Just thought of something the other day that I will find vert useful on my boat. When it is dark I have a difficult time finding the proper switches to turn on the cabin lights on the panel. I remembered back to my days with the F-4 Phantom and what we did here. I put a piece of tubing on the switch so that it sticks out further than the others. Now I can just wave my hand across the panel and turn the switch on or off, I do not even have to look at it. You can even make some shorter or longer than the others if you want to identify more than one switch. Knew all that training would come in handy someday.
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Why don't you use the panel light??
All the Hunter's I've seen have back lighting on the electrical panel.
All the Hunter's I've seen have back lighting on the electrical panel.
benefits of training
Rick - remember how you knew which end of the combination flare/smoke bomb to use in the dark in a survival situation. I wonder what they use to help people remember now in a more enlightened age?
Rick - remember how you knew which end of the combination flare/smoke bomb to use in the dark in a survival situation. I wonder what they use to help people remember now in a more enlightened age?
in the dark
I think i know what Rick ment. When we show up to our boat for the weekend and its dark I have to use the brail method to find the DC main switch. So I leave a cabin light on so when I finaly do switch the DC main the boat has a light to see with. If only I could remember a flashlight I would't break my toes each time kicking things to get to the panel. Andy Hansom
I think i know what Rick ment. When we show up to our boat for the weekend and its dark I have to use the brail method to find the DC main switch. So I leave a cabin light on so when I finaly do switch the DC main the boat has a light to see with. If only I could remember a flashlight I would't break my toes each time kicking things to get to the panel. Andy Hansom
Switch Location
I suspect the switch is in the same position each time.
If your power panel is not located within an arm's reach of the companionway, why not keep a mini flashlight tied to or Velcro'd to one of the hand holds on the companionway? You can also mount a battery-powered overhead light in the companionway area so as soon as you open the hatch you can turn a light on.
I suspect the switch is in the same position each time.
If your power panel is not located within an arm's reach of the companionway, why not keep a mini flashlight tied to or Velcro'd to one of the hand holds on the companionway? You can also mount a battery-powered overhead light in the companionway area so as soon as you open the hatch you can turn a light on.Mount a Flashlight
Jay has a good idea, but we carried it one step further. Just inside and off to one side of the companionway in our 33, we mounted a 4 D-cell Maglight using Maglite's mounting clips. The clips are very secure, so there is no fear of the flashlight coming loose in heavy seas. I always keep the flashlight with the lighted end pointing up, so leaving it in the mounting clips and turning it on lights the cabin. The added benefit of using such a large light is that it works well while underway to pick up nav aids, etc. if my handheld spot light isn't handy.
Jay has a good idea, but we carried it one step further. Just inside and off to one side of the companionway in our 33, we mounted a 4 D-cell Maglight using Maglite's mounting clips. The clips are very secure, so there is no fear of the flashlight coming loose in heavy seas. I always keep the flashlight with the lighted end pointing up, so leaving it in the mounting clips and turning it on lights the cabin. The added benefit of using such a large light is that it works well while underway to pick up nav aids, etc. if my handheld spot light isn't handy.
I Remember all those switches
All the other sugestions are fine. I did mine now it took 5 seconds to do and 19 cents for the tube. The biggest benift is for all the others who visit on the boat I can ask them to turn on the switch to get light in the cabin. My switches remain in the same order but I'll be damned if I ever remember without reading them.
All the other sugestions are fine. I did mine now it took 5 seconds to do and 19 cents for the tube. The biggest benift is for all the others who visit on the boat I can ask them to turn on the switch to get light in the cabin. My switches remain in the same order but I'll be damned if I ever remember without reading them.
Cockpit locker
I keep an inexpensive AA-battery flashlight handy in a cockpit locker for those dark nights when I come aboard and have to fumble with the combination lock on the companionway. If I need the light there, then I will also need it to light the control panel once below. But I like the idea of the tubing. Good idea!
I keep an inexpensive AA-battery flashlight handy in a cockpit locker for those dark nights when I come aboard and have to fumble with the combination lock on the companionway. If I need the light there, then I will also need it to light the control panel once below. But I like the idea of the tubing. Good idea!
Boat Power
Somewher along the line I may have lost the bubble. I never leave the boat with any electrical power connected. I turn the batteries off at the master switch and unplugg shore power. Stray voltage to a boat is a big source of electrolalsys (spelling ??). My sump pump is wired directly to a battery for that need. In any case the subject of boat power is a good thread for another exchange. Bob Dean S/V Sundance H35
Somewher along the line I may have lost the bubble. I never leave the boat with any electrical power connected. I turn the batteries off at the master switch and unplugg shore power. Stray voltage to a boat is a big source of electrolalsys (spelling ??). My sump pump is wired directly to a battery for that need. In any case the subject of boat power is a good thread for another exchange. Bob Dean S/V Sundance H35
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