Kill switch lanyards

[Beefer]

Rather than derailing another post, is there a size boat that the lanyard is no longer required? Or maybe a year when they became standard?
I have a 1984 22', and it does not have a lanyard, or any evidence of one having ever been there. Anyone know?

 

[ewenm]

Re: Kill switch lanyards

i have a 32 foot sports cruiser, it does not have a lanyard

Ewen

 

[shankbri]

Re: Kill switch lanyards

89 Celebrity - 18' - it has a lanyard

 

[seaboo]

Re: Kill switch lanyards

Here is a post from someone else's research on this. He got (and at the same time didn't get) an answer from authorities on it.

I tend to agree that it is a "manufactures" decision whether to install them or not. There IS NOT a federal requirement forcing them to, but possibly some states (or localities) require them so the manufacture installs them anyway for mass market.

I know I have owned a 15, 18, and 19 ft boat (2 tri-hulls, 1 bow rider) that did NOT have a lanyard stock (but these were older boats). My current boat (22ft like you) has a lanyard from the factory as standard equipment.




http://continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/005710.html

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Kill switch lanyards

My neighbors 35' Scarab had twin lanyards. I think they are useless in a boat that size. I also saw an 8HP OB with a lanyard. Again useless IMHO.

I expect the NY Attorneys have been busy blaming motor and boat manufacturers, and causing them to require all this unnecessary "safety equipment".

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Kill switch lanyards

On any boat which the operator can be pitched out of I feel a lanyard is necessary. This applies to anything from a 5 HP row boat to a 19 - 20 foot cruiser. We just had an incident where an adult had a kid fall out of the boat. In the process of trying to pull the kid aboard he went overboard. Quick action by another kid turned off the engine, but not before the adult was hit by his own boat. The smaller the boat the more important a lanyard is. A lanyard is like insurance. It is only important when you need it. Apparently the outboard manufacturers feel the same way I do as most side mount controls have a kill switch built into them. Even my pontoon has one and it has a binnacle control.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Kill switch lanyards

i think silvertip is ontoit.

i don't know when the mfgs strated putting them as a stock item in a boat. i know that all the old boats i've had, didn't have one. all the newer boats my buddies have had do have one.

it is an item that can be added to any boat i think.

 

[DuckHunterJon]

Re: Kill switch lanyards

In NY (looking at the regulations chart right now), it's only needed on PWC's. They break out safety items by class of boat and none of the boat classes require them.

That said, I had my tether on this weekend and actually used it. Took a huge wave over the bow (not a good experience) and it knocked me butt over tea kettle into the back seat of the boat. I was glad the motor killed, as when I got back to the helm, the throttle was floored (was just above idle when I hit the wave). Not sure if I hit it, or the force of the water did, but that wouln't have been fun going to WOT in 3' chop (in my boat at least).

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Kill switch lanyards

This thread is exactly the reason I looked into inventing a remote lanyard. Simple setup with an electronic transmitter wired to the ignition system and a waterproof receiver key fob on your belt, lifevest, pocket (whatever).

When the transmitter gets approx 50' away from the receiver, the engine dies. This would allow the operator to move freely about the boat, but if they get knocked overboard, the engine dies. This would also work well when tied up to the dock for food or a day at the beach. Walk away from your boat and leave the keys in it. It won't start without the receiver.

However, I stopped working on it when I found a patent pending on the exact same item. It's called a man-overboard device. I would look into it as a possible solution.

We thought up the idea when a guy we know in FL was knocked overboard while fishing and the boat left him floating for over 4 hours offshore. Lucikly, the casino cruise ship spotted him and picked him up.

I've fished 20+ miles offshore and I often though about getting knocked over while trolling. My only recourse would be to grab the planers and hope the hook in the hand or leg wouldn't hurt too bad for too long.

 

[dsiekman]

Re: Kill switch lanyards

My 2000 29' has one. Never remember to use it, but it has one.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Kill switch lanyards

Sorry, I think I should be responsible for my own safety, versus leaving it to the Gov't, lawyers etc. The fellow who tried to pull a passenger over the side with the motor running, deserved what he got, as his behavoir was idiotic.

I think anyone who rides a motorcycle w/o a helmet is taking a big chance, but I don't want a law requiring hemlet use, however. Of course, if you ride at very high speeds, and fall off, it really doesn't matter if you wear a helmet or not, you will be just as dead either way.

I don't use a lanyard. I do, however, pay careful attention to water conditions, have the correct safety equipment, and monitor my passengers.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Kill switch lanyards

I have a 22' as well and it has a killer switch. I disabled it because a lanyard isn't practical when I'm in the back of the boat which is the only time I'd really need one.

We have a floater or two every winter when some falls out of the back of the boat. It's typically guys trolling by themselves when they go over and the boat continues on its way. With water temps in the upper 30's to mid-40's degree, you've got less than 5 minutes. With the boat continuing on its way, you might as well count yourself dead when you hit the water.

I?m thinking about installing an Autotether before fall season starts. Wondering if anyone uses something like this?
http://www.autotether.com/at/?CFID=88679&CFTOKEN=11310188

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Kill switch lanyards

lanyards can be useful on almost ANY size boat, ESPECIALLY if boating alone. it isn't just being tossed out, but how about hitting a big wave while not paying attention and getting tossed to the other side, whacking your head in the process.

 

[Alpheus]

Re: Kill switch lanyards

Sorry, I think I should be responsible for my own safety, versus leaving it to the Gov't, lawyers etc. The fellow who tried to pull a passenger over the side with the motor running, deserved what he got, as his behavoir was idiotic.

I think anyone who rides a motorcycle w/o a helmet is taking a big chance, but I don't want a law requiring hemlet use, however. Of course, if you ride at very high speeds, and fall off, it really doesn't matter if you wear a helmet or not, you will be just as dead either way.

I don't use a lanyard. I do, however, pay careful attention to water conditions, have the correct safety equipment, and monitor my passengers.

Those laws were not put in place to hinder your lifestyle. You seem like an intelligent person and are aware of the safety of you, your passengers and your surroundings. The laws were put in place because of the other 90% of the people out there that just don't get it. It sucks I know but People who are safety conscious and who have any kind of intellect suffer for it...

Just smile and move on...

 

[Brewman61]

Re: Kill switch lanyards

I'm not a proponent of government trying to save us from every risk out there, but I can see the logic of having these cutoff devices, since the throttle isn't on a return spring- driver gets pitched or incapapcitated, boat goes charging off on it's own. Could be a nasty thing on a crowded lake.
That said, my 2003 18' bowrider has a tether, but I never use it.

 

[Woodnaut]

Re: Kill switch lanyards

I have a 17' runabout. I use the lanyard whenever I'm out alone in the boat. Otherwise, I'm counting on the other occupants to take action.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Kill switch lanyards

the first boat I had one on was a 1988. So I'd say they came in the mid 1980's. Probably not all at once since it's not a regulation. But the manufacturer's insurance companies have more clout than the government.

 

[RicMic]

Re: Kill switch lanyards

I never thought I needed one either until my steering wheel ring snapped off and I flipped over the seat onto my back doing about 40 in an area with a lot of traffic, I can tell you, I don't know how long it took until I could get up off my back and get to the throttle, but it seemed an eternity. I can remember guys dragging a length of rope off the transom on their CrisCraft skiffs after several were found "trolling" with nobody in them, apparently the guy was fishing alone and fell overboard, with the high sides and transom, they had no way to hold on or pull themselves back in. Maybe they had a heart attack, maybe they were netting a fish, who knows. The guys dragging the ropes, figured, at least they had something to hold onto, instead of just watching the boat troll away.

 

[Alpheus]

Re: Kill switch lanyards

I have a 17' runabout. I use the lanyard whenever I'm out alone in the boat. Otherwise, I'm counting on the other occupants to take action.

This boat DID have 3 people on it. A lanyard could have saved this guy a ton of money. Not to mention the boat could have killed somebody...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSxK9bhMNj8&feature=related

 

[seabob4]

Re: Kill switch lanyards

Part of my job is testing boats at Pro-Line. The run out Crystal River to the gulf? Don't bother. Get into the gulf where I can do speed runs? On the lanyard goes, even if it's flat calm...