Good source for higher end switches but at good $$

[John R]

I'm finding some good sources for Carling Contura Rocker Switches (which I was originally going to use for my 23)

but I'm really now leaning to the Lit Tip Toggle switches. SS lever, knurled nut, DPDT, momentary, and single throw switches



I think a really schweet switch array can be built with these instead... Any thoughts?

[EBEACH]

John,

This is where I bought all my stuff. Del City Wire,switches,connectors, and trailer stuff. Good prices, but if you order, make sure it ships as one order.

I went with toggles switches, and rubber boots. Get the catalog. By the way, I see the surf and turf switches are on special now

[Dave Hirshberg]

John,
Just my .02 but those contour switches are junk. The casing on the back is plastic and I can't tell you how many I've had fail on different boats. Just yesterday I had a hell of a time with a starter not disengaging on a 35 Cabo. It had Cabo toggles on the lower helm which seemed to work correctly but still a problem. I pull the engine harness and checked, for shorts anf found nothing. Scratched my head for a couple hours and called a freind. He said, "did you check the upper station ?" [img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img] Sure enough, one of those stupid contour rockers had failed and shorted out the ignition. Nothing but old style heavy duty toggles for me.

[John R]

70's - that's what I want to use is the metal, sealed marine toggle switches. I do want the ones with the lighted tips. As for the Conturas - just about every boat manufacturer is using them now...

[Scott]

John
Depending on where your mounting those switches the toggle may or may not work. If using the old Formica dash or replacing the Formica dash in a similar fashion and same thickness they'll work. Off the top of my head I don’t remember seeing toggles with threaded shafts long enough to go through the full thickness of the dash UNLESS the core was cut away and removed… similar to areas behind the Formica .



The two smaller holes on the right were holes made to accommodate toggles ..... the five smaller holes where push/pull they had a longer threaded shaft



I would look for Cole Hersee, Anchor etc... as they are commonly seen in use for marine environment. I would also use boots on the switches especially given their exposure to the elements and salt ( that doesn’t help your lit toggles however)

If you are doing a complete electrical overhaul... have you thought about a prefabricated panel ???
Blue Sea, Hella, Paneltronics etc….. any combo of fuse/circuit breaker, backlit labels, status indicator lights, waterproof, vertical/ horizontal orientation, panel color, amount of switches, toggle /rocker, different switch functions and its all put together for you and its neat and clean

[John R]

Scott - yeh, I know I need to run with a low thickness panel wherever I mount them - as well as my flush electronics, my guages, etc...

I'm not a big fan of the prepackaged panels - yes they work well and are well designed - I just want to kicj it up a notch [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

I'm going to see what Anchor has too