posted 08-05-2003 07:31 PM ET (US)        

I did some research today to see if I could locate any federal regulations that mandated the inclusion of a safety lanyard or "kill switch" on recreational boats equipped with outboard motors. Most of the federal law affecting recreational boating is contained in CFR 133. I couldn't find anything about safety lanyards for outboards.

I then called the National Marine Manufacturer Association and spoke with Thomas Marhevko, who is the Director of Engineering Standards for that organization. The NMMA certifies boats, so if anyone ought to be familiar with the required equipment, they should be. I asked Mr. Marheyko if he knew of any federal regulations that required the inclusion or use of a safety cut out switch.

Tom told me that there were no federal standards for a safety lanyard cut out switch for outboard powered recreational boats. There were rules for jet powered boats and personal water craft which required incorporation of a safety cut out switch and lanyard. He also advised me that the U. S. Coast Guard has been considering this situation and may make a recommendation to change the federal regulations on this issue.

However, my impression from my conversation with Tom was that the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) had promulgated some recommended practices which included having a safety cut out switch on recreational boats. (It is difficult to confirm exactly what the ABYC recommended practice is without buying their published book that contains those recommended practices. The recommended practices are generally not on-line and the published book is $155.)

It may be that the boating regulations of one or more of the 50 states may include a requirement of a safety switch. In a case like that, just a few states making something required might lead to an industry wide adoption of the practice. Most manufacturers don't like the idea of having to make multiple version of their product to make it legal in all states.

Also, many organized boating events, like bass fishing tournaments, now require that boats participating in the event be equipped with a safety cut out switch and mandate its use by the skipper.

Apparently, most outboard manufacturers include a safety cut out switch on their outboard motor as a voluntarily conformance with the ABYC recommended practices. This is a good example of how an industry can regulate itself, instead of having the federal government involved in every tiny issue.

Of course, having the safety cut out switch installed is no guarantee of it being used by the boat operator. It is much the same situation as in the automobile, when seat belts were manufacturers were mandated to include them, but use of them by the occupants was optional. (By the way, in Michigan the law has been changed and seat belts in cars must be worn by occupants.)

A few years ago, the United States Coast Guard published a Boating Safety circular which contained some excellent advice on the use/non-use of safety cut out switches when operating recreational boats.

See http://www.uscgboating.org/recalls/pdfs/BSC78.pdf

Even when a vessel is equipped with a safety cut out switch and it is being worn by the operator of the vessel, there is no guarantee that the engines will shut off when the operator goes overboard. The U.S. Coast Guard found themselves in this situation in a recent marine casualty involving one of their own boats. Apparently the lanyard broke from the forces imposed on it before it could operate the safety cut out switch.

See:

http://www.ntsb.gov/publictn/2002/MAR0205.pdf
http://continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/005323.html

The logic of a safety cut out switch's operation also needs to be considered. The principal requirement is that the engine shut off when the switch is activated. In the case of a lanyard actuated switch, this probably means that the lanyard has gone overboard as well, including the mechanism it extracts from the switch to cause the switch to activate.

The result is a vessel whose engine has shut down and is missing an important little device to return the safety cut out switch back to normal. If there are other occupants on the vessel who could re-start the engines and use the boat to assist the man overboard, they may not be able to do this. The engines may not start or run again without the missing portion of the safety cut out switch.

Some engine makers have been reported to have advanced the design of their safety cut out switches so that they allow the engine to be-restarted, even with the safety cut out switch still in an activated state. The vessel can then be operated and used to assist the man overboard.

The design of the safety switch used by some makers allows a manual reset without replacing the missing lanyard component.

On smaller engines, designed for tiller operation, most manufacturers are now providing a safety cut out switch as standard equipment. On larger engines, designed for remote control, most engines have circuitry in them for connection of a safety cut out switch. They may also include such a switch as part of their own remote control equipment. If an owner chooses to use non-OEM remote controls (e.g., Teleflex Morse), they may not include a safety cut out switch.

The safety cut out switch may self-operate and shut off the engines. If you are suddenly faced with an engine that was running fine and now won't start, check the status of the safety cut out switch. The lanyard may have caused an unintended operation of the switch. (I can tell you this from first hand experience.) Every marine mechanic with a little bit of experience has solved this problem for a customer.

The safety cut out switch can also be used for other purposes, including rendering the boat inoperable to prevent theft. If someone jumps aboard with the intent of stealing your boat, he may be foiled by engines that refuse to start and not realize that the problem is the safety cut out switch. This is particularly effective if the switch has been re-located and is now mounted in an obscure location.

posted 08-05-2003 09:10 PM ET (US)            

Location of the kill switch on the control is important. Some side mount oem controls have the switch on the side. Operator exiting aft or stbd might break the lanyard w/o pulling the switch. Top mount controls have switch on aft side.

posted 08-05-2003 09:27 PM ET (US)            

Its something that I never would have thought twice about until I lost my steering at WOT this spring. I was very lucky and was able to shut the motor down without loosing control of my boat. But if I hit a wave the wrong way the boat could have easily turned violently to one side or another, throwing me out.

posted 08-05-2003 09:43 PM ET (US)            

1. They work! A kill switch at least saved my Coast Guard career when I ejected myseld years ago. When I ride with new coxswains, or potential new coxswains, I always try to impart a little wisdom by telling them my story.

2. Mercury kill switches are nothing more than a toggle switch that traps the lanyard in a small housing. When the switch is tripped all that has to be done, to restart the engine, is the toggle switch needs to pushed back inside the housing. No lanyard is required. A Merc switch could easily be installed on any brand of engine.

Hope everyone is having a great day.

posted 08-05-2003 09:57 PM ET (US)            

The newer OMC (Bombardier) switches also allow you to do this but in a different way... From 1996 and newer, the switch realizes that the safety lanyard had been pulled and will KILL the engine. After that, the next operator would be allowed to start the engine and retrieve anyone that might have been thrown overboard...

posted 08-05-2003 10:08 PM ET (US)            

As with all accidents there are many variables. Consider the pilot was rendered unconsious for any reason before he went overboard.(stroke, heart attack, drunkeness, blunt trama to the head from wife because of drunkeness) The boat will stay in the general location as the victim allowing for a higher percentage rate of victim recovery by the search. The rule; a boat is easier to spot than a body. I feel this is a important factor. Especially if your wife doesn't have another lanyard and you are bobbing with slight conciousness. She may accually need you to get the boat going again.

Parties who use the boat can know that the boat will run without the switch by simply pressing your finger on the kill button and holding it although, it is not ideal, it works in a pinch. Just don't let your wife know about this trick if you think she might have bad intentions for you.

A safety cuttoff will take a slightly mechanically inclined person less than a half an hour to install. My feeling is that if you don't have one you should get one.

posted 08-05-2003 10:41 PM ET (US)            

When ever anyone comes up with a new or better "mouse trap" like a safety item that is what the trial lawyers will camp on and this forces manufacturers to use the new or better idea.

Ford came up with a new idea and option, adjustable pedals that adjust to your height and leg length so height challenged people did not have to be on top of the steering wheel and air bag. One internal memo from Ford made it into a trial lawyers hands (and hence their very good network) that stated that these adjustable peddles may be a safety item and guess what: Trial lawyers are now bringing the adjustable pedal idea up in litigation (through expert witness testimony) involving people injured by air bags because they sat too close to the air bag when it went off.

The cutoff switch is an old, good idea. Not using it is up to you, the operator. Only you can change your behavior.

posted 08-06-2003 08:04 AM ET (US)            

In the case of the Coast Guard as cited above, the entire control console was ripped out the vessel, yet the engines continued to run. Apparently the safety cut out switch was of a design that it had to furnish a contact when operated in order to shut off the engines.

posted 08-06-2003 01:56 PM ET (US)            

I have gotten myself into the habbit of wearing the lanyard whenever I operate the boat, and I always brief my crew on the basic operation of the boat in case I should go overboard or become injured. This includes showing them how to reset the lanyard safety switch without the lanyard.

posted 08-06-2003 02:41 PM ET (US)            

If I had it on tape it would have won America’s Funniest Video, well maybe not, unless the cussing was eliminated.

http://continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/002877.html

posted 08-06-2003 09:26 PM ET (US)            

You guys convinced me to be wearing the lanyard this year. After reading about the Coasties having to repetitively dive to avoid getting hit by the boat they were ejected from was enough of a horror story for me.

Seems to me the kill switch should be visible, accessible and usable with the lanyard. Hiding it to prevent theft seems to me to negate all the safety aspects - the prime reason for it.

If you want to theft proof your boat by interrupting the ignition system, put a hidden key switch in the console underneath and use that for anti theft.

Use your lanyard for its intended purpose and connect it to the driver. Just imagine that long swim as you watch your boat motor off into the sunset.

posted 08-07-2003 06:39 PM ET (US)            

You should consider using all available safety equipment on board your boat (including PFD)...especially when boating alone. I typically wear my PFD when boating by myself (I'm not nearly so devout when boating with friends, or in a group of boats), and I always wear my safety lanyard.

An additional thought: Not using available safety equipment may lead to legal/insurance troubles in the event you are in an accident.

Lawyers like to dig up and exploit little things like that, and insurance companies save a ton of money each year by challenging claims over minor details.

Best advice: Next time you're in your Whaler, check out the kill switch..see if it works...if the engine(s) will restart after the lanyard has been removed, and inform your passengers of it when you prep them on the boat's operation during your safety talk when they first come aboard. (You DO give them a safety talk when they come aboard, don't you?)

Great thread Jim - I'm interested to find out if my OMC switch is a closed or open circuit.

posted 08-08-2003 12:10 AM ET (US)            

I use the kill-switch cable when I'm alone out in out 13' powerboat (not a Whaler), but at times it is really a pain! I know, safety is not always convenient..but in order to reach anything stowed forward, I have to unclip the cable from my belt or else the engine shuts down as the clip gets pulled off the motor. Oh, well, at least then I know the kill-switch works!

posted 04-25-2010 11:40 AM ET (US)            

"There is legislation on lanyards. The Coast Guard has passed A-33..."

posted 04-25-2010 12:24 PM ET (US)            

One state that requires a safety lanyard is Alabama.

Alabama law requires that vessels that are less than 24 feet in length, have an open cockpit, and are powered by more than 50 horsepower, be equipped with an ignition safety switch. The lanyard of the switch must be attached to the person, clothing, or PFD of the operator

posted 04-25-2010 03:41 PM ET (US)            

"The lanyard of the switch must be attached to the person, clothing, or PFD of the operator...."

Obviously a wireless device does not have a lanyard to be attached.

posted 04-25-2010 07:45 PM ET (US)            

Thanks very much for that information. In general I only wear the lanyard on my boat when boating alone or when conditions turn snotty.

Both of my fishing companions are very experienced boaters and I've been counting on them for rescue if I'm ejected. Now I have to consider that if I am ejected they would be even more likely to be ejected than me.

About the only scenario in which I can imagine being ejected is striking a sunken object at some speed except in the very worst conditions.

I think I'll start obeying the law. At lest I am almost always wearing an inflatable PFD while on plane.

posted 04-25-2010 09:38 PM ET (US)         

This is listed under "new regulations," but I'm not sure how new the law it is.