There may be room for someone to market a custom dashboard template that would accept in-dash mounting of a nav system, with alternative placement of the tachs/speedo/Perfect Pass on non-connext boats. Maybe it would be cost-prohibitive though, not sure. I remember seeing pics of
@ptwb dashboard, or someone that did a custom job... it was pretty sweet.
I have pics on the old forum from years ago, but don't want to log into that site anymore. I think I was the first to remove the gauge insert, make a template out of it, move the gauges and install a large combo nav/sonar dead center. I know others followed in my footsteps with smaller screens. I will need to dig around to find the pics from back then.
I love the idea of blank for nav, but a part of me will side with Yamaha (and other manufacturers) as a lot of people (if not most) could be left with an ugly looking dash and a huge blank spot that they have no intentions of mounting their own nav into. I'd guess most of these boats don't have a nav added. There are many different types of navs in all shapes and sizes.
What I would like to see is Connext no longer standard. Basic electronic throttle control/engine syncing should be standard instead. In place of the Connext screen should be a switch panel with all the traditional switches and a stereo (or stereo remote). If somebody wants Connext, they remove that panel and replace it with the touch screen and plug in an upgraded computer.
I've stared at the dash for the 240s with Connecxt wondering what I would do. It seems my trick is still doable. It looks like another similar insert attached onto the main dash beneath that hood. It's different colors so I assume it's removable. I'd make a template out of it, leave off the rpm gauges, fit the Connext screen back where it belongs, and then just put the chartplotter mount bracket where the gauges were to hold the chartplotter screen out and up partially in front of the hood, as high as possible without blocking any view of the water. What to do with the rpm gauges.... if Connext shows everything they do include all warning lights or if the gauges do nothing but show rpms, then I would just mount the gauges behind the dash (or leave unplugged if not needed). Otherwise, whether the wires reached or I needed to make an extension, I would try to make a pod to hold the gauges to the lower right beneath the dash.
Instead of the blank for nav I would just ask Yamaha to make it a little easier with a few better spots to move things around so that people could replace that gauge/screen panel with whatever they want.
For future designs, I think it would be nice if the top of that hood over the gauges had a tray molded into it. I like to put my wallet, glasses, etc on my side of the boat.
