Finger-breaker lockers

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Fourbees

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There was a time when boat builders commonly installed the kind of lockers that have a hole through which you must stick your finger, then grope about to release the catch. Realising this was dangerous in a seaway (hence the finger-breaker nickname) they've stopped fitting them now - but I've just bought a 15-year old boat that has them. How can I replace the finger-breaker catches without having new locker doors made? Has anyone done this?
 
Ariam has latches where you press a button to release the catch, and the button simultaneously pops out to become a knob. The hole that the button/knob goes through is about the same size as the common "finger breaker" hole, so if you're very lucky and the distance from the edge is suitable then they might just fit without too much modification. Otherwise I guess you fit that or a different kind of through-the-door catch and surround it with a kind of escutcheon plate to cover the hole.

Pete
 
Fourbees said:
There was a time when boat builders commonly installed the kind of lockers that have a hole through which you must stick your finger, then grope about to release the catch. Realising this was dangerous in a seaway (hence the finger-breaker nickname) they've stopped fitting them now - but I've just bought a 15-year old boat that has them. How can I replace the finger-breaker catches without having new locker doors made? Has anyone done this?
Click to expand...

Is this what you are looking for ?

http://www.hillarysboatshop.com.au/home.php?cat=1870

or in UK
http://www.ecs-marine-equipment.co.uk/marine-search/exact/cupboard-catch.html
http://www.marinemegastore.com/product.asp?pf_id=ECS_4293&jump=0&cat_id=CABCAB003
 
Last edited:
>Finger-breaker lockers

We sailed 10,000 miles with those including having swells coming from three directions and a violent motion and never had any problem with them. Has anyone ever had or heard of someone getting a broken a finger using one or it is just a common myth? I haven't.
 
Well, if I poke my finger through mine and then try and open the door with the same finger deep in the whole, it only feels like my finger has broken, when the door opens........I'd prefer not to experience that, but it hasn't prompted me to change the catches yet
 
My experience with the catches which you push, the button pops up and the door opens is not good. I bought two cheap plastic ones (from a caravan suppliers website) to try on my boat but they jammed up in a matter of weeks so you couldn't open the cupboard at all.
I thought it was just the cheap plastic ones but a charter boat this summer had what looked like good quality metal versions on everything and a couple where stuck shut. The boat was 1 year old.

I've still got finger breakers and ten fingers.
 
deckhanddave said:
Our '94 Élan has the type of push button catch as described by Pete, as does our Swift caravan. It might be worthwhile having a look at a caravan dealer or breaker.
Dave.
Click to expand...

Most modern chandlers out here in Greece carry them as standard items. Bavaria Yachts have fitted them for decades.
 
Piece of string through the finger-breaker hole, attached to the catch lever? Have to be nimble or you get a rap on the knuckles...
 
TSB240 said:
I think the guy who fitted ours was left handed or maybe he had lost his RH forefinger!
Click to expand...

The floorboards on my boat,covering the various bilges,have 25mm fingers holes in order to lift them, if necessary,but as they are reasonably heavy,and well fitting,I use the handle,and the right handled metal shaft, of a paint roller,long or short,hung in a handy spot,for instant use if required, it works well---Roger--
 
aslabend said:
My experience with the catches which you push, the button pops up and the door opens is not good. I bought two cheap plastic ones (from a caravan suppliers website) to try on my boat but they jammed up in a matter of weeks so you couldn't open the cupboard at all.
Click to expand...

I fitted a couple of them (recovered from other doors being removed) while making some minor modifications to Ariam's interior. I found they were very sensitive to the precise location of the hole relative to the lock body. The two I fitted are still a little sticky, but the door they're on doesn't need to be opened often so I live with it. The exact same catches fitted by the builder (quite possibly by CNC) all work smoothly. So it's not a problem with the catches per se, but the fitting.

Pete
 
KellysEye said:
>Finger-breaker lockers

We sailed 10,000 miles with those including having swells coming from three directions and a violent motion and never had any problem with them. Has anyone ever had or heard of someone getting a broken a finger using one or it is just a common myth? I haven't.
Click to expand...

Nor I. I had "finger breakers" on my last boat and preferred them to the current pop-out type.
 
KellysEye said:
>Finger-breaker lockers

We sailed 10,000 miles with those including having swells coming from three directions and a violent motion and never had any problem with them. Has anyone ever had or heard of someone getting a broken a finger using one or it is just a common myth? I haven't.
Click to expand...

+1

I love them. Neat, secure, easy to operate, reliable and robust. What's not to like?
The only time I could see anyone having a problem is if the hole in the door isn't big enough. In which case make it bigger. Or if the hole doesn't have a nice round hardwood insert in it.

The current trend for the push-push knobs I think is a passing fad. As has been experienced first hand described in a post above they're cheap and nasty to use although they look OK in the showroom.
 
theoldsalt said:
Is this what you are looking for ?

http://www.hillarysboatshop.com.au/home.php?cat=1870

or in UK
http://www.ecs-marine-equipment.co.uk/marine-search/exact/cupboard-catch.html

http://www.marinemegastore.com/product.asp?pf_id=ECS_4293&jump=0&cat_id=CABCAB003
Click to expand...

They look suspiciously like the ones I've already got - I'm trying to get rid of them, not buy more! I need the push-button kind, as found on my previous boat - no sticking fingers through holes needed, just push the button.
 
arjohn said:
The floorboards on my boat,covering the various bilges,have 25mm fingers holes in order to lift them, if necessary,but as they are reasonably heavy,and well fitting,I use the handle,and the right handled metal shaft, of a paint roller,long or short,hung in a handy spot,for instant use if required, it works well---Roger--
Click to expand...
The cast alloy ones are much better but you can get a white plastic bodied version too with metal innards.

A half dozen came with the boat in a "Spares Box" from the builders and I haven't used all of them yet.
 
Fourbees said:
There was a time when boat builders commonly installed the kind of lockers that have a hole through which you must stick your finger, then grope about to release the catch. Realising this was dangerous in a seaway (hence the finger-breaker nickname) they've stopped fitting them now - but I've just bought a 15-year old boat that has them. How can I replace the finger-breaker catches without having new locker doors made? Has anyone done this?
Click to expand...

You can buy bigger teak rings so why not carefully drill them out with a hole saw and replace them with bigger? I have just put them on my locker doors to replace nasty ball catches. Fitted properly the cockeral catch/teak ring combination works well
 
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