I have lost the keys to my cabin and wheelhouse I have one spare but ii have been told it cannot. be copied in this country as it is foreign. Anyone know how to get around this?
What country are you in Xiomara? In the UK I had a new cabin key made at the national locksmith franchise, Timpsons. They found a blank that looked simlar to the original and cut the new key using the old one as a pattern. It's not identical to the original Danish one, but it works fine.
That's good news, Tony. I'll try Timpson and other locksmiths.
I also recently tried to get my wheelhouse key copied and was told (at a very good locksmith I've never previously known not to come up with the goods) it was 'probably foreign'.
My wheelhouse key has a shiny silver, chrome looking finish, a logo that looks like two overlapping triangles (sails?), and a ?tang? (projecting part) that has an unusual 'P' shaped section.
I've assumed the wheelhouse lock and key (and perhaps wheelhouse doors) was a later addition to the boat, as it looks almost, new, but the cabin door lock and key (more brass type colouring) is noticeably worn and discoloured.
Hi All, I believe the original mortise door locks were a Vetus item now discontinued. I too have had outer door keys made at Timsons which do work but you have to be careful that they are inserted to the correct depth in the lock as the only suitable key blank has a plain shank without the collar found on the original Vetus key. I made collars from a split section of aluminium tube epoxyed onto the plain key shaft.
Hi All, I believe the original mortise door locks were a Vetus item now discontinued. I too have had outer door keys made at Timpsons which do work but you have to be careful that they are inserted to the correct depth in the lock as the only suitable key blank has a plain shank without the collar found on the original Vetus key. I made collars from a split section of aluminium tube epoxyed onto the plain key shaft.
Last Edit: Jul 20, 2018 19:34:38 GMT by oceandancer
That's a good trick, Mick. I have the same problem. It's no big deal, but I may follow your lead. Timsons even made me a new Bukh key, before I discovered you can get blanks from Bukh! Tony
Just to update my earlier post. I went to another, more old-fashioned/backstreet locksmiths. They were convinced my key (which is to my wheelhouse outer door, differs from the much older one on the wheelhouse/saloon door, and might well not be an 'LM' lock) was a foreign one. They had no blanks for it, and said it wouldn't be cost effective to get one as they would have to buy perhaps 50 of them. They did say that if I brought the lock in and left it with them for a few days they could make me a new key.
So it appears that some 'proper' locksmiths (as opposed to just replacement key cutters) are wiling and able to make a new key to fit, even if they don't have the blanks.
In case this might help anyone find an appropriate key blank, I've attached pics of my original and my "Timpsons" keys. As I'd mentioned before they are not identical, but the replacement works, albeit with the proviso given by Mick, that it needs to be pushed in to the lock by the correct distance to work. If your lock is like mine then it's not a very precise affair and could probably be opened with a bent paperclip. My replacement key has a flat "bit", (the square block at the end of a key), whereas the original has a step in one face. The original also has a solid shaft, while my replacement has a hollow one. Neither of these differences seem to matter.
The original key is on the left in both pics. You should be able to enlarge them by clicking on them to see more detail.
For the technically minded the overall length of the shaft of the replacement is 73.5 mm, the shaft diameter a fraction over 6mm (1/4"?), the "bit" is 8mm long and 2mm thick. So far as I can tell, as long as the key's "bit" is as thin as the thinnest part of the original, it will be able to pass into the actual lock. Then it is a matter of having the same "bit" length as the original and cutting the identical notches.
Our local Timpson chap was unsure if this would work, but he made it up for me to try. If it hadn't worked he said he wouldn't charge me. Not surprisingly, he gets all my locksmithery now!
I can't guarantee this will work in any LM lock, so don't hold me responsible!
tonyp
Last Edit: Sept 11, 2019 11:09:02 GMT by tonyp: Better clarity