Why would anyone legitimately want this outside an outboard repair shop?

We all had them at the local authority-run Watersports centre I was working at immediately pre-Covid.

Across a fleet of 2 rigid and 1 RIB safety boats, our wheelchair accessible launch, and a drascombe - we needed them. Some staff removed the keys we didn’t need. Made it useful swapping boats in a rush and/or emergency - nobody needed to look for the right key.
 
My sailing club uses 3 ribs used by different crews on training days for kids. Much time is spent walking between the pontoon and, club, store room, previous users pocket etc., trying to find where the keys or kill cords are. Organisation of keys ought to be simple, but it ain't, people can be absent minded.
Having your own set could be very handy.
 
dankilb said:
We all had them at the local authority-run Watersports centre I was working at immediately pre-Covid.

Across a fleet of 2 rigid and 1 RIB safety boats, our wheelchair accessible launch, and a drascombe - we needed them. Some staff removed the keys we didn’t need. Made it useful swapping boats in a rush and/or emergency - nobody needed to look for the right key.
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Dan Tribe said:
My sailing club uses 3 ribs used by different crews on training days for kids. Much time is spent walking between the pontoon and, club, store room, previous users pocket etc., trying to find where the keys or kill cords are. Organisation of keys ought to be simple, but it ain't, people can be absent minded.
Having your own set could be very handy.
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All good ideas and makes perfect sense.
I’m obviously too cynical. It’s this lockdown I tell you.
 
Another possible reason is to simplify stockkeeping and ordering. They’re all just small scraps of moulded plastic, so the extra production cost of putting seven of them on the loop instead of just one is minimal. Now instead of having seven different products to order and stock, you just have one which will suit anybody’s engine. Also useful if you’re ordering one but don’t remember exactly what type your engine or remote-control box takes. A pair of side-cutters will remove the surplus ones from the lanyard loop if you want to make it tidy after identifying the one you need.

Pete
 
prv said:
Another possible reason is to simplify stockkeeping and ordering. They’re all just small scraps of moulded plastic, so the extra production cost of putting seven of them on the loop instead of just one is minimal. Now instead of having seven different products to order and stock, you just have one which will suit anybody’s engine. Also useful if you’re ordering one but don’t remember exactly what type your engine or remote-control box takes. A pair of side-cutters will remove the surplus ones from the lanyard loop if you want to make it tidy after identifying the one you need.

Pete
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^This...!
They’re actually really useful for that reason.

And actually quite handy to have a kill chord on board with the most popular types - never know, you might need to start someone else’s outboard for a legit reason.

Although most of these ‘keys’ can be overridden very easily.
 
dankilb said:
Although most of these ‘keys’ can be overridden very easily.
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Yes - a bit of cord round the stem of the button is standard for many; all you need to do is hold the button out against its spring. They’re not intended to provide any security, just reliably react to the lanyard being pulled.

Pete
 
There are a few 'kid boats' - cruisers with children who have them. The kids often just spin around an anchorage to see friends on another boat in someone's dinghy and then leave it there and ride off for fishing or snorkelling on another dinghy with friends. Things can get mixed up very quickly and you often need to borrow a dinghy to get to the pub or shop on time. The kid boat VHF channel is non stop with chatter about who is where. Makes it a lot easier if you can drive any dinghy to return or collect kids / toys / shopping, etc. Some people just leave the kill cord on the engine, but obviously not usually while on the dinghy dock (unless you're sat having a beer on said dock).
 
prv said:
Yes - a bit of cord round the stem of the button is standard for many; all you need to do is hold the button out against its spring. They’re not intended to provide any security, just reliably react to the lanyard being pulled.

Pete
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Exactly. Many a time I've improvised with string, clothes peg, digits etc.
 
siwhi said:
There are a few 'kid boats' - cruisers with children who have them. The kids often just spin around an anchorage to see friends on another boat in someone's dinghy and then leave it there and ride off for fishing or snorkelling on another dinghy with friends. Things can get mixed up very quickly and you often need to borrow a dinghy to get to the pub or shop on time. The kid boat VHF channel is non stop with chatter about who is where. Makes it a lot easier if you can drive any dinghy to return or collect kids / toys / shopping, etc. Some people just leave the kill cord on the engine, but obviously not usually while on the dinghy dock (unless you're sat having a beer on said dock).
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I agree about the killcord answers. I've had to improvise and it is trivially easy, killcords are for safety not security IMO.

Apparently lockpicking (proper locks, like your front door) is now an accepted hobby, and there are lots of how-to videos on Youtube :unsure:

A kids' VHF channel for messing about in small craft? How refreshingly laid-back and sensible. It must be hilarious to listen to, and reassuring for parents..or maybe not!
 
john_morris_uk said:
There are obvious nefarious reasons why people should want to buy theset: Osculati Safety Keys for Outboard Motors (7 Keys)

I can't think of any reason why you'd need a complete set outside a workshop. Am I missing something?

(The advert was highlighted on the YBW home screen...)
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its what I have.

it lives attached to my life jacket.

I can get into any friends boat. Rarely used other than my own attachment. But really handy when you need it.
 
Elessar said:
its what I have.

it lives attached to my life jacket.

I can get into any friends boat. Rarely used other than my own attachment. But really handy when you need it.
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You can get into people's boats with a set of kill cord ends? You need a YouTube channel - The Crib Cracking Coppercoater?
 
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