Frustration is over

[wakejunky]

It has taken me more than 3 years to troubleshoot a problem I had with my stereo and yesterday I found the problem. For years I would have a problem with the stereo cutting out after hitting rollers or even when I had turned it up really loud. It would cut out the cabin speakers but, keep the tower speakers running and then come back after some short time. I always went after the stereo wiring and went so far as to replace the stereo power distribution block, completely re-wire the stereo wiring and the problem persisted. I have a multi-amped system so, there must have been enough capacity in one of the amps to keep the amp on whereas the other it would cut out.
Well yesterday, I had to replace my batteries and decided to blast the stereo a bit and sure enough the problem would occur, Then for some reason I started to bang on the side panel where the bilge pump switch is located and I could reproduce the problem. So, I keep messing with the wires behind the panel enough and traced it back to the Bilge switch, which turns the whole boat on. I pulled the switch out and found that the mechanical mounting of the tabs had a lot of play in them. It wasn't the wiring connection but, the tabs that are attached to the switch itself. They would rock back and forth and cause the connection to disconnect from the power. Although, it wouldn't shut down the boat, it would kill the main stereo head unit. At this point head unit on only used for triggering the amps because who listens to the radio or CDs anymore?
So, my multi-year frustration has ended and I will now be able to run down the lake without the stereo cutting out, I'm so stoked.

[lucky7t]

Thanks for the post. I'm sure it will help others someday