perishing joy-stick gaiter

[rusland]

The bowthruster joystick control is made waterproof by a rubber gaiter - which has perished at the bellowed mid-section of the gaiter. The manufacturers (Sleipner) will only supply a complete control unit. Any repair ideas to avoid purchase of complete unit?

 

[cliff]

Steering rack gaiter or the like. Try a motor factors or perhaps RS components.
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"Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity"
sailroom <span style="color:red">The place to auction your previously loved boatie bits</span>

 

[pvb]

Might be worth trying...

Don't know whether this is possible, but it might be worth trying to restore the watertight integrity of the gaiter by putting another flexible membrane inside it. Maybe something like a finger cut off a rubber glove could be used, stretched over and retained by the original gaiter. It could be sealed to the joystick shaft with wire and silicone sealant.

If you do end up having to buy a replacement control, Sleipner do a simple flush push-button keypad which would probably be more durable.

 

[VicS]

If you mean split rather than perished than you may be repair it with a suitable "Superglue" One of the local garages repaired a small cut one of the CV joint gaiters on my car a couple of years ago with total success (to my surprise).

 

[cliff]

Two other options come to mind - electric wheel chair manufacturers/repairers or try a google on "joystick gaiters"
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"Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity"
sailroom <span style="color:red">The place to auction your previously loved boatie bits</span>

 

[rusland]

Thanks guys for applying yourselves to the problem and coming up with your ideas and suggestions.
The rubber is perished and glueing/sealing is not the answer. The top is OK, and the base is OK - its the bellows part. I've tried all qualities of fingers from rubber gloves, but the quality of rubber is not good enough and breaks quickly. Even experimented with other rubber unmentionables! And with rubber baloons.
The unit is currently jury-rigged with black self-ammalgamating tape, which works, but its now more difficult to opperate and the strain of pushing against the sealed tape will eventually damage the control mechanism. The Google search produced many similar products, but not a replacement gaiter.
I think I am trying to find a high quality rubber finger shape to put over the joystick and secure/seal at the base.
In principle, I dont want to be forced to buy a whole replacement control unit because of a perishing gaiter!