New safety lanyard law

[Descant]

Tough to enforce as a "primary stop" since nobody can see the lanyard. If you get stopped for some other reason, stand up to get your wallet/registration, it may be obvious, but not if you have it on your wrist as described above.
This is probably a good idea, especially if you like "Nanny laws", but like seat belts and M/C helmets, no special law will change much. Eventually, mfg's will put a pressure switch in the seat as an ECOS, just like my lawnmower.
Recall, not so many years ago, a single operator was ejected when his steering failed and the boat turned suddenly. The boat kept running in circles, but it was some time before the operator was found. No PFD! When you're alone, where a self-inflating PFD.

[fatlazyless]

For sail boaters, it should be required a handcuff be used to attach sailor's wrist to the tiller handle. This will encourage sailor to keep from flipp'n sailboat with himself handcuffed to tiller handle. ...... whoopsie ....... just a thought! ....

[TiltonBB]

The first time many people become aware of the kill switch lanyard is when the clip falls off the switch and they can't figure out why the boat won't start.

[XCR-700]

Originally Posted by TiltonBB

The first time many people become aware of the kill switch lanyard is when the clip falls off the switch and they can't figure out why the boat won't start.

Or when the boat shuts off unexpectedly and wont restart.

I have seen that more than once and in at least one situation where it was dangerous, in the Merrimack river and current was moving fast due to the tide change.

There is value to lanyard kill switches, but I dont agree they are always needed, and a seat switch (like on a lawn mower) would be a huge problem in some boats where you stand more than you sit during operation.

I dont see a perfect perfect solution to the concern some have about out of control boats.

[fatlazyless]

Originally Posted by XCR-700

I dont see a perfect perfect solution to the concern some have about out of control boats.

Here's a perfect perfect solution ....... even a small row boat with two wood oars can go out of control when just one of the oars slides down the oar lock, and moves across the water, away from the reach of the rower.

The perfect perfect solution is to pin the oars with a ss 10-24 x 3" round head screw that mounts the oar within the oar lock ....... that was too easy! .....

[XCR-700]

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

Here's a perfect perfect solution ....... even a small row boat with two wood oars can go out of control when just one of the oars slides down the oar lock, and moves across the water, away from the reach of the rower.

The perfect perfect solution is to pin the oars with a ss 10-24 x 3" round head screw that mounts the oar within the oar lock ....... that was too easy! .....

Interesting, I dont think I have ever used a row boat without pinned oars, but then I have only been using them since the 1960's,,,

Now I have seen row boats where the oar locks were not secured at the bottom (into the socket) and depending on the angle they were mounted, you could have a problem with the oar lock trying to ride up and out.

But then none of that has anything to do with this thread. So I propose we discuss loose change falling out of boat operators pockets and options to prevent such. Its as relevant to the new lanyard law as row boat oars and possibly more so, as an operator attempting to retrieve his/her lost change might twist/move in such a way as to unintentionally pull on the lanyard and shutdown the vessel. Would this be a helpful or dangerous application of the kill switch?

[MAXUM]

The concept of a cutoff is fine I get it, having manufacturers put them on vessels under a certain size, great idea. Making it mandatory to use them is stupid. The only application of mandatory use that makes sense to me is a jet ski because of the very high likelihood you're going to get separated from the vehicle while in use.

The rest of this is just feel good nonsense. If a boat is being operated in a responsible manner a lanyard should never be needed. In fact I would argue that an unexpected engine cut out at a good say 30-35 MPH has the potential to be even more dangerous as passengers may not be prepared for that and get thrown all over the place. Even better for a wake surfer who is literally feet off the back of the boat. Bet that transom will taste good.

I bet this causes more injuries than it is supposed to avoid.

[CooperS7777]

Originally Posted by MAXUM

The concept of a cutoff is fine I get it, having manufacturers put them on vessels under a certain size, great idea. Making it mandatory to use them is stupid. The only application of mandatory use that makes sense to me is a jet ski because of the very high likelihood you're going to get separated from the vehicle while in use.

The rest of this is just feel good nonsense. If a boat is being operated in a responsible manner a lanyard should never be needed. In fact I would argue that an unexpected engine cut out at a good say 30-35 MPH has the potential to be even more dangerous as passengers may not be prepared for that and get thrown all over the place. Even better for a wake surfer who is literally feet off the back of the boat. Bet that transom will taste good.

I bet this causes more injuries than it is supposed to avoid.

I don't disagree that making it mandatory is not necessarily the route the state should take. That said, I also don't think the statement that "If a boat is being operated in a responsible manner a lanyard should never be needed." could be further from the truth.

There are many situations in which proper use of a lanyard may lead to a totally different outcome at the end of the day, even in cases where the boat is being operated responsibly; steering failure, collision with debris in the water or unmarked hazards, medical emergency, mechanical failure etc. Add on top of that the number of OTHER people on the water (many of which do not operate their boats responsibly), and the potential interactions your likely to have with them while on the lake, and the possibilities are endless.

Thats almost like saying if everyone on the road operated their vehicles in accordance with laws, no one would need to wear a seat-belt.

Lastly, in MOST boats, the transition from cruise to dead stop via way of chopping the throttle or killing the engine is not typically very violent. There are times when its more abrupt than others, such as transitioning off plane, and yes, it is absolutely more abrupt than simply throttling back, but if passengers are standing and holding on, or properly seated, no one should be thrown anywhere.