Killcords...what the hell is wrong with people?

[GrahamHR]

Re kill cords, where do you draw the line as to when you dont need one? It fairly obvious on small ribs/open boats, but what about larger boats, it may be unlikely that youd get thrown out of a larger boat, but it might still be possible to hit a wave at speed and end up still on the boat but unconscious/incapacitated.

My boat is 26 foot, and not an open boat, and im unlikely to be thrown out of it, but I could conceivably be knocked unconscious / thrown away from the helm, if I wasnt paying attention when travelling at speed. It also doesnt have kill cord fitted.

Mine is also not a RIB, but a 35 knot maximum sports cruiser of around 28". Do a tight enough turn at speed or an emergency turn to avoid something unexpected and the side forces are considerable, enough to unseat the helmsman.. It doesn't have a kill cord, apparently as it has a diesel engine, yet without exception the petrol versions of the same boat, some with less power and certainly less torque all have kill cords fitted ! I don't see the sense in that at al.

 

[julians]

Mine is also not a RIB, but a 35 knot maximum sports cruiser of around 28". Do a tight enough turn at speed or an emergency turn to avoid something unexpected and the side forces are considerable, enough to unseat the helmsman.. It doesn't have a kill cord, apparently as it has a diesel engine, yet without exception the petrol versions of the same boat, some with less power and certainly less torque all have kill cords fitted ! I don't see the sense in that at al.

Yep, mine is also diesel, and no kill cord. I was wondering if there is something about a diesel that prohibits a kill cord, but surely if you can stop the engine with an ignition key, you can stop it with a switch on a kill cord. Maybe the ignition key wouldnt work at higher revs, and the engine would just run on, thats all I can think of, but there must be a way of killing a diesel engine running at speed.

 

[GrahamHR]

Yep, mine is also diesel, and no kill cord. I was wondering if there is something about a diesel that prohibits a kill cord, but surely if you can stop the engine with an ignition key, you can stop it with a switch on a kill cord. Maybe the ignition key wouldnt work at higher revs, and the engine would just run on, thats all I can think of, but there must be a way of killing a diesel engine running at speed.

There is a kit available from Volvo Penta for EVC diesel equipped boats, I intend to buy and fit one. The cost, as you would expect, is a fair bit higher than that of petrol powered set ups, which is basically just a make/ break switch for the ignition.

 

[Elessar]

Can we please stop going on about LJs. Quite apart from the perfectly sensible post by Elessar, and the fact that most of us are sensible enough to assess risk, there may be times when clearly you absolutey would not be wearing one, even if you are part of the "I won't risk assess it, I will always wear one" brigade. For example, you may be at anchor in your cockpit enjoying a beer and a BBQ with friends. You may be sat on the beach at the water's edge. You might be snorkelling off your boat. You might be down below in your bunk asleep, or maybe taking a deck shower. You will not be wearing an LJ for any such activities. If a RIB slams into you at 30 knots when you are doing any of that, you may well die.

Making any comparison between a killcord and a lifejacket shows a complete lack of understanding of the issue. A commercial operation once posted a pic on Facebook showing one of their powerful RIBS in operation mid Solent...no kill cord, albeit at a slow speed at the time that pic was taken. I commented that perhaps a killcord might have been a good idea, or words to that effect. This guy then trawled through my own personal pictures and commented very vociferously that here were pictures of me sailing without a lifejacket. Erm, in my privately owned 27' sailing yacht that does 6 knots flat out and tends to head up into wind and stop should I drop the tiller. Muppet of the highest order. Especially when he continued trying to justify it despite other people saying it was totally unjustifiable. Names witheld to protect the selfish. Oh, and this was just after Padstow.

RYA guidlelines. Wear a lifejacket unless you are sure it's safe not to do so. ALWAYS wear a kill cord. It's really not hard people.

Very well put.

 

[PEJ]

I am guilty of driving a RIB without a wearing my kill cord. The reason? I forgot.

I friendly shout from a passing boat as I was was making my way out to sea would have been a most welcome reminder.

Maybe there are a lot of forgetful boaters out there.

 

[Elessar]

I am guilty of driving a RIB without a wearing my kill cord. The reason? I forgot.

I friendly shout from a passing boat as I was was making my way out to sea would have been a most welcome reminder.

Maybe there are a lot of forgetful boaters out there.

Good point. Remind the forgetful and hopefully guilt the stubborn.