Finding the Serial Number

Our gas hob has been playing up for a while and not staying alight after being lit. Advice seems to agree that it is likely to be the thermocouples that activate the latch that allows the gas to flow after the control knob is released. Sadly this model is no longer produced so tracking down a potential source of new parts took a while. Unfortunately the supplier we did find needed the serial,number in order to select the correct part. We attempted to take photos underneath the hob when we were on board a few weeks ago. This was not easy because a baffle board is fitted just below the hob - required by RCD apparently. It should protect the workings below the hob from damage when taking things in or out of the shelves below.

Sadly when we came to inspect the photos back at home we found that none showed the serial number. We have to remove the baffle sheet to see more of the underside and also to be able to hold the phone camera far enough away to focus properly. The sheet is held by six screws, three either side. Removing these and the sheet can't be that difficult, surely?

Well, nothing on a boat is ever easy, mainly because of the confined spaces. Moreover, it was quickly obvious that these screws had been put in with a power tool as they were reluctant to come out. The two at the front were possible to unscrew but getting enough leverage for the other entailed removing one of the cupboard doors! 

Eventually we had five of them out but the one furthest away n the right just would not come free, However, we did find that with the others out, the sheet could be dropped down far enough for this purpose.

Finally, we did locate the serial number! The arrow on the first photo above shows where it is located. Let's hope that this will suffice to sort out a repair. (The problem with fitting a whole new, but different, hob is that those currently available have square corners whilst the present one has rounded ones) 

Putting everything back was just a little easier - well, we did know what we ere doing by then. nevertheless, this took up almost all morning up to lunch time.

It had been wet overnight and the rain persisted until early afternoon.The sky was overcast and the temperature decidedly on the chilly side of unpleasant! Hence we remained tucked up with the stove stoked up to keep us very comfortable. Only braved the outside (other than retrieving things from the decks) just the once, to empty the elsan.