Do we use our kill switches?

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westernsailor

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Subtitled it should never have happened twice.

Lovely day here in Southern Ireland yesterday.

It should never have happened once.
A motor boat ( suitable for skiers) and a jet sky were in collission yesterday. Unfortunalely the 15 year old in charge of the jet sky died.

It should never have happened twice.
Apparently the motor boat engine continued in operation, and the TV news indicated that the rescue of the victims was hampered by the boat continuing to go round in tight circles. The boat was recovered by the RNLI when it ran out of fuel.

I do not know whether the speed boat had an engine kill switch, but if it had do we always use them.

I must admit that up and until yesterday I did not, but from now on......

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Yes, but for other reasons

The kill switch is attached to the boat, so if the engine decides to go for a swim (happended already twice), it stops immidiatly, hopefully reducing any damage don.

<hr width=100% size=1>Group of people on the pontoon: skipper is the one with the toolbox.
http://sirocco31.tripod.com
 
I use mine all the time, my dinghy almost drowned me one day, if I hadn't had the kill switch on my wrist it would have chopped me to mincemeat. In response to kingfishers post, Tying the kill switch to the boat is stupid, might save the motor, but not you if you go over the side, don't do it! Use it as it was intended, around your wrist. Motors can be replaced, your arm/leg can't!

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Surely, the publicity following the tragic death by RIB at a Southampton Boat Show, when only the intevention of another RIB driver stopped the 'runaway', would have made people aware of kill-cords etc.
Don't they also point this out on 'training' courses.

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Re: Yes, but for other reasons

I have been in the habit of not using the kill switch lanyard on the outboard but after hearing about Rob_Webb's accident, and Colin's comment above I think I will reform, even though it is just a little outboard on a hard dinghy.

John

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Re: Yes, but for other reasons

The whole point of the kill switch is not only to stop the engine so the boat does not kill you but also the boat is not a runaway and injure someone else. last of all have you ever tried to catch a boat if you were the only one in it! Which also raises an intresting point - if you fell out, how do the crew get back to you - you have the kill cord around your wrist? Not a bad idea to carry a spare, especially if you dont have any oars.

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Re: Yes, but for other reasons

Well I guess the dinghy won't go far once the engine stops, and we always carry oars as I don't trust outboards getting me home even when I am in the dinghy. Plus on top of that my wife, and together we sail, is an excellent swimmer, so I guess as long as I stay sweet she will probably come and get me if I am too confused to help myself.

If I am by myself and the dinghy blows away, well at least I can drown in one piece if it has to come to that, and the coroner will praise me for having done my best.

Keep safe

John

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Silly not to

If the engine/rib/motorboat has one I use it...it's not worth it not to.

On outboards with kill cords it goes around my wrist, on every thing else it goes around my leg, out of the way from steering wheels or undoing warps or camera gear

Never did fancy the idea of swiming after a dinghy with the propeller still whiring....where would you try to grab?...or being run down by one's own boat for that matter

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DAft not to. About 2 months ago Thanes Caostguard had to put out a Securitee as ther was an unmanned jet ski travelling at speeds approaching 20 kts luckily I think it ran out of fuel before it hit anyone buit it could easily have been a bad accident - and even if not you look pretty damn stupid

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Now you've got me worried. The Suzuki 2.2 that I use on my tender was never supplied with a killcord and there does not seem to be anywhere on the engine to attach one. Is this correct?
The Tohatsu 3.5 on my yacht does have one, but I always steer using the tiller and the killcord does not reach as far as the cockpit. I always use the killcord when driving the safety boats at my sailing club, not attaching one feels like not putting your seat belt on when driving..........(and also looks more professional in front of the Commodore!)

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Re: Yep

Even though my 5hp tohatsu can't start in gear it did. This sent me over the transom into Salcombe harbour. When I resurfaced I was a metre from the prop which would have minced me if the current Mrs. Peppermint, who was holding the painter, hadn't took off up the quay towing it off me.

I told you being under insured was a plus.

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Sorry, forgot to paint the full picture: boat is a 9m, 3ton oak gaff rigged schooner, with 9 crew. So if helmsman attaches the killcord and goes overboard, you have no engine to retrieve him. Also, the distance from the helm to the engine is too long.

BTW: what can be used as a replacement kill cord? We go for a fishn'chips fork where we remove the inner of three prongs. But those new yamaha switches are too complicated for that.

<hr width=100% size=1>Group of people on the pontoon: skipper is the one with the toolbox.
http://sirocco31.tripod.com
 
I have a spare cord, secreted in the boat, in case I get pissed and lose mine, no really just in case!

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Re: Yep

That is exactly what heppened to me, but I had the kill switch on my wrist, I still got mashed between, boat hull and dinghy!

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