instrument panel question

[huw]

on my 30, the temperature guage has suffered a seal failure, causing moisture to fog up the inside of the dial. not only is this unsightly, i fear it will compromise the longevity of the gauge. however, i can't seem to figure out how to fix this. i took off the instrument panel, and a bracket behind the guage, but the guage itself was still firmly attached, and it wasn't immediately obvious to me how to remove it. if anyone else has had to fix this, please share the secret. and do i have to replace the whole gauge, or is it possible to renew the perished seal only?

on a related topic, i was thinking it might be a good idea to make a little guard for the ignition key, for in its exposed location, people keep kicking it (and then they deny having done so). the last thing i want to happen is have someone break the key off while sailing, as the thought of having to try to return to my slip under sail alone is rather unpleasant. has anyone else made such a guard?

thanks, huw



hmeyrick@ameritech.net

[boyd]

On Tern the instrument panel is a Westerbeke and has a slip on plastic cover. I have had moisture in all of the gages at various times. It does not seem to damage them much. The gages themselves are not waterproof from behind. The light bulb twists into a socket in the back of each gage and leaves it subject to water intrusion. I removed the instrument panel and rebedded it (including the screws)in white silicone caulk. This prevents water from running behind the panel and getting into the gages..... over time the light bulb's heat will cook out any moisture. As long as the silicone caulk is good the gages stay dry. Hope this helps...

Boyd

on my 30, the temperature guage has suffered a seal failure, causing moisture to fog up the inside of the dial. not only is this unsightly, i fear it will compromise the longevity of the gauge. however, i can't seem to figure out how to fix this. i took off the instrument panel, and a bracket behind the guage, but the guage itself was still firmly attached, and it wasn't immediately obvious to me how to remove it. if anyone else has had to fix this, please share the secret. and do i have to replace the whole gauge, or is it possible to renew the perished seal only?

on a related topic, i was thinking it might be a good idea to make a little guard for the ignition key, for in its exposed location, people keep kicking it (and then they deny having done so). the last thing i want to happen is have someone break the key off while sailing, as the thought of having to try to return to my slip under sail alone is rather unpleasant. has anyone else made such a guard?

thanks, huw

Tern30@aol.com

[Tom]

I don't know about the 30, but on my 31 after you turn the ingnition key on you can pull it out of the ignition without shutting it off. Unlike your car where the key is trapped, it comes right out. I turn the key on and then take it out and put it away. If you need to stop in a hurry the T handle shuts it down anyway. I think the ignition was designed for exactly this purpose.

on my 30, the temperature guage has suffered a seal failure, causing moisture to fog up the inside of the dial. not only is this unsightly, i fear it will compromise the longevity of the gauge. however, i can't seem to figure out how to fix this. i took off the instrument panel, and a bracket behind the guage, but the guage itself was still firmly attached, and it wasn't immediately obvious to me how to remove it. if anyone else has had to fix this, please share the secret. and do i have to replace the whole gauge, or is it possible to renew the perished seal only?

on a related topic, i was thinking it might be a good idea to make a little guard for the ignition key, for in its exposed location, people keep kicking it (and then they deny having done so). the last thing i want to happen is have someone break the key off while sailing, as the thought of having to try to return to my slip under sail alone is rather unpleasant. has anyone else made such a guard?

thanks, huw

TomCambria@mindspring.com

[warren stringer]

I don't know about the 30, but on my 31 after you turn the ingnition key on you can pull it out of the ignition without shutting it off. Unlike your car where the key is trapped, it comes right out. I turn the key on and then take it out and put it away. If you need to stop in a hurry the T handle shuts it down anyway. I think the ignition was designed for exactly this purpose.

If you do this, aren't you shutting down your engine instruments?

Warren



wstringer@aristotle.net

[Tom]

Just the reverse, you're insuring they can't be shut down. You turn the key on and then remove it while it is still in the on position. Youn don't turn it back to off and remove it. Unlike your car which I think is what you're picturing the key comes out while the ignition gauges and everything else stays on. In fact you can't shut the gauges off unless you go get the key insert it again and turn it back to off. Try it, you'll be surprised you didn't realize this before. The slot is straight up and down when you put the key in. Then you twist quarter turn to the right and everything comes on. Then with the key still in the three o'clock position more or less you just pull it out -- the slot is still to the right and all the gauges and the fuel pump etc. is still on. To turn the gauges off you have to go get the key put it in while still in the three o'clock position and then twist it back up to 12 o'clock high or straight up and down to shut things off. On your car you have to shut things off to get the key out, but on your boat you don't. The key comes out no matter what position it is in, thus it is quite possible to turn everything on and then remove the key without shutting things off so that nobody can accidentally kick it while you're running and break the key off in the slot.

I don't know about the 30, but on my 31 after you turn the ingnition key on you can pull it out of the ignition without shutting it off. Unlike your car where the key is trapped, it comes right out. I turn the key on and then take it out and put it away. If you need to stop in a hurry the T handle shuts it down anyway. I think the ignition was designed for exactly this purpose.

If you do this, aren't you shutting down your engine instruments?

Warren

TomCambria@mindspring.com