[jchemotti]

I'm so glad that I found this thread. I have a 97 Shabah 180, and have those struts which lift the sunpad.

Questions:
1. Is there a switch on the instrument panel that is supposed to lift those struts?
We've had the boat for 2 months, have been lifting it by hand, which can be difficult at times.
(There is one switch on the dash that does nothing when pressed))

2. One of the struts is bent at almost a right angle, due to a friend of my daughter trying to maneuver the bimini with convertible top attached, into the storage area - I'm sure he caught the strut and pushed down on it, causing the bend. (Kids these days...)

Thanks in advance for your response.
Jan

[WetWilly]

Hi Jan, from what you descried in #2, you have gas shocks (very worn out and now bent) and not a powered lift system so it's most likely that there will not be a specific switch for the SunPad unless there was one previously installed then removed.

The non operating switch is probably a two position switch for any additional accessories you might want to add to your Mariah so you can turn them on or off, a lift switch will have three positions.

Look closely at your existing shocks for any printing or label indicating the pressure rating, then try to measure the shocks total length open and closed so you can purchase proper replacements to help with the opening of the SunPad.

Good luck,
WetWilly

[jarwiebe]

Does anyone know what pressure the sunpad lift arms should be on a Z210. The ones on mine are 20 lb and do not hold the sunpad up. I'm sure a previous owner must have replace the orginals with the wrong ones or it never had them and he installled ones that are to light.

[jarwiebe]

I picked up a pair of 60 lb (20" open, 12" closed) gas struts from NAPA auto parts with the agreement that I could exchange them for heavier ones if needed. I installed them and they worked fine. My leverage angle is not as shallow as in WetWilly's picture so the 60's work fine for me.