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Author Topic:   Ignition Key Switch: Key Replacement

EyeDock posted 08-24-2007 10:11 PM ET (US)
I left my boat and my only key at the shop for hull repairs. Someone lost that key and now I am high and dry. (I promise that I ran all around town 2yrs ago trying to get a usable spare). Motor 2str Merc 115, 1992. Ignition switch allows me to push in to choke. Any suggestions if I want to use the boat again? Thanks for your consideration.
Chuck Tribolet posted 08-24-2007 11:02 PM ET (US)
1. The shop lost the key, it's the shop's problem.

2. Solution to the problem is to replace the ignition switch.

3. Motor isn't relelvant, ignition switch is.

Chuck

EyeDock posted 08-25-2007 08:40 AM ET (US)
Thanks Chuck, I've still got the check so he is still looking. I'll swing by my friendly Merc shop today andsee if the master key set works this time. After that it will be time for cutting and splicing a new ignition switch. I appreciate your reply. -Chris-
Chuck Tribolet posted 08-25-2007 10:32 AM ET (US)
You shouldn't need to cut and splice. There will be a plug
inside the console. Talk to the Merc shop about it.

Chuck
bill705 posted 08-25-2007 12:25 PM ET (US)
EyeDock:
I've got a 1991 engine and I think that there were only about 12 different keys for it, 1A thru 1F and 2A thru 2F.
The number was stamped on my key and I wrote it down in the owner's manual. When I needed one I went to the Mercury dealer and asked for a 1B key and he had a drawer full of them. I would think you should be able to go to a dealer and ask to try a few keys till one fit. They're $2.25 each on Mercury's parts express site.
Good luck:
Bill
blackdog54 posted 08-26-2007 11:15 AM ET (US)
Bill705 is correct on the Merc keys. For the 35 I had on my 13, there were only 4 choices for that year, 1A, 1B, 2A and 2B. I don't know if the Merc dealer can tell you by the switch which one is yours.
I am with Chuck though, this is the shop's problem to solve, quickly.
Henry posted 08-26-2007 04:13 PM ET (US)
It would be the responsibility of a reputable, honest shop with integrity and a sense of customer service.
But it is a problem for the boat owner who didn't get a key when he went back to get his boat and has been taken to the point of having to post a request asking what to do to get a new key.
An honest shop would have presented the boat owner with a new set of keys and said "sorry we lost your keys but here is a new set." PERIOD. The fact that that didn't happen shows that the shop is operated by a hack who tried to shrug off his responsibility. When a shop loses a key and doesn't immediately replace it, what does that say about the shop? It says they are disorganized, careless, stupid, greedy, pay no attention to detail, and probably behaved the same way in regard to the work that they did on the boat. They are the types that would test run your motor without water running through it. They wouldn't care you weren't there to see it. I would never trust such an establishment again!! This type of behavior is all too common nowadays and that is one reason why I hate to take my boat to anyone for anything. The industry is full of irresponsible hacks.
Sorry for the diatribe folks, but I just get angry when I hear about this kind of thing.
Tom Hemphill posted 08-26-2007 05:18 PM ET (US)
Thank you bill705 and blackdog54 for that very helpful information for Mercury outboard owners. For my other vehicles I've always been careful to keep a spare key; until this point that discipline hasn't extended to my boat. Now, armed with this new information, I have observed that the key for my 1987 35-horsepower is stamped "1F," and I've entered that number in the space so provided in its owner's manual, and I'll purchase a spare.
EyeDock posted 08-31-2007 09:14 PM ET (US)
Thanks to all replys. I dragged the boat to my friendly Merc shop (another guy in the adjacent county) and he had a first class set of master keys. I was vry pleased that the third key was the charm. They salesman asked if I wanted 1 or 2. I now have 3!. Honestly a few years ago I ran around to locksmiths looking to have a spare ground. No one had the blank. I was able to pick the cam lock on the console. They needed to be changed anyway. The repair guy's check was mailed the minute that I got a key that worked. I am still ticked a bout the trailor lock keys and registration forms. Hopehe thinks to call me when they turn up later tis fal. I appreciate the input.
Chuck Tribolet posted 09-02-2007 07:30 PM ET (US)
There are only a few keys for the cabinet lock on the console
too.

Chuck
DQ posted 09-11-2007 12:28 PM ET (US)
I had the opposite problem.
I brough my Montauk to the shop to be floated/ fitted to the newly purchased trailer. I didn't think to bring the key to the boat.
A day or so later I picked up the whole rig and drove home. While my son (8 years old) was checking everything out, he said to me "Dad, did they give you new keys to the boat?" and held up a very large key ring filled with Yamaha keys.
I brought the key ring back to the shop and asked them if they were missing something and held up the ring. The guy laughed and said something to the effect of "you could have gone on a few joy rides with that set of keys!".
It did get me some good will at the marina now...
JMARTIN posted 09-11-2007 01:15 PM ET (US)
The key to the 15 Sport on the bouy disappeared. Sometimes, it is hard to share. Thanks to this thread, I went to the dealer and got all 8 keys that might fit. Number 7 was the ticket and I was able to crab and play last weekend. John

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Author	Topic: Ignition Key Switch: Key Replacement
EyeDock	posted 08-24-2007 10:11 PM ET (US) I left my boat and my only key at the shop for hull repairs. Someone lost that key and now I am high and dry. (I promise that I ran all around town 2yrs ago trying to get a usable spare). Motor 2str Merc 115, 1992. Ignition switch allows me to push in to choke. Any suggestions if I want to use the boat again? Thanks for your consideration.
Chuck Tribolet	posted 08-24-2007 11:02 PM ET (US) 1. The shop lost the key, it's the shop's problem. 2. Solution to the problem is to replace the ignition switch. 3. Motor isn't relelvant, ignition switch is. Chuck
EyeDock	posted 08-25-2007 08:40 AM ET (US) Thanks Chuck, I've still got the check so he is still looking. I'll swing by my friendly Merc shop today andsee if the master key set works this time. After that it will be time for cutting and splicing a new ignition switch. I appreciate your reply. -Chris-
Chuck Tribolet	posted 08-25-2007 10:32 AM ET (US) You shouldn't need to cut and splice. There will be a plug inside the console. Talk to the Merc shop about it. Chuck
bill705	posted 08-25-2007 12:25 PM ET (US) EyeDock: I've got a 1991 engine and I think that there were only about 12 different keys for it, 1A thru 1F and 2A thru 2F. The number was stamped on my key and I wrote it down in the owner's manual. When I needed one I went to the Mercury dealer and asked for a 1B key and he had a drawer full of them. I would think you should be able to go to a dealer and ask to try a few keys till one fit. They're $2.25 each on Mercury's parts express site. Good luck: Bill
blackdog54	posted 08-26-2007 11:15 AM ET (US) Bill705 is correct on the Merc keys. For the 35 I had on my 13, there were only 4 choices for that year, 1A, 1B, 2A and 2B. I don't know if the Merc dealer can tell you by the switch which one is yours. I am with Chuck though, this is the shop's problem to solve, quickly.
Henry	posted 08-26-2007 04:13 PM ET (US) It would be the responsibility of a reputable, honest shop with integrity and a sense of customer service. But it is a problem for the boat owner who didn't get a key when he went back to get his boat and has been taken to the point of having to post a request asking what to do to get a new key. An honest shop would have presented the boat owner with a new set of keys and said "sorry we lost your keys but here is a new set." PERIOD. The fact that that didn't happen shows that the shop is operated by a hack who tried to shrug off his responsibility. When a shop loses a key and doesn't immediately replace it, what does that say about the shop? It says they are disorganized, careless, stupid, greedy, pay no attention to detail, and probably behaved the same way in regard to the work that they did on the boat. They are the types that would test run your motor without water running through it. They wouldn't care you weren't there to see it. I would never trust such an establishment again!! This type of behavior is all too common nowadays and that is one reason why I hate to take my boat to anyone for anything. The industry is full of irresponsible hacks. Sorry for the diatribe folks, but I just get angry when I hear about this kind of thing.
Tom Hemphill	posted 08-26-2007 05:18 PM ET (US) Thank you bill705 and blackdog54 for that very helpful information for Mercury outboard owners. For my other vehicles I've always been careful to keep a spare key; until this point that discipline hasn't extended to my boat. Now, armed with this new information, I have observed that the key for my 1987 35-horsepower is stamped "1F," and I've entered that number in the space so provided in its owner's manual, and I'll purchase a spare.
EyeDock	posted 08-31-2007 09:14 PM ET (US) Thanks to all replys. I dragged the boat to my friendly Merc shop (another guy in the adjacent county) and he had a first class set of master keys. I was vry pleased that the third key was the charm. They salesman asked if I wanted 1 or 2. I now have 3!. Honestly a few years ago I ran around to locksmiths looking to have a spare ground. No one had the blank. I was able to pick the cam lock on the console. They needed to be changed anyway. The repair guy's check was mailed the minute that I got a key that worked. I am still ticked a bout the trailor lock keys and registration forms. Hopehe thinks to call me when they turn up later tis fal. I appreciate the input.
Chuck Tribolet	posted 09-02-2007 07:30 PM ET (US) There are only a few keys for the cabinet lock on the console too. Chuck
DQ	posted 09-11-2007 12:28 PM ET (US) I had the opposite problem. I brough my Montauk to the shop to be floated/ fitted to the newly purchased trailer. I didn't think to bring the key to the boat. A day or so later I picked up the whole rig and drove home. While my son (8 years old) was checking everything out, he said to me "Dad, did they give you new keys to the boat?" and held up a very large key ring filled with Yamaha keys. I brought the key ring back to the shop and asked them if they were missing something and held up the ring. The guy laughed and said something to the effect of "you could have gone on a few joy rides with that set of keys!". It did get me some good will at the marina now...
JMARTIN	posted 09-11-2007 01:15 PM ET (US) The key to the 15 Sport on the bouy disappeared. Sometimes, it is hard to share. Thanks to this thread, I went to the dealer and got all 8 keys that might fit. Number 7 was the ticket and I was able to crab and play last weekend. John