Wear Your Killcord!

[Muckle Flugga]

I ALWAYS wear mine, on any light powered vessel. I see FAR too many cruisers and other leisure boaters not wearing theirs.

https://www.facebook.com/SailingMore...4712274332056/

[exMaggieDrum]

I'm guilty as charged but I entirely agree with you. They can be a hassle though which is why people don't use them - losing the clip or cord, pulling it off just doing things in the dink, etc. But they could save lives by getting run over and also by a solo driver falling off unnoticed and then drown (because they also don't wear flotation gear).

[krafthaus]

Totally agree. I didn't use the kill cord for quite a long time, but then got to thinking "how dumb is that?"

I had one near miss coming back to the boat from the dock about a mile as it was getting dark. I hit a wave and got thrown over but not out, and realized I could have been over the side of the dinghy with a risk of getting run over by the outboard.

Make a loop, slip your wrist inside.....Done!

[pete33458]

No argument on the kill cord, but

a) that is one bad-ass outboard, I want one! and

b) I've never seen an outboard that doesn't throttle down as soon as your hand leaves the stick, did they somehow defeat this or are there throttles that stay where they are set (on small outboards like this)?

Pete

[boatman61]

Especially if you ride like this...

[krafthaus]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Especially if you ride like this...

Yup. Seen lots of that.

Originally Posted by pete33458

I've never seen an outboard that doesn't throttle down as soon as your hand leaves the stick, did they somehow defeat this or are there throttles that stay where they are set (on small outboards like this)?Pete

Lots of the outboards have a throttle adjustment at the throttle handle so it will hold a constant rpm without needing to hold on very tight.

[leftbrainstuff]

Originally Posted by Muckle Flugga

I ALWAYS wear mine, on any light powered vessel. I see FAR too many cruisers and other leisure boaters not wearing theirs.

https://www.facebook.com/SailingMore...4712274332056/

On our vessel standing orders are simple. If the vessel is moving you wear your PPE (personal protective equipment).

This includes PFD, vhf, lifelines etc, etc On the dinghy this also includes the killcord.

Standing orders are non negotiable. Simple rules and vigilance help keep everyone safe and don't impact on having fun and enjoying your self.

Sent from my SM-N900T using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[Livia]

An accident that should never have happened - Bluewater Cruising Association

[AKA-None]

Every one wears a pfd and I keep my radio clipped on and powered up.


Cruisers Sailing Forum va iPhone

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by Livia

An accident that should never have happened - Bluewater Cruising Association

An incident like this happened in the UK when someone with more money than sense took his family out in his power boat and started doing high speed circles.. they all got thrown out by the G Forces and the boat continued circling at speed killing them off one by one..
Allegedly the guy was an experienced boater..
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukne...s-actions.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QHGBQXRRu8

[SaltyMonkey]

Great lesson here. Thanks for this.

[Alan Mighty]

Here's another case:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNCOYELDVRg

[Pelagic]

There are times when you need to wear a PFD and clip on the kill switch and there are times when you don't need it.

Why must so many weekend sailors deal in absolutes?

[Saleen411]

Yes sir! .....I also leave a spare onboard.

[Muckle Flugga]

Originally Posted by Pelagic

There are times when you need to wear a PFD and clip on the kill switch and there are times when you don't need it.

Why must so many weekend sailors deal in absolutes?

Well, as one professional who lives almost constantly aboard my own or other vessels on which I am working, I can't agree that there is ever a time when, on a powered dinghy, a killcord shouldn't be used. As most of my time is spent in the tropics I rarely wear a PFD in a dinghy in warm waters, but anyone can fall in from a dinghy, even in totally calm water. The consequences of not wearing a kill cord, which is, after all, really zero hassle especially when clipped round the arm, can easily be to be horribly maimed or killed by the prop, either yourself or your passengers or people just innocently using the water nearby. As a result of the latter it frankly is not merely a matter of personal choice. It is a public hazard as the videos above make abundantly clear. The danger in morse controlled small powerboats is if anything even greater, for rather obvious reasons. Why not wear it?