Bouba
Well-Known Member
I’m of the opinion that before you hit the water you want the prop to stop spinning. Anything else could see you make contact with the blades
Thoughts on extending the kill cord?
- Thread starter Adios
- Start date
TernVI
Well-Known Member
That only really works with a remote/console set up where the kill switch is well forward in the boat.
Not going to work as well when the kill switch is on the outboard cowl, as unless you're going astern, you're falling towards the kill switch.
In reality, the main thing might be to kill the motor before the boat circles round to attack you.
At the end ofthe day, people need to not fall out of boats.
A bit less wittering about 'safety' gadgets and a bit more basic safe behaviour?
Juan Twothree
Well-Known Member
Not going to happen. The prop carries on spinning for far longer than that.
The real purpose of a kill cord is to stop the boat running away, then circling and hitting anyone in the water, or anything else.
Bouba
Well-Known Member
If it’s in gear then it will slowdown very quickly and might stop altogether when it reaches bone. But bone alone will not stop 300 horses
Adios
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Would be freakishly unlucky to hit the prop going in over the stern or rear quarter. I'd expect with the sort of speed needed for throwing someone out, the boat will be gone before they hit the water
Juan Twothree
Well-Known Member
Just as an aside, some years ago a jet skier fell off his ski at Herne Bay, on the North Kent coast. Unfortunately, his kill cord was a bit loose, and slipped off his ankle or wherever, with the throttle stuck fully open.
The jet ski continued on its way for 15 miles across the Thames Estuary, reported to the CG by various pleasure boats and passing ships.
It eventually collided with the old anti-submarine boom at Shoeburyness, which was fortunate as it would have caused a certain amount of chaos among the boats and swimmers off the Southend beaches.
The jet ski continued on its way for 15 miles across the Thames Estuary, reported to the CG by various pleasure boats and passing ships.
It eventually collided with the old anti-submarine boom at Shoeburyness, which was fortunate as it would have caused a certain amount of chaos among the boats and swimmers off the Southend beaches.
Bouba
Well-Known Member
Even with my torqeedo I think about lengthening the kill cord. But sitting on the tube while holding on to the engine always makes me think again
Bouba
Well-Known Member
A jet ski is probably the only propulsion that is safe to the user. But a series of unfortunate events can turn into tragedy. Don’t they have electronic kill cords nowadays ?
Adios
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True could be more dangerous with a slower boat I guess. But still the prop is a fair bit tucked out of the way and moving quickly away in the opposite direction to the falling person. Can't picture being likely to hit the prop unless maybe flailing arm reaching back in that direction maybe trying to grab the boat... Or maybe, if sitting far back on the port tube, engine hits something and kicks round turning the boat rapidly to starboard, tiller handle pushes to port, person slides off the back while trying to hold on so stays close to the boat and engine runs into him. As he's still so close one kill cord might not work either. freakish though.
Adios
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I used to go on a friends stand up jetski late 80s. No kill cord, engine used to tick over and come round in a circle so you didn't have to swim after it. Worked a treat.
Adios
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thinwater
Well-Known Member
There are several US makers of wireless kill switches. No cord required. The are triggered either by distance or immersion.
No, the idea of a kill switch is not to stop the engine while you are falling. Stopping the prop that fast would require a brake, like a chain saw, and that is not how they work. It is to stop the engine before the boat circles back around and runs you over.
USCG kill switch requirement
"Engine kill switches considerably prevent runaway boat incidents and the deadly threats they pose. ..."
No, the idea of a kill switch is not to stop the engine while you are falling. Stopping the prop that fast would require a brake, like a chain saw, and that is not how they work. It is to stop the engine before the boat circles back around and runs you over.
USCG kill switch requirement
"Engine kill switches considerably prevent runaway boat incidents and the deadly threats they pose. ..."
Adios
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As ever a mundane question ends up seeming quite interesting. I was trying to find what range you have to be away from the engine for a wireless one to activate and shut off the engine. Is it much more than the length of a kill cord? Yes way longer. This one is 2 seconds after the person has gone in the water OLAS Guardian wireless engine kill switch stops the boat in seconds
So then I wondered if the RYA recommend them as they say about kill cords "The RYA does not recommend extending the length of the kill cord provided by the manufacturer of the engine."
Yes they do recommend them with no reservations mentioned:
"Wireless kill cords
As an alternative to the traditional red lanyard kill cord, wireless kill cords are available. This type of kill cord stop the engine when the personal device, which should be on the helm's person, is out of range of the sensor."
So they aren't worried about a prop spinning 2 seconds after the boat ejects its driver. So why not a longer kill cord then? Seems the only reason is as @prv pointed out a long cord could get tangled on something which takes the load of the person falling rather than the load pulling the switch key out.
