the boat, but it is something I would like to repair.

Has anyone experienced or seen this? Does anyone have any tips as how to repair this?

My plan was to buy an epoxy mix and patch it back together. I am assuming someone pulled way to hard on the steering column at some point.

Danny

Re: Cracked Steering Console
 

I have the same exact console crack. Like you I have never attempted to correct because wanted to make it look like it was never there (not easy). I have owned my boat since 1996 and if there is one gripe I have always had is with the thin and cheap plastics used in the dash. Why not have used at least the types of plastics found in automotive dashes? Better yet why did Mariah not just continue the nice fiberglass side walls all the way to include the dash as one unit. Sorry for the criticism but it has always surprised me how it was constructed. I believe this would be hard to fix due to the fact that this is a stress fracture and that any attempt to fill in will probably just crack again:(

Re: Cracked Steering Console
 

Hi Mariah 350,

So you think this is a stress crack from the boat itself, or from someone pulling on the steering wheel? My walk through windshield needs a little coaxing to get closed as well. I need to spread the windshield a little bit. There seems to be some misalignment there. Other than that the boat seems solid. I'm just not getting that solid feeling driving the boat like you would in a Lexus. Do you know what I mean? It seems flimsy.

Danny

Re: Cracked Steering Console
 

Your best bet is to take it to a fiberglass repair shop and see what they can do. They'll know how to repair it properly, so it doesn't lose any structural integrity, and it'll last longer.

I don't think epoxy would be a good remedy, even though it seems like an easy fix.

Re: Cracked Steering Console
 

Yes, the crack is from stress in that particular spot not from turning of the wheel. I also had the same issue with the walk through windshield. Sometimes after hitting a good wave or wake the boat would flex and the walk through windshield would fall in and I would have to separate the the port and starboard consoles enough to pull the windshield up and back into place.:confused: I fixed the problem by riviting a strip of aluminum to the end of the walkthrough windshield so that it had a little more overlap over the main starboard windshield to prevent the collapsing. I am sorry to have to criticize my boat this way but It should have been discovered at the factory. There are several other issues I had to fix over the past 15 years of ownership but all in all I love my Mariah. :wink_thumbup:

This crack is not a fiberglass repair. The dash is constructed of plastic and a type of thin vinyl overlay on top. I am still contemplating on how to fix this issue.

Take Care