The US Coast Guard has now made it mandatory to wear the kill switch cord when above idle speed. This applies to any boat with 3 hp or more, and boats less than 26 ft in length.
Older boats that do not have a kill switch cord are exempt. If a kill switch system is in place, it must be utilized and the cord attached to the boat operator.
The new law goes into effect on April 1st.
U.S. Coast Guard Announces New Law Requiring Use of Engine Cut-off Switches | National Safe Boating Council
It makes sense, thanks for the info.
I fish alone most of the time. Started attaching the kill switch to my pfd a couple of years ago. There are a lot of videos out there that show how fast an accident can happen. Better to be safe than sorry.
Sounds like a good law to me... especially since so many people totally disregard such "common sense" safety measures.
Great idea. Don’t know why anybody wouldn’t wear it if they have it.Quote:
Originally Posted by artcarney_agr
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Well, if you think about pontoon boats with smaller engines, most don't wear a kill switch cord on that type of rig. The 25 ft pontoon I drove for years had a 90 hp, and it would do maybe 18 mph on a calm flat day with clean toons. With the big captain chair it had, the likelihood of being thrown out was pretty low, I never did use the kill switch cord on that one.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jman5626
Not a bad law. I always wear mine when running my Boat. Take it off to Fish when motor not running.
Same here ill where it when going to my spot to fish then take it off, my family rides with me sometimes and its always better to be safe then sorry.
Not a bad idea, and I wear mine.
The law only applies at planing speed, so trolling, maneuvering with the TM and normal fishing movements don’t require the switch attached.
Note that this law currently applies only to federally controlled waterways (i.e. it is a federal ticket). So far, only two states have adopted the law making it a state offence ticketable by state agencies too - Alabama and Texas. Hopefully, more states will quickly adopt it so that it can be enforced everywhere. I think it is a great thing. I've seen way too many Youtube videos of boats circling the guy that was thrown out.