Washdown Switch Cover Search

C

CatyMae n Steve

New member
Looking to find a hinged cover for the switch on the washdown (can't tell you how many times someone's leaned on it and flipped it on!) and can't seem to find anything -- anyone found such a thing? There was one installed on the brand-x I used to own and you had to LIFT it to flip the switch -- may not even be an issue for us now, as we discovered it was on and don't know how long it had been in the on position -- coulda burned it up!

Caty
 
CatyMae n Steve":38dngzmq said:
Looking to find a hinged cover for the switch on the washdown (can't tell you how many times someone's leaned on it and flipped it on!) and can't seem to find anything -- anyone found such a thing? There was one installed on the brand-x I used to own and you had to LIFT it to flip the switch -- may not even be an issue for us now, as we discovered it was on and don't know how long it had been in the on position -- coulda burned it up!

Caty
Click to expand...

Boeing Surplus in Kent? has or had all sorts of Aircraft switch covers-lift up cover to flip toggle up/on I dont think these will last long in a salt enviro. but are great in the cabin

SW110001.jpg


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I could probably scrounge up a few of these if someone is interested! :mrgreen: :beer
 
The switch is about 1W x 2H x 1/2D, and it needs to be able to have clearance between the toggle and the outlet...
switch_xh.sized.jpg

I've searched high and low on the internet and not been able to come up with anything...I know I'm just not using the correct terminology (no, I didn't search for hinged cover thingy) :lol:
hmmmm...maybe I SHOULD!
Caty
 
Chop off the washdown hose so it's about 7 3/4" long, plug it into the outlet disconnect and leave it hang. Each person on board will only bump the switch once.

Looks like Steve may need to dig out his handy dandy Swiss Army knife and whittle one of them covers out of teak or sumthin. Either that or you could make a carboard pattern or a detailed sketch of something that would work and I'll whittle you one out of stainless or some space age plastic. Or you might look at Home D for a flip-up cover that goes over a outdoor GFIC outlet.
 
You should be able to fabricate one out of acrylic plastic--cut the pieces, it can be open on the side toward the "connector", and hing with a pin on the top--it can be bend--so it goes out from the top, about 1/2", down about 2" and back in 1/2"--can be bent with heat--so you will need a strip of plastic about 3" long, a heat source. Simple instructions of forming and working with Acrylic Plastics: http://www.sdplastics.com/acrylic.html (only one of many sources)...
 
Caty - do a google for "switch guard" that will lead you to some options. One that I found is essentially the same is taking a stainless steel drawer handle and mounting it over the switch - like this

41Of9xJTZmL._SS500_.jpg


If it has rounded edges, it should hurt someone in the cockpit and will do the job.
 
How about mounting a tab just above the switch that must be swiveled out of the way before the switch can be fully depressed?

Warren
 
Great ideas! Working on the Home Depot advice -- found an outdoor switch guard (plastic, waterproof, more than ample clearance for the switch) and will give that first shot. I saw those stops that look like a cabinet handle online, but wanted something that was unobtrusive to bodies, legs and butts pressed on the walls of the cockpit -- since it's been accidentally turned on so many times, I know folks like to brace themselves in that corner :wink:

I went to Home Depot this afternoon and they showed me a metal one (salt water exposure oughta make that one look really bad in really short order) but my eyes wandered across the aisle to the plastics and voila!

I'll post whatever we decide on when we get it finished. You guys are GREAT idea folks! Thanks!

Caty
 
It's a good thing my mind is pure and not prone to wander or else one could imagine you may also need a good canvas back.

On the 25's the door stop is in this general area and helps a lot as it keeps those Butts off the wall!

You could consider wall mounting something else close by that would serve as a protector as well.

Mike
 
When I added my washdown pump I searched hi and low for a switch just like yours but surprisingly I couldn't find anything like it so I wired the pump into a toggle switch up at the dash. Works pretty good. Hope you find a good solution.
 
The placement of that switch and outlet is just plain stupid in my opinion. If you fish downriggers it is always in the way. I have decided to relocate mine to inside the side pocket like the Cape cruisers had it. Funny thing is thats where I asked Cdory to put it, when I ordered my boat, but whoever installed it didn't get that message and had already drilled a hole there :amgry . It was too late by the time I saw it, probably the thing that angered me most about my boat delivery, so I guess I don't have much to complain about. Anyway I'm going to move the whole outlet and see if I can find a switch panel that is harder to flip by leaning on it and put my cockpit light controls there. Good luck in your search.

Sark
 
Well, what I'd gotten was the outdoor electrical cover, but with the base plate of the washdown, we'd have to modify the cover to make it flush with the boat wall (probably 1/8 - 1/4" plate stands out from the boat wall) -- so Steve's getting a "cabinet handle" today -- hope that works. Mike, I really like the idea of cutting off the hose to 7" and waiting for someone to bump into it and see the expression -- that happened in the SeaSwirl once -- ya didn't need a hose connected and it made a nice wide spray all over the cockpit on a nice cold, crisp fall morning -- it sprayed EVERYWHERE! -- never happened again :wink:
 
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