Saturday 9 August 2014

Dead Man's Switch - Kill Cord

The Swanage Coastguard team was tasked this morning to an incident involving a speedboat.  Assistance was provided by both Swanage Lifeboats.

Having spoken to the person involved it became very clear that he had acted with the very best intentions to rescue a child, and in the haste to effect a rescue accidentally forgot to attach the kill cord.

So what is a kill cord?



Kill Cord with inserts for different outboard makes.



Basically a key that is attached by a lanyard to the boat handler's wrist. If the chap falls overboard the key pulls out and the engine cuts out. The boat stops and they get back into the boat. A simple bit of kit, easily fitted.



Kill Cord fitted to throttle


So what might happen if you don't have one? Well people fall over board and the boat engine continues to run.....

Scenario 1: the boat circles making an increasing circle until it runs out of fuel. The end result in an open sea - a long lonely wait until you are picked up or drown.

Scenario 2: the boat circles making a decreasing circle until it hits you. The end result is people going through the engine's propeller.


A Kill Cord costs £6.00


Further Advice.

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