Help Please,,,, Fairline Corniche 31 Owners, Throttle Controls,

[EAZ 2012]

Good evening All,

My father in law has now owned his Corniche 31 for around 8 weeks now.

We have been out for many day trips and really enjoyed the good weather. She is such a good family boat and we look forward to many more trips in the future.

We have a question though, the port / starboard throttle controls on the flybridge and main saloon are very sensitive. Normal running is great but sometimes if the flybridge or saloon are slightly off the neutral point position they can take control and if we are on the flybridge for instance the saloon throttle would take control.

As there is no switch as such to confirm which station the skipper requires to be in charge how do other Corniche owners keep an eye on this. The reason I ask is we have a toddler and could easily play with the controls if your back is turned whilst the skipper is on the flybridge? Is there a bracket or something available to lock throttle controls at the station not in use to make sure this cant happen.

I hope this makes sense?

Thank you in advance.

 

[kashurst]

there is usually a device called a switch plate that manages the throttles (I am assuming they are mechanical ones). Once a lever is engaged in either forwrd or reverse it is impossible (or should be) to operate the equivalent lever. Thus preventing your problem. It could be that you have one but it has been damaged or possible bypassed in some way. If you have a look in the engine bay, find the throttle cable connection on the engine and trace the cable backwards. Somewhere in th engine bay you should find the mechanism that both sets of throttle cables arrive at.

 

[superheat6k]

On my Turbo 36 the gear selectors have indexing mechanisms which will only allow one station to select at a time. This mechanism on the Turbo is found on the Stbd side midships behind a wooden trim cover (same side and just aft of the lower helm so if your's has a port wheel your selector may be on the port side). But the throttle cables from each helm station go direct to the throttle linkage, and as far as I know there is no interlock, but I am sure the gear interlock device prevents the other lever moving once one is engaged ahead or astern. If your selector can move could be the detents on the rather complicated index mechanism need adjusting.

 

[talltim]

The Corniche has 2 indexing mechanisms one on rear bulkhead of engine bay the other on port side below side board floor which is easily lifted with the provided finger hole.

Make sure both are lubed and free to move without sticking on stale old grease etc

If boat has been laid up for a will some exercising over full movement range might also help

Sorry I cannot remember which one does which

 

[EAZ 2012]

Thank you for the info guys,

So we are saying the "Switch plate" / "indexing Mechs" need looking at / greasing up. She has been hardly used for around 12 months but we have pretty much been out on her as a family since the father in law purchased the boat.

Would some sort of clamp on the throttles on the station that is not in use be a good move aswell??

The Corniche has 2 indexing mechanisms one on rear bulkhead of engine bay the other on port side below side board floor which is easily lifted with the provided finger hole.

Make sure both are lubed and free to move without sticking on stale old grease etc

If boat has been laid up for a will some exercising over full movement range might also help

Sorry I cannot remember which one does which

 

[scottie]

There are three different versions of dual station gearbox selection units only the morse DS units have positive locks in the form of a T handle for selecting which station is used .
In all cases Morse Volvo or vetus piggy back it is essential that the controls are routinely checked and adjusted in neutral idle and the backlash equalised!

 

[superheat6k]

Thank you for the info guys,

So we are saying the "Switch plate" / "indexing Mechs" need looking at / greasing up. She has been hardly used for around 12 months but we have pretty much been out on her as a family since the father in law purchased the boat.

Would some sort of clamp on the throttles on the station that is not in use be a good move aswell??

If yours are the same as mine there is a friction screw on the side of each lever under the squarish central top cover, but if the indents are working then the non service throttle should lock as soon as the other is engaged

I would show the young lad how the throttles actually work and what they do - let him drive the boat and rev the throttles up, and explain why they must not be played with - small kids may be naughty but they are rarely fools.

PS PTFE spray lubricant works well - Holts sail slide lubricant from the chandlers