My Grundig Yacht Boy. - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Edward Huggins · 19th Sep 2021, 12:10 pm

My Wife bought me this from Currys (as it then was) in the High Street in Newmarket in March 1973. The best Birthday present I've ever received!

Now it's stopped working on batteries, only on the mains adaptor. The battery compartment and terminals are spotless. I must dig out the circuit diagram, but is this fault usually just down to a faulty diode switch?

paulsherwin · 19th Sep 2021, 1:21 pm

It sounds as if there's a problem with the mains/battery switch behind the sliding back panel. The first thing to do is obviously to give it a squirt of Servisol.

kirstyd · 19th Sep 2021, 8:41 pm

I had a problem with mine some years ago where the middle screw that holds the back on was loose due to the plastic around it cracking .Without the screw holding the cabinet back securely on the the heavy [6]batteries were making the bottom of the cabinet sag causing a bad connection. It took me ages to work out what was happening . A repair with a small block of wood fixed the problem .the yacht boy is a nice set but the flimsy cabinet lets it down somewhat

Jimbo · 20th Sep 2021, 10:14 am

I bought my own Yacht Boy in early 1974, -also from Currys,- with my first pay cheque and it has served well ever since!

It developed the same battery fault that you describe about 5 years later and although I was already keenly interested in radios, it was still 'new' to me so I took it to a Grundig Service Centre for repair.

When the set was returned there was no description of the work that had been undertaken, but the obvious difference was that the battery terminals at both ends of the battery compartment had been changed, so I would concentrate you initial searches around that area.

The set also has a lead with a 'PP9' connector that can be used to connect to an external DC supply. I have used my Yacht Boy with such a PSU for many years as 'D' cells, [or 'U2's as they were when I bought the set] are expensive. A few years ago the lead developed an internal break, -easy enought to find the fault, but difficult to source a PP9 connector with long flying leads!

I still have a copy of the circuit diagram, the PCB layouts and simple service data that was included in the owners handbook for the set so PM me if you need a copy.

Jim M0GJD

ex 2 Base · 20th Sep 2021, 5:58 pm

Not boasting, but we have two, bought from Comet in 1970 era, one mains, the other was battery so I made a PSU which fitted in the battery space. Still working well. Ted g4egb

19th Sep 2021, 12:10 pm	#1
Edward Huggins Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Southwold, Suffolk, UK. Posts: 8,327	My Grundig Yacht Boy. My Wife bought me this from Currys (as it then was) in the High Street in Newmarket in March 1973. The best Birthday present I've ever received! Now it's stopped working on batteries, only on the mains adaptor. The battery compartment and terminals are spotless. I must dig out the circuit diagram, but is this fault usually just down to a faulty diode switch? __________________ Edward.

19th Sep 2021, 1:21 pm	#2
paulsherwin Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 27,943	Re: My Grundig Yacht Boy. It sounds as if there's a problem with the mains/battery switch behind the sliding back panel. The first thing to do is obviously to give it a squirt of Servisol.

19th Sep 2021, 8:41 pm	#3
kirstyd Heptode Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 902	Re: My Grundig Yacht Boy. I had a problem with mine some years ago where the middle screw that holds the back on was loose due to the plastic around it cracking .Without the screw holding the cabinet back securely on the the heavy [6]batteries were making the bottom of the cabinet sag causing a bad connection. It took me ages to work out what was happening . A repair with a small block of wood fixed the problem .the yacht boy is a nice set but the flimsy cabinet lets it down somewhat

20th Sep 2021, 10:14 am	#4
Jimbo Pentode Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Crewkerne, Somerset, UK. Posts: 114	Re: My Grundig Yacht Boy. I bought my own Yacht Boy in early 1974, -also from Currys,- with my first pay cheque and it has served well ever since! It developed the same battery fault that you describe about 5 years later and although I was already keenly interested in radios, it was still 'new' to me so I took it to a Grundig Service Centre for repair. When the set was returned there was no description of the work that had been undertaken, but the obvious difference was that the battery terminals at both ends of the battery compartment had been changed, so I would concentrate you initial searches around that area. The set also has a lead with a 'PP9' connector that can be used to connect to an external DC supply. I have used my Yacht Boy with such a PSU for many years as 'D' cells, [or 'U2's as they were when I bought the set] are expensive. A few years ago the lead developed an internal break, -easy enought to find the fault, but difficult to source a PP9 connector with long flying leads! I still have a copy of the circuit diagram, the PCB layouts and simple service data that was included in the owners handbook for the set so PM me if you need a copy. Jim M0GJD

20th Sep 2021, 5:58 pm	#5
ex 2 Base Heptode Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Scarborough, North Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 510	Re: My Grundig Yacht Boy. Not boasting, but we have two, bought from Comet in 1970 era, one mains, the other was battery so I made a PSU which fitted in the battery space. Still working well. Ted g4egb