Don’t forget the kill cord !

[Seastoke]

I have a torqeedo and wonder about the same thing....
For a start the kill cord comes off every time I move my arm, which is annoying
Do we need it ?...if the throttle return to neutral when we let go (does it ?...I will check) it’s not like a petrol motor in idle
And the magnet is proprietary....in the sense that if I go overboard, whoever is left on the boat won’t find another to come and rescue me
Is it really just an anti theft device ?

If you go overboard and the peeps on board need the KC to make a get away.

 

[wonkywinch]

I have a torqeedo and wonder about the same thing....
For a start the kill cord comes off every time I move my arm, which is annoying
Do we need it ?...if the throttle return to neutral when we let go (does it ?...I will check) it’s not like a petrol motor in idle
And the magnet is proprietary....in the sense that if I go overboard, whoever is left on the boat won’t find another to come and rescue me
Is it really just an anti theft device ?

I just checked the Torqeedo manual and note they only supply one magnetic key whereas ePropulsion supply two with each engine.

Worth ordering a spare if you have a Torqeedo?

From my ePropulsion Spirit manual ..

 

[ylop]

I have a torqeedo and wonder about the same thing....
For a start the kill cord comes off every time I move my arm, which is annoying
Do we need it ?...if the throttle return to neutral when we let go (does it ?...I will check) it’s not like a petrol motor in idle
And the magnet is proprietary....in the sense that if I go overboard, whoever is left on the boat won’t find another to come and rescue me
Is it really just an anti theft device ?

The eProposulsion came with two kill cords. Did the Torquedo not? It doesn’t spring back to idle though. Traditional kill clips suffered the same issue that if you were swimming anyone who was not ejected was now adrift. Some can be manually overridden to allow a restart. In the dinghy I always have oars so she has no excuse for not coming back for me! I could improvise alternatives to mechanical KC with spanner or piece of rope etc but I doubt my crew would so anyone I trust to come back for me was always given a spare KC.

 

[john_morris_uk]

The eProposulsion came with two kill cords. Did the Torquedo not? It doesn’t spring back to idle though. Traditional kill clips suffered the same issue that if you were swimming anyone who was not ejected was now adrift. Some can be manually overridden to allow a restart. In the dinghy I always have oars so she has no excuse for not coming back for me! I could improvise alternatives to mechanical KC with spanner or piece of rope etc but I doubt my crew would so anyone I trust to come back for me was always given a spare KC.

Our Tohatsu has a spare kill cord end (the bit you need) in the tool kit under the engine cover.

A common fix is to wrap a bit of cord round the kill cord button to pull it out enough to run the engine.

 

[Davy_S]

A common fix is to wrap a bit of cord round the kill cord button to pull it out enough to run the engine.

I have seen cable ties used on hire boats, they had lots of trouble with hirers not being able to start the engine because they had detached the kill cord, so they permanently replaced them with cable ties, problem solved

 

[ingenious]

The petrol ones seem to be generic clips but the electric ones a proprietary magnet.

Did a bit of research and it appears they are similar but not identical



Have ordered a Suzuki one that comes with a spare crab claw

 

[ylop]

I have seen cable ties used on hire boats, they had lots of trouble with hirers not being able to start the engine because they had detached the kill cord, so they permanently replaced them with cable ties, problem solved

Imagine trying to explain that one to the coroner! “(Some of) our users are too stupid to use the basic safety device, so rather than provide instruction or signage we disable the device!”.

 

[ingenious]

Imagine trying to explain that one to the coroner! “(Some of) our users are too stupid to use the basic safety device, so rather than provide instruction or signage we disable the device!”.

 

[wonkywinch]

Just checking small print in my insurance .. not covered for "loss or damage to the vessel or tender caused by loss of control where a kill cord is fitted but has not been used".

 

[Bouba]

This has nothing to do with kill cords....but it is an horrific propeller accident
Woman who had legs ripped off in horror incident already suffered family tragedy

 

[Seastoke]

You are the only guy I know who has a kill cord on his wallet .

 

[SaltIre]

I’ve lost count of the number of idiots driving around Caribbean anchorages with the kill cord dangling or tied round the tiller. A favourite technique with some is to stand up in the tender holding the painter with one hand and steering with the other and no kill cord in sight anywhere.

I'd generally tie it round my ankle. Less likely to get dislodged, and sufficiently out of sight to provide something for folk to criticise on internet forums.
Standing up while steering takes a bit of practise.

 

[john_morris_uk]

I'd generally tie it round my ankle. Less likely to get dislodged, and sufficiently out of sight to provide something for folk to criticise on internet forums.
Standing up while steering takes a bit of practise.

That would be all good and sensible if it wasn’t for the fact that I can see the kill cord dangling unattached to anything on most of the boats that I see driving by at speed.