I knew it was going to happen!

[CaptainKev]

I post this as a warning to my fellow boat owners. I've got a 24' Regal with a duo-prop stern drive. Ever since I've had the boat the vertical rocker (mounted on the end of the throttle handle) for the trim has been real flimsy. Despite complaints to the dealer it hasn't been replaced yet. I say "yet" because it's going to be. This weekend I was in the boat waiting on the ramp for a spot to launch. After five minutes we were ready to roll. My buddy got on the gas to get us up the ramp. The boat shuddered and a horrible grinding/banging was going on behind the boat. I finally got my buddy to hit the brakes. The crappy switch on the throttle handle was stuck in the trim down position. The damage to the skeg is really ugly. I knew this was an accident just waiting to happen. Before I get labeled a total moron let me give you the details that led up to this. I turned the battery switch on after prepping the boat for launch. I did my walk around checklist (drain plug etc.) before getting in the boat for the half mile trip to the ramp. While we were waiting on the ramp I must have accidentally tapped the switch and it stuck in the down position. I didn't hear the drive going down because the boat behind me had a diesel truck pulling it and my vent blower was running. But this is the really annoying part....the trim gauge only indicates when the ignition key is set to start/ position, so I had no clue that drive was not only down, but was still being driven down. I know I've grumbled to my wife a number of time that I thought that the gauge set up is really stupid. Bottom line, I tore up my skeg by pure accident, but was handily assisted by a defective switch and a really dumb controls set up. Is it just my boat, or do other boaters have the same problem of not knowing where the trim is set without turning the ignition on?
Kev.

 

[Thad]

Re: I knew it was going to happen!

Sorry to hear about that.

I have had three boats with power tilt & trim. All three of them had to have the key on for the gauge to operate. It runs through the ignition switch with the rest of the instrument cluster. I suppose you could bypass the switch, but would worry about battery drainage or premature gauge failure. Maybe if you put it on a seperate toggle then you could turn it on at your leisure.

 

[CN Spots]

Re: I knew it was going to happen!

Dang that stinks! Our boat has three power trim switches, all of which will work even if the main power switch is off and the key is out of the ignition. No gauges but it's an outboard and easier to see than an outdrive.

Personally, I think the major problem is the lack of standardized electrical systems on boats. Look under any console of most boats and you'll have a birds nest of wires and hodge-podge connectors going to some type of aftermarket fuse/distribution block due mainly in part to the optional components installed at the dealer or the PO. imho.

 

[CaptainKev]

Re: I knew it was going to happen!

I'm going to by-pass the ignition circuits for the trim gauge only. I looked at my manual last evening for a wiring schematic but the trim & tilt circuits aren't even in there. I also looked in the Volvo manual to see where the sender gets it's power.......no luck there either. I'm intending to hook everything up on the switched side of the battery, so I'm not overly concerned about battery drain because I only turn the battery/batteries on at my house for pre-launch checks and at the ramp just prior to launching. All other times they are off at the switch. On a side rant............it seems that almost everything I buy today does not come with decent documentation. If the product came with a "wiring diagram" it never appears to match the product. The translation from English to some Asian tongue is always interesting i.e. "Pilot Lamp" to "Pirate Ramp" but I guess the bottom line is that the products are not designed to be repaired by somebody other that a $120/hr. technician.
Kev.

 

[CN Spots]

Re: I knew it was going to happen!

I don't think they're designed to be repaired at all.