I painted the inside of the console plexiglass!

[jergofish]

I don't keep my boat at home. Right now it's in the water at a marina and before that, at a dock in Mexico for a month and a half. I've been concerned all this time about the fact that, even with the console locked, my GPS/Sonar, VHF radio, and stereo can be seen through the smoked Plexiglas, as well as miscellaneous items such as binoculars, digital camera, etc.

I have a boat cover over the boat but all anyone would have to do is lift an edge and they could see all the goodies. The three units have so many cables attached that it would be a real pain to take them off every time I use the boat, especially since I use it four to five times a week.

Then, last night while falling asleep I had a brilliant idea. Why not paint the inside of the Plexiglas so people can't see in! This morning I went down to the boat to go fishing but before leaving the dock, unscrewed the Plexiglas, cleaned the back, taped it, and then sprayed it with gloss black enamel.

I put it in the locker and when I came back from fishing, bolted it back in place. Since the windshield has a similar black surround, the whole thing looks absolutely factory!

Now, when I lock the console, no one has a clue what's inside. While I don't wish ill will on anyone, hopefully the crooks will bypass my boat, not knowing what's there, in favor of some big fat cruiser with the stuff all visible and accessable through the soft top!

Actually, the number of thefts are almost non-existent with only one or two incidents a year with over two hundred boats and these are mostly fishing rods being taken. However, I can't see tempting fate.

[Putershark]

Great idea! Unless you want to have them covered while running in the rain So I was thinking about the idea of using some automotive mirror tint film as an option, wonder how that would work

[jergofish]

Rain? That's what the bimini is for! Actually two of the units are water resistant and I have a cover for the AM/FM/CD player.