Winch switch

[ChrisP]

Small problem.
The down foot switch on my winch has decided to suffer from rust and age. It's a Simpson lawrence type of some age, looks like an old mini starter switch with an extended operating bolt that goes up into the rubber deck fitting. It also has a coil inside it to connect to the remote control circuit. SL tell me that it has been discontinued and to fit the new replacement means cutting the foredeck, new mountings and all sorts of fruit bat manouvers in the anchor locker.
Anybody know where there may be old stock or one lying in a pile of "boat junk" waiting for a new loving owner?

 

[byron]

If an old mini starter button will do the same job how's about laying your hands on one of them? ANDY!!!!!! where will he get an old mini starter foot button?

©2001

 

[paulineb]

He should be able to get one from an old mini ;-)

Pauline B

 

[Guest]

Chris

In a word LOB.

I had exactly the same set up. I bought the new switches from SL which have a micro switch in them. I removed the rubber button and shaft, fitted the new switch in the same place, fed the wires down through the old rod hole and connected the electrical leads to the low voltage side of the solenoid. The low voltage side is where the wires connect from the helm station anchor winch switch. This was so successful I ended up having to do two friends boats as well. It took me about an hour in total to do both switches. I did this about 3 years ago and have not had any problems at all.

I hope this helps

Colin

 

[ChrisP]

Mini switch has 2 draw backs.

1. The actuator is too short to go through the deck.
2. it hasn't got the coil for the remote control.

Still looking. short term remedy seem to be to fall back to traditional methods. Shout instructions to the wife from the comfort of the flybridge whilst drinking a G&T. The only problem with this method is the eating out due to the industrial action of the domestic staff, gets a bit expensive.

Thanks
Chris P

 

[Guest]

You could try and fit a small waterproof switch on the deck in the existing hole (with a suitable plate) and connect it in series to a standard car solenoid avalable from Lucas or Halfords, the heavy duty terminal of which are conected into the cable bewteen the battery and the windless. I used the approach on my Westerly with a SL windless and it was a complete success and far cheaper than the "puka" one from SL.

Regards

John C.