Morse lever gap

[guydickinson]

I've just mounted a Morse Teleflex side mounted sailing boat engine control lever. I cut the template (hate cutting holes in boats but got to be done!) and am about to clip on the black plastic cover. I wonder if anyone else has fitted these - because the thing I don't understand is this: - the cap just clips on and there is quite a gap now round the edge of the lever mechanism - what is to stop water rushing in past the lever mechanism? There is no talk of washers or sealants anything???!

 

[damo]

[ QUOTE ]
I wonder if anyone else has fitted these - because the thing I don't understand is this: - the cap just clips on and there is quite a gap now round the edge of the lever mechanism - what is to stop water rushing in past the lever mechanism? There is no talk of washers or sealants anything???!

[/ QUOTE ]

That's right, it isn't designed to keep the sea out AFAIK. You could make your own washer I suppose, or box in the mechanism behind the bulkhead, or install it in a more protected position etc.

What were you using before??

 

[guydickinson]

I had an engine change - previous throttle lever (only) came out. It was only small (bit like a mowing machine throttle - gear lever separate). It is sited on the side of the cokpit floor (forget the proper term) so that spray could easily find its way through into the bilges as it is at the moment. It'd be difficult to box in from behind with all the cables etc (and restricted space).

 

[damo]

Off the top of my head you could make a neoprene gasket (from a scrap of old wetsuit?) to go over the mechanism, behind the cover plate. Make the hole to go tightly over the lever spindle.

Another thought is to squirt a bit of expanding foam from the outside, then slap the cover on.

 

[guydickinson]

Thanks. Good idea - or perhaps I thought add some sealant round the outside edge of the cap?

 

[Dipper]

I think (but I am not sure) that when I fitted my Morse control I applied some silicone sealant around the cover. You only need to do the top and the two vertical sides. If you leave the bottom (or at least part of the bottom) unsealed, it will allow any water that gets past the sealant to drain out into the cockpit and not into the bilges.