TV/VCR combo

[Bottom Line]

I have the original tv/vcr combo installed in the 2002 Sea Rays. I can't recall if it is a Toshiba or Panasonic. Over the weekend, my kids put a VCR tape in and it wouldn't play, rewind, fast forward...or even eject. The TV still works fine with the dockside cable. Anyone have any ideas on how to get the tape out?

 

[Robski97]

Jeff.... I had the same thing with my home VCR back in the day... Hitting eject while having my hand on the back of the vcr tape pushing worked, BUT it was numerous attempts. ( NUMEROUS ) Some people have taken the entire thing apart to get the tape out. good luck

Rob

 

[aquadancer]

Jeff - sounds like a good time to consider upgrading those antique Panasonics. There are a number of LCD TVs or TV/DVD combos which fit quite nicely.

I have the 9" OEM Panasonic TV/VCR (came out of the aft cabin of my 02 410) taking up space in my trunk - you're welcomed to it for the cost of shipping. I probably have the 13" models (salon and forward cabin) but would have to look for them.

 

[The Bill Collector]

SeaRay's 13 inch TV/VCR combo units make a great second anchor.........

 

[TimC]

I stay away from the TV/DVD or VCR combo's b/c if the DVD/VCR stops working (which it usually does) the whole TV is shot and will have to be replaced.:smt013

 

[rondds]

just took my original panasonic VCR out of the boat. it worked great but it was doing NOTHING there and i could use the space for books/magazine storage.

i had a 9" AC/DC tv/vcr combo unit that i bought for my 26' crownline in 2002. used it one season and then it was stowed in my basement for years. i just sold it on ebay for ALMOST as much as i paid!

vcr's still have purpose, esp with smaller kids who have no problem watching the same thing OVER AND OVER AND OVER again. you can record 55 spongebob episodes for free and pop the tape in for the kids and you wont hear a peep out of them for 22 1/2 hours. i can understand why jeff wants to keep that vcr going, and why someone would pay $120 for a lightly used 9" dual voltage tv/vcr!

 

[JVM225]

I have a little 9" TV/VCR combo that I keep on the boat all summer for my 8 year old son. He keeps about 8 or 10 tapes aboard that he watches over and over again.
We got it several years ago for the kids to watch movies on long car rides back and forth to Florida from NY and it has served us well on the boat too.
If you can't get the tape out, or get the unit working again you could always just replace it. The 9" and 13" units are still around.
Personally, if it is shot I would replace it with a LCD TV and hook up an inexpensive DVD player to it.
Just last week I picked the kids up a couple pf portable DVD players to use in the car on a trip we are taking to Virginia next week. I have a DVD recorder in the house and it is just as easy to record DVD's as it is to record VHS's, and the DVD's take up a lot less room in the car or on the boat.

 

[teekster]

I stay away from the TV/DVD or VCR combo's b/c if the DVD/VCR stops working (which it usually does) the whole TV is shot and will have to be replaced.:smt013

If/when the DVD goes out on my LCD/DVD, I will just add an outoard DVD player. I don't see how this would discourage one from buying one. In the mean time, it is definitely more convenient.

 

[avguy]

Jeff...try fast forwarding the tape alll the way to the end then rewind back to the beginning without hitting play. If it's an old tape that has been played/stopped/played/stopped repeatedly the tape doesn't wind back up on the spools evenly and will develope ridges. If you look at a new VHS tape it should be perfectly smooth around the spool. Scott

Edit: try disconnecting the power to the unit (physically unplug the power supply it if you can), wait a couple of minutes & reconnect the power.

 

[Bottom Line]

Thanks for all of the input. I will try some of the tips this weekend...hopefully I can get the tape out. I also have a dvd player that I also hook up via the RCA jacks....but it may be time to put in a LCD.

I like the idea of another anchor....that may be another option.

 

[Bottom Line]

Well....I tried all of these methods that were mentioned above...and the tape would not come out....but I did get the tape out...and it will never play again....but I got it out...:smt021:smt021

 

[NorCal Boater]

Actuall the best way to get that tape out is to drop the whole unit into the closest dumpster and get an LCD and a DVD player.

 

[Bottom Line]

Actuall the best way to get that tape out is to drop the whole unit into the closest dumpster and get an LCD and a DVD player.

Great tip....I think I will see how hard I can throw it into one of those big metal trash cans and see how may pieces I can break it into. Although I would probably get in trouble for sending the TV to the landfill...