• Welcome to Jetboaters.net!

    We are delighted you have found your way to the best Jet Boaters Forum on the internet! Please consider Signing Up so that you can enjoy all the features and offers on the forum. We have members with boats from all the major manufacturers including Yamaha, Seadoo, Scarab and Chaparral. We don't email you SPAM, and the site is totally non-commercial. So what's to lose? IT IS FREE!

    Membership allows you to ask questions (no matter how mundane), meet up with other jet boaters, see full images (not just thumbnails), browse the member map and qualifies you for members only discounts offered by vendors who run specials for our members only! (It also gets rid of this banner!)

    free hit counter
  • Guest, we are pleased to announce that Hydrophase Ridesteady is offering an extra $100 off for JETBOATERS.NET members on any Ridesteady for Yamaha Speed Control system purchased through March 7th, 2025. Ridesteady is a speed control system (“cruise control”) that uses GPS satellites or engine RPM to keep your boat at the set speed you choose. On twin engine boats, it will also automatically synchronize your engines.

    Click Here for more information>Ride Steady group buy for JetBoaters.net members only

    You can dismiss this Notice by clicking the "X" in the upper right>>>>>

Push button start installation

MidnightRider

Jetboaters Captain
Messages
956
Reaction score
1,313
Points
217
Location
Zumbro Falls, MN
Boat Make
Malibu
Year
2013
Boat Model
Wake
Boat Length
20
First things first, many thanks to @Mainah for putting together these kits and making them available. It gets my "coolest" mod so far on my boat, not only from me but from my teenage son. :D

So being me I can't just leave well enough alone and did a slight modification to the kit before I installed. I wanted to move the key ignition switches to a new location and install the push buttons in the original key switch holes, to make the push buttons the main focus front and center and the keys off to the side.

The kit comes with 5/8" push buttons but the key switch holes are 3/4". ULINCOS sells a pretty much identical 3/4" push button (U19C3) and socket/pigtail. Unfortunately the socket configuration is a bit different so I did need to cut off the socket the kit comes with and re-wire the socket for the 3/4" buttons - easy-peasy. Comparing the socket pin outs showed that the pig tail wire color designations are the same for both, so just matched up the colors and spliced the new sockets on. After that it was business as usual and the kit is pretty much plug and play, dead simple install. Only other thing I had to do was to create an extended key switch wiring harness for both key switches so they could be relocated to their new location over by the throttles.

Dry run produced perfect results - both engines fired up according to the pre-programmed sequence and shut off with the Stop button - love it! Can't wait to get it on the water where it will get very practical use besides just feeling/looking cool.

Again, thanks to @Maniah and if you are thinking about this mod get on his list and just do it.

IMG_0454.JPG
New pig tails installed (after this pic I did follow the kits example and seal up the backs of the sockets).


IMG_0455.JPG
Extended key switch wiring harness.


IMG_0457.JPG
Controller installed (yep my tachs are inside my helm - see my post on my ridesteady install to see why)


IMG_0459.JPG
Push buttons installed in original key switch holes


IMG_0460.JPG
Keys relocated over in front of throttles.
 
Last edited:
Looks great! Good job on that!!
 
Oooh, I like what you did with that. Clever.
 
In case someone else attempts, the key switch holes are slightly larger than 3/4" and the lip on the button switches are very slim so a 3/4" black fiber washer was just the ticket on the back and front to make it more stable in the hole.
 
I'm jealous. This is def a mod I need to do but been procrastinating on it. Very nice setup
 
Very nice! I've considered moving the ignition keys - out of sight, but decided not to at the end.

My priority has been to just have the RED/STOP button easily accessible - for emergency engines' stoppage. And - that is achieved beautifully with the @Mainah mod!

My wife/co-pilot really likes the idea that, whenever she is driving, all she needs to do is hit the RED - if in doubt about whereabouts of anything. There are bazillion different scenarios when you have 4 kids on board and run with 2 ropes etc. - wherein you want to be able to quickly shut the engines OFF, but not necessarily need to reboot the system every time you do that.

upload_2018-6-8_9-46-51.png

--
 
Very nice! I've considered moving the ignition keys - out of sight, but decided not to at the end.

My priority has been to just have the RED/STOP button easily accessible - for emergency engines' stoppage.
And that is achieved beautifully with the @Mainah mod!

My wife/co-pilot really likes the idea that, whenever she is driving, all she needs to do is hit the RED - if in doubt about whereabouts of anything. There are bazillion different scenarios when you have 4 kids on board and run with 2 ropes etc. - wherein you want to be able to quickly shut the engines OFF, but not necessarily need to reboot the system every time you do that.

View attachment 76163

--
Smart setup. Never thought of it like that. Something to definitely consider before I attempt.
 
First things first, many thanks to @Mainah for putting together these kits and making them available. It gets my "coolest" mod so far on my boat, not only from me but from my teenage son. :D

So being me I can't just leave well enough alone and did a slight modification to the kit before I installed. I wanted to move the key ignition switches to a new location and install the push buttons in the original key switch holes, to make the push buttons the main focus front and center and the keys off to the side.

The kit comes with 5/8" push buttons but the key switch holes are 3/4". ULINCOS sells a pretty much identical 3/4" push button (U19C3) and socket/pigtail. Unfortunately the socket configuration is a bit different so I did need to cut off the socket the kit comes with and re-wire the socket for the 3/4" buttons - easy-peasy. Comparing the socket pin outs showed that the pig tail wire color designations are the same for both, so just matched up the colors and spliced the new sockets on. After that it was business as usual and the kit is pretty much plug and play, dead simple install. Only other thing I had to do was to create an extended key switch wiring harness for both key switches so they could be relocated to their new location over by the throttles.

Dry run produced perfect results - both engines fired up according to the pre-programmed sequence and shut off with the Stop button - love it! Can't wait to get it on the water where it will get very practical use besides just feeling/looking cool.

Again, thanks to @Maniah and if you are thinking about this mod get on his list and just do it.

View attachment 76147
New pig tails installed (after this pic I did follow the kits example and seal up the backs of the sockets).


View attachment 76148
Extended key switch wiring harness.


View attachment 76149
Controller installed (yep my tachs are inside my helm - see my post on my ridesteady install to see why)


View attachment 76150
Push buttons installed in original key switch holes


View attachment 76151
Keys relocated over in front of throttles.
One other advantage of your setup is those keys are not dangling by your knees.

It really is FANTASTIC!

You do have RideSteady, correct? Part of my issue was I used the ignition to tap into switched power for R-S, I'm sure you must have had a better solution. Really admire your creativity and skills!

--
 
It is interesting to see the different adaptations of the button location. I like mine for various reasons just as much as I like what @swatski and @ttzz did. I am not familiar with the 212x helm compartment but I bet is was tight to be able to do it that way. Really nice installs guys.
 
One other advantage of your setup is those keys are not dangling by your knees.

It really is FANTASTIC!

You do have RideSteady, correct? Part of my issue was I used the ignition to tap into switched power for R-S, I'm sure you must have had a better solution. Really admire your creativity and skills!

--

I knew I was going to do the so I made sure I tied ridesteady into the yellow ignition wires before the point where my new wire harness connects in so it isn’t tied the key switch side of the harness. As far as the ridesteady red/black power wires, I went straight to my new fuse and ground block.
 
It is interesting to see the different adaptations of the button location. I like mine for various reasons just as much as I like what @swatski and @ttzz did. I am not familiar with the 212x helm compartment but I bet is was tight to be able to do it that way. Really nice installs guys.
For anyone considering this mod, I really want to stress the SAFETY aspect of it. I did not initially appreciate it enough, but it is a GAME CHANGER. I say it after spending several long days on our favorite lake where we had several pilots/captains.

Basically, what I observed was that the RED button stopping the engines, but not the Connext and all else, constitutes a much more friendly/convenient manner of pausing the fun - as compared to pulling the lanyard or turning two ignition switches off - there in everything goes "black".

Every time I had the first time pilot try it out, they were instantly comfortable with the idea and the execution. Which means simply that:
They never thought twice about hitting the RED button!

In other words, the mod increases safety by making it easier and less stressful for a pilot to execute engine shut-off.

Hope it makes sense. I'm not making it up, it really surprised me.

The only trick is to wait patiently until both engines are running, as I found some pilots have a tendency to move the throttles immediately after the first engine fires up. That aborts the second engine start. I have taken time to explain to every guest pilot to make sure BOTH engines show RPMs on the tachs before moving the boat.

--
 
It is interesting to see the different adaptations of the button location. I like mine for various reasons just as much as I like what @swatski and @ttzz did. I am not familiar with the 212x helm compartment but I bet is was tight to be able to do it that way. Really nice installs guys.

Yes, everyone has their own unique requirements, priorities and creative slants/tastes. That's what is so great about a community like this is we can feed off each others ideas and creativity and copy, build off of, and get inspiration for new ideas. All my mod ideas are inspired by stuff I've seen on here with my own little ideas and twists thrown in. I love it!
 
One other advantage of your setup is those keys are not dangling by your knees.

It really is FANTASTIC!

You do have RideSteady, correct? Part of my issue was I used the ignition to tap into switched power for R-S, I'm sure you must have had a better solution. Really admire your creativity and skills!

--
I'm just liking how all you great minds have put together different options. It gives the installer different options to meet their needs. No wrong way to go here looking at all these options. But safety one is sure key. But I just hope everyone always to remember to fuse fuse fuse everything lol. Even if you don't think it needs one, FUSE IT. Cheaper route than unfortunate accidents.
 
Now if someone could just come up with the mod to incorporate the yamaha waverunner key fob instead of keys that would be great one button press to lock and unlock the ignition function. My fear with the push button start is we will be stopped at the island and my 2 year old will come press the button and start the boat unless I pull the keys. With the key fob I could just lock the ignition feature and no need to carry keys anymore lol.
 
Now if someone could just come up with the mod to incorporate the yamaha waverunner key fob instead of keys that would be great one button press to lock and unlock the ignition function. My fear with the push button start is we will be stopped at the island and my 2 year old will come press the button and start the boat unless I pull the keys. With the key fob I could just lock the ignition feature and no need to carry keys anymore lol.
Just turn the keys off or pull them. I use the push start all the time for different situations It's great.
 
Now if someone could just come up with the mod to incorporate the yamaha waverunner key fob instead of keys that would be great one button press to lock and unlock the ignition function. My fear with the push button start is we will be stopped at the island and my 2 year old will come press the button and start the boat unless I pull the keys. With the key fob I could just lock the ignition feature and no need to carry keys anymore lol.

Pulling the lanyard or putting the throttles in other than neutral will prevent the engines from starting even with the push button kit but leave everything on.
 
Yep, I just push the throttles forward when I stop.

Keyfob thing sounds cool.
 
Back
Top