Push button door catches

[bignick]

I need to replace all the push button door catches on my boat.
Earlier I counted them and there are 21 in total, on hatches, cupboard doors and drawers.
Hunting around the internet there are vast differences in price, from £37 for 20 on eBay, to £27 for a single Venus branded one Via an online chandlery. The daft thing is that they all look pretty much identical. Are they all the same, or are there really differences that warrant the higher prices?
Please can someone recommend a supplier of good value ones that won’t disintegrate in five minutes?

 

[Boater Sam]

I need to replace all the push button door catches on my boat.
Earlier I counted them and there are 21 in total, on hatches, cupboard doors and drawers.
Hunting around the internet there are vast differences in price, from £37 for 20 on eBay, to £27 for a single Venus branded one Via an online chandlery. The daft thing is that they all look pretty much identical. Are they all the same, or are there really differences that warrant the higher prices?
Please can someone recommend a supplier of good value ones that won’t disintegrate in five minutes?

A picture is worth a thousand words. What make are the catches? Material? Size?

Crystal balls are getting rarer and rarer.

 

[Skylark]

Not sure if it’s relevant, sorry if it isn’t, my Beneteau uses push button catches on cabinets and hatches and they sometimes stick to the point of failure. A quick spray with silicon usually frees them up in no time. I now spray the mechanism of all catches at the beginning of a new season as part of a maintenance routine.

 

[Sandy]

Is there any reason you need to replace them all at once?

 

[bignick]

Probably don’t need to replace them all, but at least half are almost impossible to open. I pulled one apart and the metal parts had disintegrated.

For those who don’t know what I’m talking about, I mean these:

 

[bignick]

@Skylark , I’ll try that with some silicone grease spray.

 

[PaulRainbow]

A picture is worth a thousand words. What make are the catches? Material? Size?

Crystal balls are getting rarer and rarer.

Whilst sarcastic and unhelpful replies are becoming more and more common place.

 

[Plum]

I need to replace all the push button door catches on my boat.
Earlier I counted them and there are 21 in total, on hatches, cupboard doors and drawers.
Hunting around the internet there are vast differences in price, from £37 for 20 on eBay, to £27 for a single Venus branded one Via an online chandlery. The daft thing is that they all look pretty much identical. Are they all the same, or are there really differences that warrant the higher prices?
Please can someone recommend a supplier of good value ones that won’t disintegrate in five minutes?

Like this one? Push Button Catch Lock Drawer Cupboard Door Motorhome Caravan Cabinet Latch Knob | eBay

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[PaulRainbow]

I need to replace all the push button door catches on my boat.
Earlier I counted them and there are 21 in total, on hatches, cupboard doors and drawers.
Hunting around the internet there are vast differences in price, from £37 for 20 on eBay, to £27 for a single Venus branded one Via an online chandlery. The daft thing is that they all look pretty much identical. Are they all the same, or are there really differences that warrant the higher prices?
Please can someone recommend a supplier of good value ones that won’t disintegrate in five minutes?

I'd order the Ebay ones. If they turn up and look/feel rubbish send them back. If they seem OK, use them.

 

[Boathook]

Not sure if it’s relevant, sorry if it isn’t, my Beneteau uses push button catches on cabinets and hatches and they sometimes stick to the point of failure. A quick spray with silicon usually frees them up in no time. I now spray the mechanism of all catches at the beginning of a new season as part of a maintenance routine.

I use GT85 ptfe spray on anything that becomes sticky when it shouldn't.

 

[ean_p]

Probably don’t need to replace them all, but at least half are almost impossible to open. I pulled one apart and the metal parts had disintegrated.

For those who don’t know what I’m talking about, I mean these:

View attachment 149786
View attachment 149787

Try any campervan supplier as their units needs (??) to be 'burst' proof for use in a vehicle...... CAK Tanks or any similar!

 

[vyv_cox]

Try any campervan supplier as their units needs (??) to be 'burst' proof for use in a vehicle...... CAK Tanks or any similar!

Unfortunately that is desirable but not always true. All the latches on the galley drawers in my motorhome were plastic and all failed most inconveniently. I made replacements in metal. The plastic latches in the Dometic fridge doors have been repaired and replaced several times.

 

[bignick]

I’ve found plenty that look similar, with similar hole spacing etc. What I don’t know is whether they are any good. I don’t mind paying a little more for better quality, but I get particularly irritated when I realise that more expensive ones are actually the same as the bargain basement variety.
Think I’ll just follow Paul’s advice and try the cheap ones from eBay.

 

[bignick]

A picture is worth a thousand words. What make are the catches? Material? Size?

Crystal balls are getting rarer and rarer.

If I knew the make and model of the existing ones I wouldn’t have asked on here.

 

[seumask]

These ones from seascrew are not too expensive and they are " marinised"
LATCH MECHANISM FOR THE 38181XX FLUSH KNOB RANGE

 

[bignick]

These ones from seascrew are not too expensive and they are " marinised"
LATCH MECHANISM FOR THE 38181XX FLUSH KNOB RANGE

Many thanks. Interestingly the part shown by the technical drawing looks different to the photo.

 

[Refueler]

I’ve found plenty that look similar, with similar hole spacing etc. What I don’t know is whether they are any good. I don’t mind paying a little more for better quality, but I get particularly irritated when I realise that more expensive ones are actually the same as the bargain basement variety.
Think I’ll just follow Paul’s advice and try the cheap ones from eBay.

Its the old thing ... you can afford to replace at that price if necessary - or just pocket the difference and be happy.

 

[peter gibbs]

Probably don’t need to replace them all, but at least half are almost impossible to open. I pulled one apart and the metal parts had disintegrated.

For those who don’t know what I’m talking about, I mean these:

View attachment 149786
View attachment 149787

This type fails when a plastic lug in the square return mechanism breaks off. How do I know? A small slivver of plastic from a washing up liquid bottle bent double will restore the mechanism. Saving £400 in your case. Try it and feel the glow of DIY success. My catches are 25 yrs old and good as new.....

 

[ean_p]

Unfortunately that is desirable but not always true. All the latches on the galley drawers in my motorhome were plastic and all failed most inconveniently. I made replacements in metal. The plastic latches in the Dometic fridge doors have been repaired and replaced several times.

Haha...hence the question marks....?. On a serious note though they are supposed to be as a requirement at least in the UK. As told to me by one of Swifts staff when I used to maintain their CNC equipment.

 

[PetiteFleur]

Definitely try the cheaper ones on ebay. I replaced one in our motorhome and they work fine.