Wireless Tether Switch

As I mentioned before, this year my guiding insurance listed that I need to be wearing my kill tether when the motor is running. I “generally” wear it at night but forget in the daytime…and I hate it when I step away from the cockpit and kill the engine while on the river. The good thing is that I haven’t needed it and hopefully never will!

I figured there must be something on the market that is better than the tether. I wore out my first tether cord on the Lund. Tourney anglers are most always required to wear them and there are some state that have laws requiring a tether be worn if the boat has one.

So I did my homework and found a company that makes the AutoTether. I talked with them on the phone and we’ve been emailing since last April when I first started using one. By the way, they are not a sponsor and I am not selling them. Merely passing on a recommendation from personal experience.

I did tell the folks at AutoTether that I was going to make a video (there’s a boatload of them out there already I’ve found out) and they were kind enough to give me a discount code for anyone to use.

I hope this will be of help to the folks that know and want to wear a tether but just forget to attach it or find it confining.

BK, I finally got an inflatable PFD after many influential posts from you, and now I need this too
Thanks for the info, I will have to start dropping hints to the wife

LOL! Well I hope you’re wearing that inflatable!
I know a fella that was tossed out of a tiller on P4. Even he says he’s lucky to be alive.

Like I said, we all know we should wear them, it’s just figuring out the most hassle free way.

Can you do a demonstration of going over board?

if its 150′ distance what actually stops the boat from going round and around?

I’m going to pass… today.

mnfishhunt wrote:

if its 150′ distance what actually stops the boat from going round and around?

The presence of (contact with) at least 8 gals of water to “kill” the wireless signal, is what triggers the kill switch. Rain will not trigger the switch.

What Huntindave said. It’s up to 150 feet away above water. If the FOB is in your pocket your range will be less. But you’ll always be able to walk around your boat.

Fall out of your boat and your motor kills and alarm goes off. Like right now!

Brian Klawitter wrote:

Fall out of your boat and your motor kills and alarm goes off. Like right now!

Prove it.

Brian Klawitter wrote:

I’m going to pass… today.

Come on BK, if you do that video today I could have one by the weekend…

One what by the weekend? LOL!

Pretend this guy is me. I know he’s not as handsome…but pretend.

Curious if the system could somehow cut power to multiple spots… I’m most concerned about running the kicker and bow mount, and getting out of the boat miles out in Lake Michigan by myself, as I usually fish. Even if it killed the kicker, the bow mount would still leave me stranded and in a bunch of trouble.

Chuck, the simple change to the end of the Autotether would move the kill switch from your main motor to your kicker. Possibly both engines could use the same adaptor.

As far as the trolling motor…yeah, you’re on your own there. I’m not sure if the remote control I carry with the neck strap works once submerged.

Brian i don’t know that i would like the thing hanging on my life jacket. Would it work if it was in the pocket of the life jacket? Also
Is this a battery eating device?

I like the idea, i just don’t know if i’ m ready to commit yet

I like that up to 4 sensors can be monitored by one device. Throwing them on the kids is a great idea.

Is this a battery eating device?

Specs say 150 hours for alkaline and 300 hours for lithium. All AAA batteries

munchy wrote:

Is this a battery eating device?

Specs say 150 hours for alkaline and 300 hours for lithium. All AAA batteries

I like the concept but I’d probably leave it turned on and the batteries would be dead when I needed to use it. Wonder what happens if/when the batteries die during the actual time one is using it?

Dutchboy wrote:

Brian i don’t know that i would like the thing hanging on my life jacket. Would it work if it was in the pocket of the life jacket? Also
Is this a battery eating device?

I like the idea, i just don’t know if i’ m ready to commit yet

I’ve put them in my pocket when I first got them Brian. It’s said to reduce the range but honestly I couldn’t tell the difference while in the boat and didn’t really see a need to get out of the boat to test it…because I want it to go off when I’m outside the boat.
I’ve put them on the PFD’s because it’s easier for me to grab them and turn them on. Personal preference.

Battery life? I don’t know. I have to originals in yet and I would say between the two boats I’ve put a lot of hours on them. 150? No…I’m thinking 70 but really don’t have any way of telling. I do keep an extra set of batteries in the boat, but then I have other things like head lights that use them too.

How to tell if the batteries are low:
If the POWER light is AMBER, the batteries are low and should be
replaced.
If the light is RED, batteries are dangerously low and must be replaced
immediately.

It is strongly recommended that all of the batteries in the
AUTOTETHER system be replaced at the same time.

*one note, if you don’t turn the AutoTether off when your done boating, it’s still going to use up battery life while your away. Easy work around: Turn off the unit at the end of the day.