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Frustrating day

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seads
1st Mate

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USA
90 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/20/2003 : 16:42:36

Since my wife doesn't really get the allure of sailing, I'll vent here. Went down to the marina today for a Sunday afternoon sail, an event I look forward to all week long, and was stymied by the fact that someone had stolen the engine kill switch key off of the outboard! I assume that it must have been another boater in the marina which is especially frustrating because it promotes itself as a super high class facility in which our little Catalina 25 looks totally out of place (Most of our neighbors are J Boats and the like). There are a lot of mini-yachts with dinghies so I suspect someone needed it for their tender. To top it all off, Boater's World, which sells Nissan/Tohatsu outboards, had a kill switch. but not one that fit Nissan/Tohatsu!

In sum, we didn't get out and it was a very frustrating day!

Stewart Eads
"Osprey" 1982 FK/SR #3408
Charleston Harbor, SC

Edited by - on

Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 07/20/2003 : 18:45:06

Stewart,

I'm sorry to hear about your unsuccessful attempt to go sailing. That would upset me too. I know the little kill switch part you mean -- the deadman key. There's probably a way to bypass that switch by either disconnecting it, or by shorting the leads together (unplug from switch, plug into each other). It might be good to know, in case the switch itself fails out on the water.

I keep a spare deadman key inside my boat along with my other engine spares, such as: spark plugs, emergency pull cord, fuel hose clamps, primer bulb, fuel line quick connector, fuel filter, prop, alternator fuse, ignition black box and coil, etc. For me, a small box of tools and parts under the quarter berth can make the difference between looking and feeling like a resourceful hero or a helpless dummy when things don't go as planned.

I hope the person who "borrowed" your deadman key returns it, although I wouldn't count on them handing it to you personally. Be sure to complain to the marina management about this incident. They can't address a problem they don't know they have.

-- Leon Sisson

Edited by - on

OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 07/20/2003 : 19:39:07

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
. . . which is especially frustrating because it promotes itself as a super high class facility . . .
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>

Stewart,
I had a recent conversation with a cable TV auditor. She explained that the highest rate of cable theft in all of southwestern Pennsylvania occurs in a suburb that has the highest per capita income . . . go figure.

Edited by - on

lcharlot
Master Marine Consultant

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Antigua and Barbuda
1301 Posts

Response Posted - 07/21/2003 : 08:29:21

At least it was only a small inexpensive part that was stolen, and not the whole engine. There have been at least a couple of break-ins over the last 10 years at the dry storage lot where I keep "Quiet Time", on one of these incidents they made off with more than 30 outboards - almost all electric start Hondas and Yamahas (even thieves don't want 2-stroke outboards anymore!).

Larry Charlot
Catalina 25 #1205 "Quiet Time"
Sacramento, CA

Edited by - on

jm
Captain

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Canada
290 Posts

Response Posted - 07/21/2003 : 14:29:38

Sorry to hear of your situation Stew..

I've always considered that kill switch, the keys to the engine, and either carried it with me, or locked it away inside the cabin.

In a pinch, I've seen someone use a split lock washer, and a rubber band wound between the switch and support to keep the kill switch in the run position.

Desparate times require desparate measures..

Edited by - on

tmhansen
Captain

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USA
397 Posts

Response Posted - 07/22/2003 : 02:48:10

Stewart, I feel for you. Losing a precious day of sailing over someone else's borrowing has got to be frustrating.

On my Evenrude I saw in the manual that there is a way to override the switch. You might check and see on yours.

Todd Hansen
Fior Gra'
San Luis Obispo, CA

Edited by - on

karentc
1st Mate

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USA
68 Posts

Response Posted - 07/22/2003 : 09:25:48

Wow, Stewart,must have been something in the air...
I went to my slip (where my C-25 is also one of the smaller boats) and found my whole dingy/outboard had been hijacked! Fortunately when I went to the harbormaster to report the theft, I found it tied up and full of water at the dingy dock. (It had been found floating after the fireworks...)
Anyway, I keep my kill switch thingie inside my cabin, as well as the key for my lazarette locks, and my (new) dingy lock. I have them hung on a hook from the back of my depth finder so it is easy to unlock the cabin top, take off the top companionway board, and reach in to get them. My cabin is then locked with a combination lock, so I can always get to the keys, and never have to worry about losing the key to the cabin. The previous owners clued me in to this little way of organizing myself and it has worked out well as I am one of those people who does lose my keys now and then. I also have a extra parts kit on board but did not think to add one of the kill switch thingies to it, so thanks for letting us learn from your situation!!! Good luck!
Karen Christensen
Moondance C-25 FK SR
Traverse City Michigan

Karen Christensen
Moondance, #5465 1986 C-25, SR, FK, Honda 8
Traverse City, Michigan

Edited by - on

ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 07/22/2003 : 10:07:01

Haven't tried it on the Honda, but a tightly cinched electrical tie-wrap could be used to 'jury-rig' the cutoff switch on my Evinrude.

I always keep some tie-wraps in the boat toolbox as they are very useful for a variety of emergency repairs.

Currently maintaining two holes in the water...'77 Venture 23 and new to the family,
'78 Catalina 25

Edited by - on

Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 07/22/2003 : 15:50:32

We have our first outboard with the Switch - Tohatsu we picked up this for this season. If the switch you are referring to is what I think it is, you should be able to jury rig something fairly easily.

If this is the piece on a tohatsu that you are missing

<img src="http://www.tohatsu.com/images/lanyard_cord.jpg" border=0>

I would think a small wrench, or, maybe a clothes pin(close pin for you homonym people) might work. I am ordering a spare today just in case, as well as finding an emergency fix too.

Other than the washers, I would be interested to hear if anyone has the way to bypass this, or if anyone has other quick fixes on this

D. Wolff - "The Flying Wasp" #401 sr/sk
Chief Measurer C-25/250 National Assn.
<img src="http://www.flags.com/dreamimages/Flags/measurer.jpg" border=0>

Edited by - on

seads
1st Mate

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USA
90 Posts

Response Posted - 07/23/2003 : 21:14:55

That is exactly the piece. I also think I know why someone lifted ours: it is impossible to find locally here and is about $25 for part and S&H otherwise (for that little piece of plastic nothing pictured above...but I guess I've been boating long enough that that shouldn't surprise me!). Someone just walked around the marina until they saw the right make and model and ran off with it.

Anyway, I finally found one at a boat repair shop that the owner took off a used Nissan engine in his shop and kindly sold to me for $9.

I know this is all totally irrelevant in the grand scheme of life, but it just bugs me that someone would climb onto my boat, remove my engine cover, and steal such a rinky dink part just to make their day a little easier. If you're gonna steal something, at least take the Lifesling or unbolt the winches to sell on E-Bay!

Stewart Eads
"Osprey" 1982 FK/SR #3408
Charleston Harbor, SC

Edited by - seads on 07/23/2003 21:17:11

Edited by - on

OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 07/23/2003 : 21:34:23

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
If you're gonna steal something, at least take the Lifesling or unbolt the winches to sell on E-Bay!
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>

. . . and exactly what brand, model and size winches do you have <img src=icon_smile_evil.gif border=0 align=middle> ?

Edited by - on

ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 07/23/2003 : 22:21:30

I looked at my safety cutoff tonight... 'in a pinch fixes'...

Pull out on the end of the red button with a pair of pliers. Make 5 or 6 tight wraps of electrical tape in the opened groove.

For a classier (but still hack) job, put an electrical tie wrap in the slot and cinch it up tight. For a true 'nautical' appearance you could wrap seizing twine in the groove.

All you have to do is hold that button 'out'...

Currently maintaining two holes in the water...'77 Venture 23 and new to the family,
'78 Catalina 25

Edited by - on

John Mason
Admiral

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USA
687 Posts

Response Posted - 07/24/2003 : 13:10:49

I'd definitely jury-rig a permanent bypass to that kill switch key. It's not a dink or jetski. Do you really connect it to yourself when you're running the engine?

John Mason
<img src="http://www.users.qwest.net/~jamason/ali.jpg" border=0>
pronounced "Ali Paroosa"
1982 - FK/SR #3290

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