Pursuit 3000 Offshore Hatch Switch in Engine Room.

[Trpntj]

Fellow Offshore owners and possibly Express owners. As you know accessing the engines from lifting the floor on these boats is like crawling into a crocodiles mouth as one person put it. On some boat like mine it is not even possible due to the placement and size of the generator. The previous owner showed me that if I went through the top access hatch then had another person lift the main hatch(from the rocker switch located in cockpit), that gave you all the room necessary to get around the engines.

Well I do not always have a person around to aid me so, I came up with the simple idea to add a hatch lift switch that was accessible when inside the engine compartment from the hatch at the helm seat. A trip to west marine and trying to pick out a suitable momentary 3 way rocker switch and wondering how/where to mount I stumbled upon this gem.

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/st ... gcQayUaw4'

Perfect for what I needed to accomplish, fully sealed, labeled, high rating, and with a flush back; mounts to any surface with two screws. Well with 12' of 14-3 wire:

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=620567&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&storeId=11151&storeNum=50523&subdeptNum=50560&classNum=50564#.ULgdDKyUaw4

and 3 new spade connectors and heat shrink, I was ready for my simple improvement.

I removed the switch from under the gunnel in the cockpit, spliced in the new wire, and ran it around to the forward bulkhead of the engine compartment. Found a suirable mounting location. Now I can enter from the top hatch, press a button, and viola the hatch rises. Giving me all the access I need to get around the engines for maintenance and such.

Will post pictures when I get them.

Tripper

Cost 68 Bucks in material, kind of $$ but necessary due to the big Kohler Genset mounted between motors.

[YOLO]

That sounds like a great mod, thanks for sharing!

[MarkT]

That is a great idea for that boat. Another problem is what to do with batteries in the winter time. I take mine out and keep them stored and charged at home. But when you take them out either you leave the hatch up or run a jumper wire in the bilge so you can shut the hatch and then pull the last battery out through the "day hatch". I put in a double power post just above the port battery and then another in the cockpit shower box. I ran a wire connecting them. Now I can pull both batteries with the hatch open and connect a jumper wire from one battery to the posts in the shower box giving me power to close the hatch. Then just carry the batteries off. Clean and simple.