Starboard switch panel goes south AGAIN !

R

Radiowaves

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About 2 years ago right before my main boating vacation my starboard panel went bad. It is the panel that controls some of those minor functions like navigation lights, anchor, horn, depth sounder, and many other needed functions. This panel is not the rocker switch type, but a small self contained panel that attaches via a wiring harness and sits in a well on the dash. It virtually has no replaceable parts. The unit costs about $400. The symptoms is not a full failure of all functions, but a ghostly random intermittent problem. It took a bit of convincing of the Surfside 3 service department to order the part and replace it. It was fixed on the morning that I was heading on vacation.

Last week, the same BS is starting again. I contacted my Captains Passport and found that this type of unit is only covered once under the warrantee and since it happened before I am SOL!!!

Anyone else have this problem ?
 
cant you replace swtiches ? how high tech can a panel be ? it shoudl be just individual switches ?

as much as the good people at Brunswick want you to believe you have to pay $400 for the whole thing, i doubt they make their own switches... you can probably get the swtiches somewhere or at least something close.
 
quote:
Originally posted by PascalG

cant you replace swtiches ? how high tech can a panel be ? it shoudl be just individual switches ?

as much as the good people at Brunswick want you to believe you have to pay $400 for the whole thing, i doubt they make their own switches... you can probably get the swtiches somewhere or at least something close.

Click to expand...
Pascal, The unit (see blow) is a complete sealed panel with a multi wire connector. There is a specific cutout in the dash and there is a well that this unit sits in. The switches are push buttons with a vinyl type covering.

Actual Dashboad.....

P4300008.jpg


From Manual.....
Helm-2003.jpg
 
ouch ! it is stylish and quicker to install when building the boat though...

the best way to describe this design is plain stupid. it may works in cars but in boats where moisture means switches need to be replaced ?

if it was my boat, i'd try to unseal the thing and see if it can be cleaned up...
 
I agree it is not the best design from a long term prospective. That is why I am posting to see if others are having the same problem. The good thing is once I order the part, I can install fairly easy, well sort of. 3 screws that are hard to reach, you must reach up though the bottom door or take out GPS to the left. Then there is a quick snap wire harness thing a ma jig and then all should be fine after $ 4 Benjamin’s. If you look at the Panel there is a lot of functions in a small area. Thats how Sea Ray gets so much stuff into a small area.

Since it happened before under warrantee, my concern is that my weekly boat washers / detailers who swear to me that they use no water on my console may be…. [:(!]
 
Brad,

I'm sure you've probably already done this, but have them point out to you where in the warranty paperwork provided to you does it say that this part will be replaced only once. If it is not in your paperwork, then I would go back at them as the replacement part or the design is defective and they should replace it again since you were not informed of this limitation when you bought the warranty.

Just my .02 on a slow afternoon.

Regards,
 
there is plenty of room on that small panel to line up enough conventional switches...

this is why i cringe when i see high tech electrical invading boats... like the touch screen, etc...
 
Cruisers was using these....they have since abandoned them and went back to regular switches
 
if they replaced it once already you have better ground to argue for another replacement - it is prone to failure. check clubsearay.com and see if others have had the same failure rate....get nasty if you have to - they will provide it free of charge in most cases
 
Check the connection at the harness and spary some QC Electronics cleaner on it.

Give is a shot, nothing to lose except a can of QC which you can use on your shorepower ends.
 
I had to have the same panel replaced on my '06 300 Dancer. The dealer service guy thought it was the cause of my windlass switch no turning off (it wasn't). If I ever need the panel replaced again under warranty and they give me the same bit about one replacement only someone at Sea Ray is going to have a bad day along with me.
 
Radiowaves,

Call Sea Ray customer service, be nice, fully explain the situation and see if they would help you out.

Maybe reduce the price or ???

Perhaps they can guide you in the right direction to make sure this does not happen again.

Jim Conroy
2004 420DA
 
Brad,
How do you test a unit like that? If possible find a fellow boater with the same panel and see if he'll let you make a swap for testing. I walked away from a 280 Sundancer for fear of those panels. I'd try anything before buying a new one. Since Surfside is now MM the guys there are not as willing to help as they were in the past, I guess fear of big brother stops them from good customer relations. I hope it turns out to be something simple.
Good Luck,Rob
 
Have you removed the connector cleaned and reattached it? If you have the old one open it up and see what's up.
 
I have the same problem. Those of you who had starboard pad fail, do you have radar? Its a wild idea,but since there s only 4 wires(pos neg in and two out) this pad has to send out electrial signals in different frequencies. Maybe the management could have a survey of those of us who have this switch pad and had problems or not check in. AND to show me my theory whether you have a radar. I ve had two switches go out. thanks
 
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