Guest battery switch problems ?

Bob 04 H260

Bob 04 H260

.
May 16, 2007
1,509
Boatless ! 26 Ottawa, Ontario
I had my boat on the hard all summer. In July when the yard did the monthly inspection they called to say the battery switch had fallen apart.

I had a look at the situation when I got to Florida to relaunch the boat. The plastic plate that retains the knob and copper contactor had fractured from the pressure of the detent springs. All the internals parts had fallen out. With no contactor all 3 terminals in the switch were open. It effectively shut down all power in the boat and would not have been easy to deal with in a safe way off shore. Had we been doing a night crossing to the Bahamas we would have had no instruments or lights, only a handheld vhf, handheld GPS, and some battery powered hand lights.

In the past week every one I've talked to in the marine repair business around here knows these switches are a problem. Even the clerk at Westmarine. Apparently so does Guest as they changed the design I was told.

All this to say if you have one on your boat maybe think about changing it out before you get caught in a dangerous situation.

Bob
 
Maine Sail

Maine Sail

.
Feb 6, 1998
11,759
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
Bob 04 H260 said:
I had my boat on the hard all summer. In July when the yard did the monthly inspection they called to say the battery switch had fallen apart.

I had a look at the situation when I got to Florida to relaunch the boat. The plastic plate that retains the knob and copper contactor had fractured from the pressure of the detent springs. All the internals parts had fallen out. With no contactor all 3 terminals in the switch were open. It effectively shut down all power in the boat and would not have been easy to deal with in a safe way off shore. Had we been doing a night crossing to the Bahamas we would have had no instruments or lights, only a handheld vhf, handheld GPS, and some battery powered hand lights.

In the past week every one I've talked to in the marine repair business around here knows these switches are a problem. Even the clerk at Westmarine. Apparently so does Guest as they changed the design I was told.

All this to say if you have one on your boat maybe think about changing it out before you get caught in a dangerous situation.

Bob
Click to expand
Three words: Blue Sea Systems;)
 
shemandr

shemandr

.
Jan 1, 2006
7,994
Slickcraft 26 Sailfish
Thanks for the heads up. I used to have that boat. I hope the new owner is tuned in. I don't know how long stuff is supposed to last in this day and age, but I think 12-14 years is a little short of the mark for an item like that.
 
Stu Jackson

Stu Jackson

.
Feb 26, 2004
23,348
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
Bob 04 H260 said:
It effectively shut down all power in the boat and would not have been easy to deal with in a safe way off shore. Had we been doing a night crossing to the Bahamas we would have had no instruments or lights, only a handheld vhf, handheld GPS, and some battery powered hand lights.
Click to expand
Bob, of course the best solution is to obtain a better switch. However, while not easy, you should not be without recourse. If you understand how the boat is wired, then all you have to do is connect the right wires to each other. You could even use the posts on the dead switch for that purpose. Backup, plan ahead, know what you have.
 
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