When boating, always ___________________

[ratdude747]

Use a kill switch.
My nephew and I were in Minnesota many years back. From the kitchen in their family cabin, we saw a boat doing circles across the lake. Thought it was kids fooling around. When we came back in later in the evening, we learned that a lady had been tossed from the boat and was run over by it as it went in circles.

My boat is grandfathered (1976 Starcraft Montego). The helm is somewhat crowded-in at least.

Wouldn't be hard to retrofit (ground the tach signal the same way the shift interlock kills the engine) but I've always heard not to since legally it'd be a one-way change.

 

[rolmops]

Inform somebody that you go fishing and agree upon a time that you will call when you are back. If you don't call they will inform the authorities.
Get an MMSI number.

 

[FLATHEAD]

Even my 3 HP electric outboard has a lanyard kill switch,, , just sayin

 

[Mc Tool]

Inform somebody that you go fishing and agree upon a time that you will call when you are back. If you don't call they will inform the authorities.
Get an MMSI number.

Yep ,I either tell someone or leave a note whenever I leave the house ( now ) to adventure outdoors ,being disabled I rely on a quad to go anywhere around my beat ( farm land and local river ) about 10km in any direction .
I only have had to be "rescued" once .......and that is what led to the note leaving because I was stranded mid river for over 8 hrs while neighbours looked for me when I didnt get home.
A real pita for all involved .

 

[TheGM1217]

Been boating for over 40 yrs. just in the last two year, me and the captain have religiously started using the lanyard. Can't fathom the thought of either one of us being thrown out or falling out of boat while under way. I guess we are getting more responsible in our later years.

 

[airshot]

Do I recomend the lanyard...YES....do I always use it...no...yes I should and try to remember but often get to my fishing spot before I think of it. Having been a boat owner for well over 60 years and consider my self extra carefull. Never in those years have I even come close to being tossed overboard ! I don't / never have taken careless chances that might get me tossed out ! Is this an excuse to not wear it.....no it is not, they should be used whenver your boat is underway. Mabey because I have never had a close call, lets my guard down, and yes I am working to try and remember to use it regularly. To be honest, I have witnessed more folks having their boat sink from rotten wood and the transom ripping away than being tossed out of a boat. Perhaps we should also encourage solid structure on old glasses to keep accidents low.

 

[dingbat]

Have VHF with Class D DSC with MMSI number on top of normally sharing my location (iPhone) with Mrs. Dingbat and adult children.

Enclosed cabin with wireless overboard protection

 

[roscoe]

The kill switch on my new motor is also the stop switch.
You have to pull the lanyard to stop the engine.
Makes it pretty hard to forget, because you have to reconnect the lanyard to start the engine.

 

[Mc Tool]

The kill switch on my new motor is also the stop switch.
You have to pull the lanyard to stop the engine.
Makes it pretty hard to forget, because you have to reconnect the lanyard to start the engine.

Have you tried leaving the lanyard on the switch and just press the switch in ........usually works

 

[Mc Tool]

Yep ,I either tell someone or leave a note whenever I leave the house ( now ) to adventure outdoors ,being disabled I rely on a quad to go anywhere around my beat ( farm land and local river ) about 10km in any direction .
I only have had to be "rescued" once .......and that is what led to the note leaving because I was stranded mid river for over 8 hrs while neighbours looked for me when I didnt get home.
A real pita for all involved .

Jinxed it , damn thing crapped out right at my gate .......no spark