Kill switch - (lanyard)

RIPPLE · 11-02-2001, 02:57 PM

I was thinking about this during the lifejacket thread. How many of you clip your kill switch lanyard to your body. I have my own rule that whenever I put my boat on plane I wear my lifejacket or float coat AND I hook the kill switch to myself. I figure that its one thing to kill myself because I'm an idiot, but to send an unmanned 40 m.p.h. missile accross the bay or river is criminal. Waves happen, poor footing and slippery decks happen and the kill switch is there for a reason.
:grin: RIPPLE :grin:

Chaps · 11-02-2001, 04:22 PM

good thought . . . I wish someone made a waterproof remote kill switch that I could wear on my vest. I frequently fish alone and I've got a small autopilot that steers the boat while I fiddle with the gear. If I fell in the saltchuck it would be impossible to catch the boat even if it was just motoring along at 2 knots. I think one of the car alarm companies could easily come up with this type of deal. They already have remotes that will start and stop engines, lock the doors, beep the horn, etc. Just need them to come up with a simple, single purpose waterproof panic button remote.

Pete · 11-02-2001, 04:28 PM

This is a legitimate safety concern, especially for those of us that fish alone at times. My Alumaweld SportJet does not have a kill switch. I have imagined hitting an ocean wave wrong, bonking myself in the head and heading for Japan unconscious. I'm surprised about this and wonder if anyone has ever retrofitted a kill switch.

Jennie@ifish · 11-02-2001, 04:51 PM

Another thing that is very good.
(And no, Bill doens't ever use the kill)
Make sure the person with you knows a little about boat operation.
I remember, way back when, being a little tenuous, fishing in boats, thinking... Gosh, if something happened, what the heck would I do?
Now I know enough to keep me afloat, perhaps even get us back to shore! (God help us all...)
Jen

WaterDog · 11-02-2001, 06:48 PM

Pete,
I've got a sportjet as well (not Alumaweld) and I was under the impression that a kill switch is a standard deal. What's up with that? :whazzup: :depressed:

I'll admit that I don't use it but if I fished alone, I think I'd hook it up.

Chaps · 11-02-2001, 07:53 PM

It depends a lot of times as to the brand of engine controls that come on the boat. My Honda O/B start switch panel has ignition key, choke switch and kill switch. Lanyard style kill switches can be added to any boat that doesn't get 'em as original equipment. Problem is the second you walk away from the helm you have to remember to unhook it from your belt and then rehook it when you come back. And chances of needing to kill it when you are at the wheel are a lot less than needing to kill it while you are wandering around doing something while the boat is underway. I'd like a remote so I could kill it from anywhere on the boat or even if I go overboard.

Tinman · 11-04-2001, 03:29 PM

Kill switches are fine, but in practice I find I often forget I am wearing the lanyard, and accidentally kill the motor just by moving around the boat, or reaching for something. Obviously, a sudden loss of power can be dangerous when crossing a bar, or when obstructions or other boats are close by.

I wear the lanyard on long runs offshore, but not in tight quarters or when crossing the bar.