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.
I think this will result in a huge uptick in sales of the wireless kill switches. Much easier to not have to remember. I seldom forget to hook it up, but I regularly stand up with it still hooked up.Quote:
Originally Posted by DoyleAlley
been thinking of retrofitting my old Evinrude with a MOB kill switch.
I'm surprised they ain't talking about making it mandatory for trolling motors as well. Imagine trolling in 50 degree water and trying to catch your boat making a mile an hour.
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While trying to catch up with a slow moving boat is certainly a problem, that really isn't what the law was trying to prevent. The real danger has always been getting run over by a fast-moving boat running in circles.Quote:
Originally Posted by catchNgrease
I thought this law had been in effect. I wear mine all the time.
I believe this law also heavily impacts lawsuits resulting from an operator falling overboard and the circling boat then damaging property or injuring people afterward. Lawyers will clean up on these cases now with this law in place.Quote:
Originally Posted by DoyleAlley
Not in Kentucky. The current law only requires jet ski operators to have the kill switch attached to the operator.Quote:
Originally Posted by shadow
My 1961 E-rude didn't come with one, but seriously thinking of putting one on it...Age has a way of not letting us be as nimble as we once were...
Good idea , terrible law. I wear mine 90% of the time just like my seatbelt. Still don’t think there should be a law for everything no matter what the good intentions were.
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If anyone wants to upgrade an older motor I have a kill switch (NO/NC) with the lanyard. I bought it when I was building a boat but abandoned the project when my health declined. I'm at the north end of Kentucky Lake. PM me.