How to open a locked head?

[Maria Sarli]

The head compartment on my 2018 230 SPX has become locked from the inside. I cant figure out how to get it open. Picture attached. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[techmitch]

https://owners-resources.searayweb.com/owners-manuals-files/2018_SPX_230_Owners_Manual.pdf

https://s3.amazonaws.com/srweb-pvt-prod-us-east-1-294962523550/static/parts-manuals/2018_2018-SPX-230-Parts-Manual.pdf

Looks like #24 on page 33 & 35 of your parts manual.
I didn't see anything about it in your owners manual.
That hole looks it is for a lock knob or a key of sorts.
Maybe @Lazy Daze will chime in.

 

[bobeast]

Use a Phillips screw-driver to "punch" out the interior knob (through that hole in your picture). Then you can leverage the screwdriver against the plastic rotating cam in a spiral motion, to turn the cam from the outside. Sorry. don't know how else to describe it.

 

[Maria Sarli]

Use a Phillips screw-driver to "punch" out the interior knob (through that hole in your picture). Then you can leverage the screwdriver against the plastic rotating cam in a spiral motion, to turn the cam from the outside. Sorry. don't know how else to describe it.

Thanks. If by the interior knob you mean the interior handle i was able to “punch” that out. But i can’t do the second part. Nothing seems to turn that exterior piece. And i am not even sure whether i should be turning it clockwise or counterclockwise (since counterclockwise on the outside is clockwise on the inside, right?). Tried to pry the door open a bit and try to force the latch open but only succeeded in scratching stuff. Unless i am missing something obvious this is a horrible design and brings Sea Ray down a few notches in my book. How can it be so easy to accidentally lock something that can’t be unlocked? I’ve been using that compartment for storage so I’ve got lots of things I need in there.

Sorry. After wasting hours on this and probably doing more damage, i just needed to vent

 

[bobeast]

Venting is part of the process. When you punched out the inside lock handle it will have left a ring with a hole in the center. The trick is to make that ring turn. That's what happens when you turn the inside lock handle which you just punched out. In mine at least there is a keyway at the bottom which can be used to turn the ring. using a small screw driver or better yet, a hooked probe of some kind you need to get that ring to turn. mine turned in both directions, but yours may be different. I would try CCW first

 

[Flyer5]

I see it is a few weeks old now. But can you pry and flex the door and frame enough to get the pawl to pass?

 

[Maria Sarli]

I see it is a few weeks old now. But can you pry and flex the door and frame enough to get the pawl to pass?

Thanks. I have tried that unsuccessfully but it might work if i try harder to force it and am willing to risk damaging the door. It may come to that. Right now i have the handle off and i have ordered some tools that are hooked at the end that i am hoping will enable me to snake something in and find the release. If that doesnt work I wil probably do what you suggest. Still havent given up on what bobeast suggested either although i have not yet been able to get the “plastic rotating cam” he referred to to turn. It is frustrating. I have people coming in May who are going to want to tube and all of that is stored in this compartment.

 

[NespoJoe]

Just a thought...since the door hinges out, can you see the hinge pins? If so, perhaps you could remove the hinge pins and pull the door out that way?

 

[Njlarry]

First try dental floss to pull the latch into the door if hinges not accesdable.

 

[bobeast]

Thanks. I have tried that unsuccessfully but it might work if i try harder to force it and am willing to risk damaging the door. It may come to that. Right now i have the handle off and i have ordered some tools that are hooked at the end that i am hoping will enable me to snake something in and find the release. If that doesnt work I wil probably do what you suggest. Still havent given up on what bobeast suggested either although i have not yet been able to get the “plastic rotating cam” he referred to to turn. It is frustrating. I have people coming in May who are going to want to tube and all of that is stored in this compartment.

There was a man with a broken TV, so he hired a technician. The technician arrived, smacked the side of the TV, and it came to life.

'That will be $300'

"But all you did was smack it! $300??"

'That's right. $5 for the smack, and $295 for knowing where to smack it.'

Before forcing anything, maybe just call out a locksmith? They know all the tricks.

 

[Maria Sarli]

There was a man with a broken TV, so he hired a technician. The technician arrived, smacked the side of the TV, and it came to life.

'That will be $300'

"But all you did was smack it! $300??"

'That's right. $5 for the smack, and $295 for knowing where to smack it.'

Before forcing anything, maybe just call out a locksmith? They know all the tricks.

Good suggestion. If my last resort is to force it i will see whether a locksmith can help. Probably not the usual job for a locksmith but you are probably right that they could help.

 

[Maria Sarli]

Just a thought...since the door hinges out, can you see the hinge pins? If so, perhaps you could remove the hinge pins and pull the door out that way?

Unfortunately the hinge runs the full length of the door so I don’t think it can be just pushed out

 

[Maria Sarli]

First try dental floss to pull the latch into the door if hinges not accesdable.

Will try that once i get the tool i need to get in there. Thanks for the suggestion!

 

[spikedaddy99]

Wait, is this really your boat we are trying to help you break into? Just kidding. Will a flat "something" like a paint scraper lift the latch?

 

[Maria Sarli]

Wait, is this really your boat we are trying to help you break into? Just kidding. Will a flat "something" like a paint scraper lift the latch?

yes it is. So far I haven’t been able to get anything to lift the latch. I have tried.

 

[Maria Sarli]

I want to thank everyone for their suggestions. Ultimately i did call a locksmith and the locksmith was able to open it by using tools i had bought for the purpose (picture attached) but wasn’t able to get to work myself - he was able to force it to pop using one of the picks
on the bottom and one on the top of the solid bar that slides into the plate on the cabinet. Didn’t work when i tried it but he had the magic touch. He also jerry rigged the inside so it would not lock again. We both agree that there must be some special tool that you use to turn the metal piece on the top right to make it open in the manner @bobeast suggested but we couldn’t find it (and couldn’t turn it with a screwdriver as Bob suggested). Anyway, I appreciate everyone who made suggestions!