Motor Kill Switch Cord?

Do you wear it or not? Is it a good practice or not?

Up until this winter I always wore mine thinking it was a good safety practice. Now Im debating that. What happens if I go over with the cord and those in the boat can not start the motor to get to me. In my case using the trolling motor for back up might not be a option either because there is a good chance the control is going to be with me. On the other hand if we all go over I do want the cord on to prevent the boat from driving away or circling back.

Talked to a few other boaters about this with mixed answers from “do not know” to there is a “manual switch on the motor to turn off the kill switch”. My smaller Honda has a spare clip mounted right next to the kill switch. Really not sure what safety feature the 75 Yamaha has if any.

So do you guys wear the kill cord or not and why? What does your motor have to get restarted if the kill switch cord is pulled?

I don’t wear mine, got no real legit reason for not, maybe it’s just not a habit

On mine the kill switch cord has a loop on the end that goes over a trigger similar to a gun trigger that is locked pretty good in place. If I go over, the cord will pull that trigger backwards which releases the cord and kills the motor. To restart you just push that little trigger back into place and the motor will start. Everyone that steps foot in the boat knows how to do this before we leave the dock.

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What happens if I go over with the cord and those in the boat can not start the motor to get to me.

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This is exactly why the captain (you, if it is your boat) should go over basic boat procedures with your passengers before ever leaving the dock. Everyone in the boat should know how to start the engine and operate the controls. Everyone should also know where the throwable is kept. Everyone should know where the fire extinguisher is kept.

I carry a spare kill key and again, my passengers know where it is and how to install it.

If you are a passenger in a friend’s boat and don’t know, you should make a point to ask. You never know when you may be called upon to act.

It goes both ways. I always wear mine when running after being knocked out and ejected running the wrong line through some rapids. It could of been much worse if the boat woild of kept going tell it hit something. Jets dont always turn if you let go like a prop boat. Like you said though if the tether goes with you anyone left in the boat can’t come to help.

There should be a spare clip mounted on every motor for emergency use. Isn’t there a clip holder on the top or side of the tiller handle just back from the throttle?

If there isn’t one, I’d make a holder for one in a highly visible place.

Especially in cold water/cold weather times, I’d say all possible downsides are insignificant compared with the advantage of having the boat stop if the driver gets thrown from the controls. Even if passengers cannot restart the engine, they should be able to use other means to assist anyone who’s gone overboard. Throw a line, use a paddle, throw PFDs, use the electric outboard, and call for help. All of those are better options than having the boat carry on its merry way with no driver.

In water temps like we have today, a person has a few minutes at best if they are in the water. Yes, yes, yes, they won’t die in a few minutes, but they will become incapacitated such that they cannot use their arms or legs and therefore rescue gets vastly more difficult and dangerous as the clock ticks. Anything that stops the boat fast and closer to the person overboard is a good thing.

Grouse

Mike, I guess I need to ask the obvious. Why don’t you have a spare kill switch lanyard in an obvious open spot or dressed on to the steering wheel…or attached to the throttle?

I’ve been going through a safety check list for 8 years with passengers and never thought of this. Thanks Mike!

The only times my tether isn’t connected to me is if I’m putting from one close place to another.

The kill switch just needs to be flipped back to the up or run position if I’m outside of the boat for whatever reason.

On my suggestion, Float-Tech inflatables added D-rings just for the tethers about 3 years ago. Before that they were connected to my belt loop.

Most of the time I don’t use one. If I do it’s at night and for no other reason expect it makes me feel better.

Now this has me thinking more about it and Randy’s suggestion of having an additional cord in the boat makes sense to me.

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On mine the kill switch cord has a loop on the end that goes over a trigger similar to a gun trigger that is locked pretty good in place. If I go over, the cord will pull that trigger backwards which releases the cord and kills the motor. To restart you just push that little trigger back into place and the motor will start. Everyone that steps foot in the boat knows how to do this before we leave the dock.

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This is how my switch works as well. Still EVERYONE in the boat is informed how it operates if I were to go overboard. I have a wheel boat so the chances are rare that i go over while under way but stuff happens when its least expected.

Solo yes I wear it, and I fly solo probably 75% of my time on the water. Others in the boat I don’t – most of the time the “others” are experienced fisherman/boaters and know what to do if something comes up. Now for family time no mostly cause that is mainly putzing around enjoying an afternoon.

Many years ago I fell out of my boat with the autopilot on the trolling motor turned on. I was alone and no remote control. Just something to also plan on.

“Even if passengers cannot restart the engine, they should be able to use other means to assist anyone who’s gone overboard. Throw a line, use a paddle, throw PFDs, use the electric outboard, and call for help. All of those are better options than having the boat carry on its merry way with no driver.”

You would think this is the case but those other options might not always work. Especially when time is critical. Just this spring a guy went in on pool 2 trying to grab a rod. Windy day with current. Guy in the boat throws life jacket and wind blows it away. Trys the trolling motor and not enough power to get to the guy in the water. Luckily he got the main motor going. Good thing that was a option in this case.

The kill switch on my Yamaha is the push button type. Clip comes out and button goes in. Button needs to be held out with another clip for the motor to run.

Yep, Ill be getting another clip for it. Might just duct tape it right next to the button. Will also have to look through the owners manual to see if there isnt some type of over ride for the button like some of you are saying.

If you run a tiller you dont know what you are chancing until you hit something, tiller rips out of your hand, boat does a 90 degree turn at 30mph, your face bounces off the gunwale and both you and your buddy are laying on the floor of a spinning boat.

If I had not landed inside the boat I dont thing my buddy could have responded in time to keep from getting caught in the death spiral!

You will immediately wish you had it on.

If you are that worried about it, spend $5 and buy another tether to keep snapped on the tiller arm…

I am still guilty of forgetting to use mine at times after that incident, please use it. It all happens so fast.

Just looked through my owners manual and there is nothing in there indicating a spare clip or over ride. Kinda surprised by that.

Had never really thought of this until this spring. Always just wore the cord and thought that was it. Like said above Ill be getting a spare clip and continue to wear the cord.

Thats another good point about having the trolling motor drive the boat off if you go in. Good reason to have the life jacket on but it would still suck to see you boat drive away on you. Wonder how many guys this has happened to?

I run a tiller so I have a ring on my life jacket that I hook it to. I usually unhook it if I’m using my motor for boat control while fishing because I’ve shut the motor off too many times while going to net a fish or even just standing up.

Getting a spare one is a great idea, it’s on my list!

I do not use mine on my old boat as it does not get going fast enough to do any type of ejection. The new boat I pick up on Saturday I will it will be a different story. Hopefully I can break the bad habit I currently have.

I have less worries about people getting my boat started after I fall over than getting hit by my boat prop in a death circle. Don’t want to look like the guy below. Not sure if this picture violates policies if so delete it.

Ewww…but he is alive.

That pic emphasises the point perfectly! Always attach the kill switch.

I had a tiller with a 25 on it and was going down river just above idling speed when, I hit a log under water and it jerked the handle to the left.When it jerked it caused me to turn the throttle to the fast position raising and spinning the boat while flipping me out on the right back.I went under water and when I came up the boat was in a spin with the motor coming right at me.I was able to grab the boat on the left side on the back by the motor and the prop hit me in the right side.I was going threw where a old rail bridge had been taken out and made it to a bridge abutment in the middle of the river with rocks around it.The boat was going in circles down stream until it hit a shallow spot around a island about 50 yards down stream and the prop blades broke off and it was caught in a eddie at the bottom of the island.I was laying on the rocks with blood on me and the side of my rain suit shredded in shock.It was a hour before dark and I knew nobody would be by.I could not swim to shore because of the really strong current on each side.There was a big eddie from the abutment to the island and as I was shivering I decided to swim to the island to get the boat circleing in the eddie.In 38 degree water I swam down got to the boat and hopped in it.The motor was still running but there was no blades on it,so I paddled 3 miles down river to the boat landing where a guy fishing from shore helped me.The shock had worn of some by then and I found most of the blood was from a big cut on my thumb and the suit I was wearing saved me except for some miner cuts the prop caused.The boat motor had hit me so hard my whole right side was a deep purple for 2 weeks and if the motor had not been turned to the right I would have looked like the guy in the above picture.I always wear a life perserver now and have the kill switch hooked up.The good lord was with me this day and I know how lucky I was.Do not let this happen to you.

Stuff like that only happens to the other guy.

Thanks for sharing and it’s a solid point that we don’t have to be going fast for shtuff to happen.

I have a 79 lund mr pike single consol and it doesnt have a kill switch at all. What would a person do in that situation? Beside dont fall out

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I have a 79 lund mr pike single consol and it doesnt have a kill switch at all. What would a person do in that situation? Beside dont fall out

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Install a kill switch – they’re cheap online (less than $25) and worth it. I did it on a my old winter boat last year.

I always wear mine, 100% of the time – habit I guess. My tiller also has a spare ‘key/kill switch spacer’. In the case I am ejected, someone else would be able to install the spare and start the motor.

My kill switch has been broken for 5 years or more. Probably the more though. Because Im cheap I figured out that if I pull the cord tight and tape it to the tiller handle it pits enough pressure on it to work. This thread is telling me to get it fixed.
DT