push button start

[oldjeep]

"Thief ready" - To some extent it must depend where you live. I can't say that I know of anyone who removes keys from boats at the dock, on the lift, etc. Also never heard of anyone ever having a boat stolen locally either from the water or sitting on a trailer in the driveway.

 

[roffey]

Personally, I am no genius but I bet I could hot wire a boat in no time. Keys just keep the honest people away. As stated earlier my keys are in the boat from the time I get back to the cottage to the time I leave. If someone wants my boat all they need to do is start it and go. I bet if you were to ask a thief if keys are a deterrent they would say no, if they want it its gone keys or not and that is what boat insurance is for.

 

[WIMUSKY]

It would be kinda cool to have a push button. But as said, the work vs the reward, well........... If you really want it, go for it.... My key never leaves the ignition.

Heck, half the people around here leaves the keys in the their vehicle ignitions. Sometimes I see city people lock their doors at this tiny little gas station. There "may" be one other car around. While us locals leave the keys..... And the vehicle running in winter....

My wife has push button start on her car. When I remote start it, she always has to tell me to push the button b/4 I can put the knob in gear, the fob stays in my pocket. I'll never learn how to drive the thing...

 

[Scott Danforth]

I have actually witnessed people stealing a boat because keys were left in it a local restaurant on the water. of course, I didnt know it at the time, however 10 minutes later someone comes by screaming "their stealing my boat, their stealing my boat" as the thieves are off at WOT. Since I was there I provided the best description I could to the LEO's.

local marina when I was growing up, had 3 boats on trailers disappear from the lot one afternoon. someone drove up, hooked on to the trailers and drove away. in all 3 instances, the trailers had coupling locks.

For those reasons, I never leave the keys in the boat, and now in addition to a tow coupling lock, I now run a lock cable thru a set of wheels. the best you can do is slow a thief down.


back to a push button start. using a momentary switch for the start function along with a sustained switch for ignition and accessories is fine vs a keyed ignition switch. Its your boat, do what you want. however adding auto-start or one-button-start is complicated.

With IP65 ignition switches under $30 vs good IP65 rated push button switches and toggle switches at over $15 each, it doesnt make sense financially.

 

[drrpm]

For a boat on a lift out at the lake, a key start doesn't really provide any significant safety from theft. Whether its worth the time and trouble to install a push button start is really up to the OP. I wouldn't bother but not because I'd worry about the boat being stolen.

 

[snowman246]

I added a push button start to mine during the rebuild. The key switch is still in place and functions, however, the starter solenoid on older 3.0's are crap and die regularly. I only added it to allow me to start the boat if the solenoid craps out while I'm on water. ​

"Keys" are designed like locks...to keep honest people out. If someone wants it they will take it one way or another.

 

[bruceb58]

I only added it to allow me to start the boat if the solenoid craps out while I'm on water.

How is a push button start switch going to help you if your starter solenoid fails?

 

[Scott Danforth]

He probably put a 60 amp Cole Hersee push-button directly across the S and B terminals on the battery.

 

[Old Ironmaker]

I would love to have a push button start on the boat just like my Nissan. More than once I forgot my key at home after making the drive to the marina where I have a slip. Now I put a spare for each motor on my car key ring. I would never leave my key in the boat at the slip. The only thing I would be wondering about is the choke. Push the key in and it chokes the carb, how would that work with a push button start is my question?

 

[oldjeep]

The only thing I would be wondering about is the choke. Push the key in and it chokes the carb, how would that work with a push button start is my question?

Most "modern" carb engines have electric heat chokes. Sounds like you have something similar to the old 2 stroke outboard on my folks pontoon. Suppose you could add in a time delay relay for the choke, but that would choke even when doing a warm restart.

 

[redneck joe]

it doesnt make sense financially.

the whole idea of a boat doesn't make sense financially....

 

[bruceb58]

1. I keep my keys in my ignition at all times.
2. My boat sits in my driveway with no coupler lock.
3. I have insurance.

 

[snowman246]

How is a push button start switch going to help you if your starter solenoid fails?

Very simple, push the button and the starter engages. The 3.0 has a very weak designed slave solenoid that fails before the solenoid on top of the starter. The button is a bypass for that.

 

[bruceb58]

Very simple, push the button and the starter engages. The 3.0 has a very weak designed slave solenoid that fails before the solenoid on top of the starter. The button is a bypass for that.

OK...you said starter solenoid in your post. That was confusing.

 

[roscoe]

Carefully you don't accidentally bump into that starter switch while under way.


OK, so you need a switch for the ignition, one for the choke, and one for the starter.

Wouldn't it be nice if someone would make a small simple to operate, all in one switch, that could perform all three functions?

Oh, never mind.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Wouldn't it be nice if someone would make a small simple to operate, all in one switch, that could perform all three functions?

Oh, never mind.

^+1 ........'nuff said

 

[bruceb58]

Wouldn't it be nice if someone would make a small simple to operate, all in one switch, that could perform all three functions?

Perfect!!!!

 

[bruceb58]

The 3.0 has a very weak designed slave solenoid that fails before the solenoid on top of the starter. The button is a bypass for that.

BTW, if you are getting slave solenoids to fail, you have something else very wrong.

 

[snowman246]

I have nothing wrong. I refuse to pay Mercruiser the insane prices for a new one and the Chinese versions are junk.

 

[oldjeep]

I have nothing wrong. I refuse to pay Mercruiser the insane prices for a new one and the Chinese versions are junk.

Huh? Looks like the genuine Mercruiser ones are $25 and the aftermarket ones are $12-$20. In 12 years with 3.0L's never had one fail or heard of one failing. Looks like pretty much every mercruiser ever made uses the same part.

http://www.discountstarterandalterna...ppwRoCYrXw_wcB
http://www.amazon.com/STARTER-SLAVE-SOLENOID-GLM-Number/dp/B004AR1F4E