Safety boat kill switch
Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: General
Forum Name: Repair & maintenance
Forum Discription: Questions & tips on the subject
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9806
Printed Date: 14 May 25 at 1:05pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Safety boat kill switch
Posted By: Bender
Subject: Safety boat kill switch
Date Posted: 10 Sep 12 at 9:23pm
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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 |
Replies:
Posted By: Lukepiewalker
Date Posted: 11 Sep 12 at 8:34am
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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" |
Posted By: Bender
Date Posted: 11 Sep 12 at 8:54am
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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 |
Posted By: Lukepiewalker
Date Posted: 11 Sep 12 at 10:32am
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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" |
Posted By: Bender
Date Posted: 11 Sep 12 at 11:15am
It's definitely worth investigating...thanks for the input. ------------- Jerry Hone RS Aero 7 - 2965 |
Posted By: Mister Nick
Date 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. |
Posted By: Buzz
Date 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. |
Posted By: radixon
Date Posted: 11 Sep 12 at 6:51pm
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Have you spoken to Mercury? I am surprised you are having issues, engines are set up for wet stuff ------------- |
Posted By: G.R.F.
Date Posted: 11 Sep 12 at 7:53pm
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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..
 ------------- https://www.ease-distribution.com/" rel="nofollow - https://www.ease-distribution.com/ |