www.iFourWinns.com

I have a 2004 Sundowner 235 and the VDO instrument panel has gone out...pretty sad for a boat that is 5 years old and only used 3 Michigan summers (which are shorter than a 2yr. olds attention span). Anyway, I am being told by the dealer that a replacement instrument panel with independant gauges and installation labor will run me just under $1,000!!!

Does anyone have any experience or suggestions in replacing this? Are they difficult to replace so I can save the labor? Where is the least expensive place to purchase the replacement panel. Thanks.

I looked up the last 3 posts with this question, getting lazy these days. Try a search, there was a thread about two weeks ago asking the same question. You CAN replace the cluster for less than $1,000.

_________________
One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

Physically changing the instrument panel is relatively easy; remove the old one and replace with the new one, the new one has the same multipin plug as the old one, if it is sourced from FW. The olny thing extra you might need to do is;
Select the correct switch position on the tachometer ( 6 or 8 cylinder engine)
Select the correct switch on the speedometer, to match it to the paddlewheel on the transom.

There are quite a few threads on this subject on this website. There are different types of panel, depending on the boat model/ year.

Incidentally, they only built the 235 for 2000 and 2001. In 2002 the 225/ 245 came along, which already had the individual Faria gauges instead of the VDO cluster.

Graham

If I remember correctly I paid less than $600 for the part and it took less than 15 minutes to install. Basically one single plug and 4 or 5 screws. I would think all dealers would be around the same price.