Engine room (bilge) gauges? Gas engine

[Toolate]

Thinking about going with a digital dashboard setup because it would be slick as hell but I cant give up a set of analog gauges on the boat somewhere for when the electronics crap out.

Are they ignition safe for use in the bilge with my gas engine? Sounds like a bad idea to me but thought I would ask if anyone has ever done this.

 

[El Mar]

We had a 30 cris craft with twin 454's in it. Had guages and start/stop buttons under each motor hatch so you could fire the engines and warm them up while standing between them. Never was a problem.

 

[Keelboater]

I suppose you could always go old school mechanical gauges for oil pressure and water temp., even a mechanical tach if you have a tach drive distributor. Remember those? Ha ha. What happens when that fancy digital dash craps out? Does the motor shut off?

 

[Toolate]

Its basically plug and play off the engines wiring harness but I think the only think the engine needs is power from the key switch to keep going- same as with mech gauges. I am really not sure though so there is another question. good point b/c you know its going to shit the bed at some point.

Thought I would see about blowing myself up first. I really cant live without the gauges.

 

[Toolate]

I suppose you could always go old school mechanical gauges for oil pressure and water temp.

This is def what I am going to do! What is wrong with me? scary (dont answer that-we dont have that much time).

Thank you.