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When was the last time you physically checked your Safety Lanyard or man-over-board switch?
Last week when my wife and I were cruising around on the lake, I decided to teach her how to dock the boat.
The first thing I did was attach the Safety Lanyard to a belt loop on her pants and explained to her that if she were to happen to fall overboard that the engine would automatically stop. This would allow her to swim to the boat and climb back in.
So, I showed her what would happen by pulling the lanyard.. Well, the lanyard came free from the switch but the engine did NOT stop... This switch isn't that old so I am assuming that it had slight air corrosion in the button. I sprayed a little WD-40 in the switch and it started to work. I think if I was home I would use some type of electrical contact spray but that wasn't available on the lake.
Moral of the story.... Check you Safety Lanyard and switch just to be safe.
I would hate to have a false sense of security by thinking my engine would stop if I fell overboard only to see the boat speeding off in the distance without me in it.... Now that would be a bad day....
Great advise Joe.
I wonder if mine works and will chesk it.
Everyone should where it when alone.
We had a guy drown here not long ago because he fell over.
Good advice Joe, The 13' and 15' models were a tad dangerous because, of that, an operator could fall in the water at speed, the outboard would slap into a turn by itself (path of least resistance), and keep circling until striking the operator in the water, I'm going to test mine today, I also showed "Jr" two days ago, how to shut off the motor in an emegency. We hold "M.O.B" drills in 3' of water for practice (anchored of course), PFD's ON. remember, throw the "Throwables" (seat cushions, life rings, dock bumpers, anything that will float) into the water, keep pointing at the victim, and shouting out where they are to the operator (who should be on the Horn giving "POSITION" to USCG). The "M.O.B" (man over Board) switch should be hit on the GPS right away. This is where brightly colored pfd's are so IMPORTANT, Good point !
mw
This is SO wierd....
My wife is bound and determined to learn to pilot the Whaler...and she's doin' great..
The other day she asked what that lanyard thing was hanging there...so I gave it a yank and presto! The motor stopped!
My subsequent explanation of how your own boat can circle back and chop you to pieces really hit home....
danedg wrote:
This is SO wierd....
My wife is bound and determined to learn to pilot the Whaler...and she's doin' great..
The other day she asked what that lanyard thing was hanging there...so I gave it a yank and presto! The motor stopped!
My subsequent explanation of how your own boat can circle back and chop you to pieces really hit home....
Sailing off without you is bummer enough! Mine has a tie wrap in place of the lanyard. Rather like a penny under a burnt fuse!
