Clean out hatch safety switches

[Englewoodcowboy]

Has anyone here removed the switches on their boat? I have one giving me a fit. I've tightened them, tried lock tight and they still work free and come out of contact at the worst times. I'm just thinking about bypassing them and plugging the holes. Thoughts?

 

[jdonalds]

No. For me the safety factor is very important. I'd find a way to make them stop loosening.

 

[Mainah]

I agree with the safety piece but .... Lets say you sell the boat and the inexperienced buyer openes the clean put hatch while the eninges are running removes the plug and gets a face full of water.... I bet his next thought won't be let me stick my hand down there. Kids will do stupid things too but I don't think even a kid would stock his or her hand down there with the engines running given the noise and spray.

Edit- I did not consider cranking with a hand down there in this post before others mentioned it. That would suck.

 

[fireflymedic]

I don't think you could get drunk enough to forget to shut off the engine. I've not needed to use clean out ports yet, knock on wood, but im thinking it's because of a noise or vibration and 1st thing I would do is shut off engine to stop the noise/damage.

You could always get some warning stickers and put under the hatch to remind you.

 

[Noko]

Has anyone here removed the switches on their boat? I have one giving me a fit. I've tightened them, tried lock tight and they still work free and come out of contact at the worst times. I'm just thinking about bypassing them and plugging the holes. Thoughts?

Try some silicone on the switches, that should hold them in place. I'd leave them in.

 

[CAM212SS]

I don't think you could get drunk enough to forget to shut off the engine. I've not needed to use clean out ports yet, knock on wood, but im thinking it's because of a noise or vibration and 1st thing I would do is shut off engine to stop the noise/damage.

You could always get some warning stickers and put under the hatch to remind you.

might not get drunk enough to not shut down the engines, but you might leave the keys in the ignition and a child could turn the key with you back there.

 

[renrab]

Has anyone here removed the switches on their boat? I have one giving me a fit. I've tightened them, tried lock tight and they still work free and come out of contact at the worst times. I'm just thinking about bypassing them and plugging the holes. Thoughts?

for what it is worth I really wouldn't bypass a safety function such as that. I would JB weld or permanent adhesive the locking ring before doing that. I would rather have to bust a switch out when it fails than bypass it....my hands are my lively hood

 

[Julian]

Agree with all of the above! I wouldn't bypass this safety feature. @Mainah The cleanouts are in front of the pumps, so there wouldn't be any spray coming from the tube (with boat sitting not moving)....perhaps a sucking sound...but not spray. @CAM212SS is correct, you dont want your hand in there when someone else could hit the ignition! Solving the loosening problem should really be easy. Clean up the switches and tray with acetone, and silicon them in with some nice fresh silicon or if you want to use 4200 to make it more "fixed" do that.

 

[Matt Phillips]

Agree with he above. Clean up the area, put some 4200 around them and call it a day. Just the thought of having an engine turn over with the plug out (and my hand no where near it) makes my skin crawl.

 

[Englewoodcowboy]

Great points, I was thinking I am the one running the boat and I know I will cut the engines off before every trying to pull a plug but the sheer fact that my GF's nephew was on the boat that afternoon and he felt he needed to turn and push every switch or button... I could see that happening with my arm crammed in there trying to remove a stick or somethgin so I will give the silicone ideas a try. I need to finish installing my stbd tow valve and install my ballast diverter valve for surfing so I will address all of that at the same time.

 

[yam240sx]

anyone know the part number for these bastards ? thnx