What is this? Why is it on my boat?

[craigtoo]

Originally Posted by JohnRPollard

Okay Craigtoo,

Hasn't this been fun? But we've made you suffer long enough. All of us old timers know exactly what the device is, we were just enjoying this little prank at your expense. No hard feelings, I hope?

What you have is found on most boats built after about 1975, when certain new electrical safety standards were promulgated. Usually it is hidden away in an obscure location (often the underside of the deck inside a cockpit locker) but some builders felt it was important to install it more prominently/accessible.

What that device is is a master electrical circuit breaker. By clipping it into its position, the master electrical circuit for the entire boat is completed. Think of it as sort of a giant fuse. On the back side of those clips they are connected to some very heavy gauge wire, which you may not be able to see because they usually embed it in the cabinetry. The center portion of the conducting rod is insulated with rubber hose, so that you can grab on to it and remove it from the clips without getting a shock.

Whatever you do, DO NOT remove this mega master fuse for any extended periods of time. That is because not only will you bypass the principal surge protection/absorption for your electrical system, but you will also cause 12V electricity to bleed outside of the hull via the emergency secondary bypass, which will quickly burn through your zincs and begin eating at your bronze thru-hulls.

Sorry to toy with you. Hopefully this explanation puts the mystery to rest...

Brilliant...

I'm gonna go check to see if the voltage is right by connecting the leads with my tongue now...

[KODAD]

limbo bar? padded so you don't hurt your head...... damn, now I need a beer............

[Geosailor]

It's a seacock cleaner. Loosen the clamps, slide the hose over the barb, tighten the clamps, then poke out whatever is clogging the opening. The hose is long enough to extend above the waterline. The PO probably read about it in a magazine, built it, then never used it... Even put 2 clamps on both ends of the hose. Does anal retentive have a hyphen???

[Sapperwhite]

Originally Posted by Geosailor

It's a seacock cleaner. Loosen the clamps, slide the hose over the barb, tighten the clamps, then poke out whatever is clogging the opening. The hose is long enough to extend above the waterline. The PO probably read about it in a magazine, built it, then never used it... Even put 2 clamps on both ends of the hose. Does anal retentive have a hyphen???

That sounds right actually.

What size is the hose and pipe size, does it match your thru hull size?

[craigtoo]

Originally Posted by Sapperwhite

That sounds right actually.

What size is the hose and pipe size, does it match your thru hull size?

No way. The hose clamps 2 of them on Both ends... I have the SPartan type SeaCocks. Wedge shaped.

And... why would you want to hang a nasty sea **** cleaner in a closet?

I just don't see it being that....

[cssdengr]

As I'm selling a boat I've just built three of these which I'm going to mount in the closet, seat locker and over the V-berth. To make it more fun I've put a cotter pin through the hole in one of them and attached a red tag that says "Warning: Remove Before Firing".

Anything else I should include?

[bhcva]

CSS...call Saturday Night Live....they need you!!!

[craigtoo]

Originally Posted by cssdengr

As I'm selling a boat I've just built three of these which I'm going to mount in the closet, seat locker and over the V-berth. To make it more fun I've put a cotter pin through the hole in one of them and attached a red tag that says "Warning: Remove Before Firing".

Anything else I should include?

HAHhahaahQ!

AWESOME...

Best response yet!

LMAO

[sailingdog]

If you're feeling really mischievious... drill a big bore hole down one end, and fill it with kitty litter wet down with motor oil. That'll make them think.

Originally Posted by cssdengr

As I'm selling a boat I've just built three of these which I'm going to mount in the closet, seat locker and over the V-berth. To make it more fun I've put a cotter pin through the hole in one of them and attached a red tag that says "Warning: Remove Before Firing".

Anything else I should include?

[Mary51]

The padding is to prevent any annoying rattling noise.

Anal-retentive has a hyphen. What with the special place to store this, and two hose clamps, I'm thinking the po has a hyphen too.

Mary