Kill switch

Do you use the kill switch on an outboard properly?

  • Yes always attache to me, my clothing or my bouyancy device

    Votes: 26 68.4%

  • Yes, sometimes

    Votes: 8 21.1%

  • No, I never attach it to me or my clothing or buoyancy device

    Votes: 4 10.5%
  • Total voters
    38
Always when driving a RIB or similar with central control console.

In a dinghy with a small tiller steered outboard?

Hardly ever.

My 4hp 2 stroke doesn't have one anyway. If it had I might use it when operating a small tender at planing speeds.

My 6hp 2 stroke is used in a boat travelling at displacement speeds which I like to steer standing up, at the end of the tiller extension, and a kill cord wouldn't be long enough.

I don't treat boats like toys, and slow down, and sit down, when potentially dangerous wash is coming my way.

I do get that even boring people can have accidents...
 
The use of kill switches will become mandatory in the US this year.
  • Boats that can plane
  • Open helm station (not substantially enclosed)
  • Wireless options allowed that meet ABYC standard
So not sailboats, just dinghies, run-abouts, and PWC.

And to be honest, no, I seldom used it in the dinghy. On the other hand, my dinghy seldom planed (3.5 hp), so I'm not sure the new rule applies to me.

Not much for PFDs either. I will wear a harness and tether in heavy weather, and I often wear a drysuit kayaking or in nasty cold weather.

I'm sayin' that's right or wrong, I'm just telling the truth.
 
You can’t outswim a 2hp outboard and the consequence of it hitting you could be fatal.
The fact that you are allowed to buy an outboard without a kill switch mystifies me.
Can’t buy a 2 stroke in case you kill some algae but no regulations on suppling stuff without kill cords!
My kill cord lives on my lifejacket. I rarely wear it (the lifejacket) on the boat but always do in the dinghy so that works for me.
 
James_Calvert said:
…..My 6hp 2 stroke is used in a boat travelling at displacement speeds which I like to steer standing up, at the end of the tiller extension, and a kill cord wouldn't be long enough.....
Click to expand...

You could extend the cord, maybe with another piece of cord. Or is that too difficult for you?
 
penberth3 said:
You could extend the cord, maybe with another piece of cord. Or is that too difficult for you?
Click to expand...
Even easier not to fall overboard.

I think we are told not to extend them anyway.

Perhaps because a longer cord could catch on stuff and fail to disconnect from the engine.
 
My Warrenjet outboard hasn't got one, but then it does not have any exposed turning parts. The throttle lever drops back if left unattended and it stalls.
 
James_Calvert said:
My 6hp 2 stroke is used in a boat travelling at displacement speeds which I like to steer standing up, at the end of the tiller extension, and a kill cord wouldn't be long enough.
Click to expand...

I use mine standing at planing speeds with a tiller extension. Have clocked 26 knots and yes i am using it as a toy. My risk of falling out is much greater (though I never have) so a killcord is obviously essential.

But I have no problem with the length of the curly type unmodified. Extending it wouldn’t be rocket science if I needed to.
 
Elessar said:
You can’t outswim a 2hp outboard and the consequence of it hitting you could be fatal.
The fact that you are allowed to buy an outboard without a kill switch mystifies me.
Can’t buy a 2 stroke in case you kill some algae but no regulations on supplying stuff without kill cords!
My kill cord lives on my lifejacket. I rarely wear it (the lifejacket) on the boat but always do in the dinghy so that works for me.
Click to expand...

I think this has to do with risk and causality. There have been numerous cases of higher powered dinghies and runabouts throwing the riders, who are then struck by the circling boat. Some were fatal. Is there a single case of a person being thrown by a 2 hp outboard and then dying or being injured, and the failure of the engine to stop being a factor? Not that I am aware of. Remember that people die from falling off docks (0 hp). If the person dies from falling out of a 2hp-driven boat, and was not struck by the boat, he would have been saved by wearing a PFD and dressing for the water temperature. This regulation is to protect against being struck by the circling boat.

Comparing the sensibility of unrelated regulations is rather like saying " I can speed because the other guy does." They need to be considered separately, on their own merits.
 
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I agree with you thinwater.
I would not suggest for one minute that wearing a killcord should be compulsory.
But I do think it should be compulsory to supply outboards with one so people can choose.
 
I have two killcords, one of them (just the plastic black ring) is attached to the engine itself (obviously taken off if leaving the dinghy): should the driver fall overboard, people left onboard can start the engine again.
Then run at full speed over the mob to shred him into pieces, job finished ?
 
Elessar said:
I agree with you thinwater.
I would not suggest for one minute that wearing a killcord should be compulsory.
But I do think it should be compulsory to supply outboards with one so people can choose.
Click to expand...

In the US kill switches are required for over 115 pounds of thrust. That's about 5 hp, but I know Mercs have them all the way down to 2.5 hp. Electric trolling motors typically do not.
 
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