Perkins after we replaced the sliding doors.
When we first got our Freeport one of the first things, we do was replace the engine control plexus glass sliding covers. They were near impossible to see through and needed replacing. It did make a big difference. November 2011 - Chip & Debbie 💑 Currently in Marina Cortez ⛵ in San Diego, SoCal
Of course, one of the sliders was a bit too wide making it real hard to put in or remove. Not a big deal because we never removed them, till we re-powered.
The old Perkins 4-108
did not use a key for starting. The starting button was on one side. Slide back
the cover and press the button if I can remember correctly. It is close enough
to make the point. The Beta
Marine engine controls have a key start right in the
middle. The sliding doors would always be in the way and could not be used. The
key also sticks out just enough to make the doors hit it and not slide.
We searched for a
solution and came up with many that required fabricating, can we say “project”?
We toying with this and getting nowhere and we were kind of
waiting for Phil to come back and do some finish work on the engine install. We
are going to replace the water heater and that is one reason why we have not
called Phil to come back, we have not gotten to the water heater.
Phil had his own ideas, and we were not keen on his solution earthier.
Debbie painted the inside white during the Beta install, we knew the new panel backing was going to be white star board.
We had some big rain
this past weekend and the water drains off the lazarette lid and right onto the gauges.
We decide it was time to act.
Beat engine panel installed with sliding doors installed. But you cannot get the key in!
We decided to cut a
hole in the middle of the two sliding doors so we could put the key in and turn
it. Then we will cut the key top off a slight bit so it clears the doors (we
may yet not need to do this as once the key is turned the doors slide) but we
shall see.
It took some taping, and we drew a whole with a coffee cup as
the template. Then a re-fit proved it was off a bit and a slight re-draw.
We also trimmed the
side of the wide one.
To do the trimming we
used the sander and 80 grit.
Nice but no protection for the engine panel
To do the cutting we
used the Dremel and a wore out saw blade. With the speed on low and doing many
passes we got the hole cut out on both pieces.
Then sanding the
edges with the wore out 80 grit the job is mostly done. We shall see with a
re-fit and an engine start!
Yes, the hole is not round like the coffee cup but for free and something that works it is better than what we had, two sliding doors sitting in the nav station and wet engine controls.
The outside frame will get painted white at some yet determined time :)
A rubber ball will do
the trick of covering the hole while not in use. This will keep out any water
and dirt from the key switch. As for heavy rain while motoring under way that
may be hitting the engine controls, well we have not thought of that one yet,
guess blue tape would work :)?
We have more rain coming this weekend, always on the dam weekend!
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