Safety boat kill switch

   Wasn't sure where to post this, but this seemed the most appropriate place!
Our sailing club safety boats are RIBs fitted with 30HP Mercury electric start outboards. As we're a beach club, the boats (and crew) get a soaking in rough conditions. We continue to suffer from problems with the kill switches on the remote consoles. Typically, the kill cord is pulled, either accidentally or to check it, and the engine then refuses to fire. It may, or may not, come back after liberal use of WD40 and exercising the switch several times. The effect is that there's a tendency to not wear the cord as getting the engine to restart if it's pulled can be so difficult - the safety device turns into a liability!

Has anyone else come across the problem and specifically can anyone suggest any suitable solutions? 

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Bender Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Newbie Joined: 06 Dec 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 27	Post Options Post Reply Quote Bender Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Safety boat kill switch Posted: 10 Sep 12 at 9:23pm
	Wasn't sure where to post this, but this seemed the most appropriate place! Our sailing club safety boats are RIBs fitted with 30HP Mercury electric start outboards. As we're a beach club, the boats (and crew) get a soaking in rough conditions. We continue to suffer from problems with the kill switches on the remote consoles. Typically, the kill cord is pulled, either accidentally or to check it, and the engine then refuses to fire. It may, or may not, come back after liberal use of WD40 and exercising the switch several times. The effect is that there's a tendency to not wear the cord as getting the engine to restart if it's pulled can be so difficult - the safety device turns into a liability! Has anyone else come across the problem and specifically can anyone suggest any suitable solutions?
	Jerry Hone RS Aero 7 - 2965

Lukepiewalker Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 24 May 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 1341	Post Options Post Reply Quote Lukepiewalker Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 11 Sep 12 at 8:34am
	Are they the plungery ones or the switchy ones (if that makes sense...) Although not an in depth search I found replacement kill switches online for £20. How often are they replaced?
	Ex-Finn GBR533 "Pie Hard" Ex-National 12 3253 "Seawitch" Ex-National 12 2961 "Curved Air" Ex-Mirror 59096 "Voodoo Chile"

Bender Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Newbie Joined: 06 Dec 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 27	Post Options Post Reply Quote Bender Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 11 Sep 12 at 8:54am
	Switchy one - built into the bottom edge of the remote console. We had one replaced on one boat only a couple of weeks ago, and the other boat was distinctly iffy at the weekend! I guess we're looking at 1+ per season per boat or so, but that's finger in the air guesswork! That might be OK as a winter maintenance job, but if we have a problem mid season, it leaves our safety cover exposed! As it's on the remote which is painful to get at, it's not just the switch cost - it's also the labour cost for our engine man to do it, and apparently every time the remote is dismantled, the neutral switch gets stuffed as well!
	Jerry Hone RS Aero 7 - 2965

Lukepiewalker Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 24 May 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 1341	Post Options Post Reply Quote Lukepiewalker Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 11 Sep 12 at 10:32am
	If it causes that much hassle to replace, I would be looking at a standalone one mounted separately, but as i'm only making this up as I go along I could be talking utter mince. I was just wondering if the plungery ones might be more robust, but I have no actual knowledge on the relative merits. If you could switch to an easier to replace separate one then at least you could just put new ones in on a regular basis. Of course, all that requires somewhere to actually mount another switch...
	Ex-Finn GBR533 "Pie Hard" Ex-National 12 3253 "Seawitch" Ex-National 12 2961 "Curved Air" Ex-Mirror 59096 "Voodoo Chile"

Bender Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Newbie Joined: 06 Dec 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 27	Post Options Post Reply Quote Bender Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 11 Sep 12 at 11:15am
	It's definitely worth investigating...thanks for the input.
	Jerry Hone RS Aero 7 - 2965

Mister Nick Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 01 Aug 09 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 389	Post Options Post Reply Quote Mister Nick Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 11 Sep 12 at 5:06pm
	If you're having to replace them that often I'd just have them all changed over to the red button type ones. Most modern powerboats seem to use that type nowadays and they seem a lot less prone to failure. I'm guessing that's because they're totally sealed in, no exposed parts to corrode.

Buzz Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Posting king Joined: 14 Jun 04 Online Status: Offline Posts: 101	Post Options Post Reply Quote Buzz Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 11 Sep 12 at 5:31pm
	The kill switches on our safety boats are all of the plunger type located beneath the ignition key. We sail on the sea and have never had any problems with the engines not starting after the kill switch has been activated.

radixon Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 27 Oct 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 2407	Post Options Post Reply Quote radixon Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 11 Sep 12 at 6:51pm
	Have you spoken to Mercury? I am surprised you are having issues, engines are set up for wet stuff

G.R.F. Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 10 Aug 08 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 4028	Post Options Post Reply Quote G.R.F. Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 11 Sep 12 at 7:53pm
	Kill Switches are the work of Satan and should be permanently attached, only ever attach complete and total muppets to them if they end up on duty and will likely chuck themselves over the side. Engines and Dinghy sailors have never mixed... PS, Nice avatar and ID, very apt in this place.. Edited by G.R.F. - 11 Sep 12 at 7:56pm
	https://www.ease-distribution.com/