![]() ![]() He drifted for 20 some hours and they found him dead in his PFD. I have a friend who tells a story of a fishing buddy who died in Lake Erie in 80 degree water from hypothermia when he fell over by himself and the boat kept trolling. He busted a gut laughing but I was OK after a change of clothes. Lucky for me we were on the bank and my buddy pulled me out. That is mind numbing cold and you need to get out immediately, if you did it underway and the boat kept going you would be in a very bad situation if you weren't just a few yards from shore. This was in the Spring and the water was right about 50 degrees F. It's dumb but easy to do, so don't think it can't happen to you. I leaned against a gate to get a bucket of water for in the bait tank and when I pulled the 5 gallon bucket back up over the gate it gave way. I've never done it underway, but I have fallen overboard. The two lanyards let me move around the deck a lot more than one would. I fish alone a lot and have two lanyards hooked together that I put on my vest or a belt loop when I'm out alone. Boat lines and dock ties weather and weaken over time.I have one on my 1985 OMC controller and had one on the previous 1979 OMC controller. ![]() (Remember to inspect your boat lines and dock tiesand replace as needed. For more information on this requirement, visit the USCG Engine Cut-Off Switch FAQ page. It is always a good idea to check with the state boating agency where you are boating to determine how this new USCG rule applies locally. Boaters on Lake Michigan and other federal waters in Wisconsin will have to adhere to a new law requiring an engine cut-off switch to keep themselves and others safe. Wearing the lanyard reduces the risk of a propeller injury or death. When the operator isn’t wearing a lanyard or cord, the unmanned boat tends to turn in fast circles and anyone in the water is at risk of being struck by the propeller. Wearing an ECOS lanyard or cord not only ensures that your boat stays close if you fall overboard, but it also prevents you from being run over by your own boat. The USCG now requires that operators of vessels equipped with an ECOS use the device at all times. There are many boating accidents per year involving an operator and/or passengers who fall overboard for a variety of reasons. The driver of the vessel needs to feel comfortable and secure ensuring a great day on the water.Ĭheck out this VIDEO from Freedom Boat Club explaining how to use a boat switch kill lanyard for safety. There are a few ways to attach the kill switch to the driver of the boat – the lanyard or cord clipped to the life jacket of the driver or the lanyard or cord secured around the wrist of the driver. ![]() The driver at the helm is responsible for their safety, the safety of all passengers, as well as the safety of other boaters on the water. My 22-foot boat (1995 model) had an Engine Cut-Off Switch but it was removed by a prior owner many years ago, leaving a hole at the helm. The other end is attached to a button/switch on the boat with a special clip. Because your boat is less than 26-feet and equipped with an engine cut-off switch installed by the manufacturer, you will need to use it while the boat is on plane or above displacement speed. The kill switch consists of a cord or lanyard that is attached to the helmsman (captain/driver) around their wrist or body. Kill switches have been installed in the majority of recreational vessels over the last decade, but there has not been a law enforcing the use of this safety feature until April of 2021. What is an Engine Cut-Off Switch? An Engine Cut-Off Switch is a safety mechanism used to shut off propulsion machinery when the operator is displaced from the helm. Congress as part of Section 8316 of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2021. This is a federal law that was passed by the U.S. The law requires that operators wear their kill switch when at planing speed while operating boats less than 26 feet in length. There is an important new federal law concerning the use of kill switches on boats, also known as engine cut-off switches (ECOS). Keep one in your tackle box or tool kit and be prepared to have a great day on the water. Having a spare may save the day for you or your boating partners. Take along a Sierra spare Yamaha kill switch key and lanyard. Kill switch law was effective as of April 1, 2021. Don’t waste vacation time MacGyver’ing or Jury-rigging a solution to a lost or broken key. ![]()
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