2000 SAN - Throttle pad area

[Chexi]

Can anyone with this model tell me how to take off the big gray throttle pad / combing pad on a 2000? I'm talking about the whole plastic unit that has the 1 speaker, the ballast gauges, the radio, etc. I think I found all the screws, but it appears to also be adhered on. Is this normal, or did I just get lucky with a prior owner who felt the need to glue this thing down? Maybe it's good to seal it from water infiltration, but I need to get back there for installing some stuff. If the adhesive is normal, is there a good product to remove it? NAPTHA maybe?

I want to add my ballast switches (3x), change the head unit, and put 1 or 2 amps behind there if possible. I fought with it today just to get the closest gauge out (which was a remote for a crappy head unit) and installing a depth gauge in its place.

[DanielC]

I cannot tell you exactly how to get it apart, but realize this. Somebody did put it together, somebody at the factory in 1999 got this thing put together. They may have had small hands, or maybe this area of then boat was put together before the drivers seat was in place, to get better access, but somebody did put it together. What a man can assemble, a man can take apart.

Take some pictures, maybe it will help us give you some hints on getting it apart.

[Chexi]

Haha, yes I'm sure I can get it apart... it's getting it apart without destroying it that is the trick. I'll take some pics next weekend. I will have to take the seat out when it comes time to do all the work.

So far, I have found 1 screw near the speaker that screws into an aluminum bar, 2 smaller screws that screw into the fiberglass (under the dash pod), and 1 screw at the bottom where there is a "pocket" of sorts. All the edges seem loose, but the top part that is in contact with the gunnel is tight and looks like it's glued in place.

[jimmyj]

chexi,

youll have to take the throttle off obviously. then, im not sure if you mentioned it, i couldnt tell, but there is a couple bolts holding the top part to the gunnel as well, similar to the way the upholstery panels are held on, but bolts are vertical if that make sense. it took me a while to find them on mine when i had it torn apart, but they are there, you should see the nuts in there somewhere. matter of fact, as i write this, i wanna say one or more of mine where almost recessed up in there........

none the less, there should be two if i remember right. right around the throttle area. mine were hard to see/get to because of the head unit. it should not be glued. you are just overlooking a few bolts i think.

[Chexi]

Cool thank you. That makes a lot more sense. Maybe these bolts don't run all the way through the gray plastic (just like the combing pad bolts), which is why I did not see them.

[cdrymalla]

As jimmyj stated, there are several vertical screws pointing down - I want to say I had about 4 on my 200 air dd. The one thing I also had trouble with was the cup holder. It was stuck down into a hole in the fiberglass pretty well and I had to kind of pull that up and over. Also, I think there is a scew under the dash panel, one under the rear combing pad, and one or two into the floor on my dd - but it sounds like you may have already found those.

[DanielC]

Now I remember a little more. look for 1/4 nuts, (uses a 7/16 wrench) that screw on to studs that are in the panel, that got through holes in the fiberglass of the deck. There may be some fender washers on the studs, also.

[cdrymalla]

Here is a fuzzy iphone pic of the backside of the panel from my 200 AN DD. You can see the 4 studs. Also, I meant to say vertical studs/bolts (not screws) in the post above. In any event, I hope this helps.

[jhiestand]

I just did this on Saturday to my 2001 SAN. There were at least three vertical 7/16" bolts along the topside (underside of gunnels). There were a couple screws under the dash pod (one was on the top, one on the side) and I had to move the dash pod to get to them. Along the bottom i think there were a couple screws and there was one screw hidden at the rear under the shorter coaming pad. Other than the connection to the brace underneath the instrument pod, I think that was pretty much it. I pulled my driver cupholder out and then was able to see the vertical bolts much more clearly.

[Chexi]

Thanks all.