Pros and Cons of Starter Button vs. Keyed Switch

[roadnsky]

What I envision is a toggle that lights when it's on, but has a transparent cover to resist accidental switching, and a boot to resist moisture. Does such a thing exist?

Welllllll...... sorta.
I have an ignition toggle that lights and is protected from moisture and getting kicked by the cool acrylic cover that came with my MMI panel.

[thatch]

One item on Jerry's dash, that might otherwise go unnoticed, is his choice to use a vacuum gauge rather than a tach. While a tach will tell you "how fast" you are spinning the engine, a vacuum gauge will tell you "how hard" the engine is working.
Tom

[Mo]

I have a pull switch for ignition and push button for start. Has worked flawlessly for years now. Don't worry about someone taking the boat at all.

As for security, well I'm fortunate enough to be in a yacht club that is actually on a military base....not much happens here that someone isn't going to see. Theft is not a big issue at all. The club was robbed of things we didn't know went missing a number of years back. I caught the two doing it one evening when I went to check the boat during a storm...apparently they came when they figured no one was around! After the two were charged, the MP's then put surveillance on them. 2 weeks later they found the stash... stolen outboards, fenders etc, you name it in one of the perps garages. We got it all back and both did time. Since then, no issues. I don't lock the boat and most don't...they don't come in our yacht club through he gates or by water without catching someone's attention.

[ndutton]

Re: keyswitch as security, I have zero concerns with my toggle switch ignition. Just to get the engine to run a nogoodnik would have to perform three additional actions and if they figured that out, a fourth to silence the EWDS and get more than 100 yards away.

[roadnsky]

While a tach will tell you "how fast" you are spinning the engine, a vacuum gauge will tell you "how hard" the engine is working.

Since I like gauges so much I also have a big TACH mounted where the old Depth Gauge used to be.
Best of both worlds.


Ditto on the security concerns. No issue where I am.
And, like Neil, you'd have to figure out a couple of other things before you'd even get the engine to start.

[joe_db]

I think a large used sailboat is about the last thing on the planet anyone wants to steal
Want to watch something get stolen, park a nice fishing boat with a nice outboard someplace dark and it won't last out the week.