phughes69

I just saw this over on TheHullTruth.

https://www.thehulltruth.com/boating...witch-use.html

Our wonderful legislatures slipped this into the latest spending bill. I'm not opposed to kill switches, and I think I am smart enough to know when I need one and when I don't. I guess the end is near. I keep hearing this with the new administration. I'm from the Government, and I'm here to help.

Wharf Rat 1

Almost impossible to enforce. Lanyards right next to controls. I think when they say "covered vessel". They would be referring to a "cabin" on a boat? It is very sneaky how they slipped this in. It makes you wonder what else they would be willing to try to get by us.

Sydwayz

iTrader: (1)

I have no issue with it. And I do see it as hard to enforce actual usage. But you better have it on the boat. It's kind of like if you happen to have an open beer near the driver's bolster and you get pulled over and boarded. As it's starting, you slide the beer over to a passenger. And you clip your lanyard on IF you don't have it on already. But once you are on plane, there is no reason for the driver/throttleman NOT to have it on.

I think if this does come into law; it's primarily going to be used to be enforced after an incident which a kill switch could have prevented property damage, injury, and/or death, to show the operator of the boat showed negligence in operation for not using the kill switch.

thirdchildhood

iTrader: (6)

In Michigan it is legal to drink a beer while driving! You just can't be drunk. I also have no problem with this lanyard thing being a law. It's already the "law" in my boat.

1Zoom

I do not have a problem wearing a lanyard for a kill switch, however I do take offense in being told I have to wear it. The unfortunate thing is that our elected government gets away with hiding so much pork into a bill that is headed as a spending bill. This is not new and has been going on for years, (Seatbelt Laws), hopefully the public will remember things like this when they cast their votes in future elections.

Sydwayz

iTrader: (1)

I get where you are coming from, but it's not about ONLY your safety. It saves lives, yours, and others, just like seatbelts in cars; which has been law in all 50 states and beyond for years. Motorcycle mandatory helmet laws are really the only mandatory safety devices for YOUR protection, and no one else.

Boats, are really the only major vehicle category where an operator could become disabled, dislodged, or ejected, and the throttle still stays applied.
Such has been known to hurt, maim, and kill may people as a secondary incident.

Pardon the tangent, but follow along:
In theory, even you wearing your seatbelt in your car save my life; (just like the lanyard).
1) It prevents you from being ejected out of your vehicle and becoming a projectile. A projectile that could cause bodily harm or more.
2) It prevents you from becoming "something" I have to avoid with evasive action with my vehicle, after you've been ejected.
3) It could provide you the security to regain control and avoid a secondary impact (with my vehicle), if you have your seatbelt on, and stay conscious behind the controls (instead of displaced), you could potentially apply braking or steering inputs to avoid a secondary incident.

seafordguy

I always wear mine on plane in the big boat. Never do in the little boat but when the kids are driving the little boat I hold onto it so that I can pull it if something weird happened

ICDEDPPL

iTrader: (1)

Just more government rules and regulations because us peasant just can`t think for ourselves and we need to be told what to do at every step.
Some welcome it , I call those people sheeple.
Some people would welcome a law that says you have to stay in your house so you don`t get hurt or hurt others in a car, bike atv, boat , etc etc accident.
I refuse to give up my liberty for a little security. Life is tough, people die, facts of life .
Ive gotten many tickets but I`ll never wear a seat belt. My choice.

ICDEDPPL

iTrader: (1)

Follow along , real life .
My buddy was in a head collision, passenger wasn`t wearing a seat belt got ejected walked off with minor injuries .
My buddy stayed stuck in the car behind a seat belt and will never be the same again.

I prefer to make my own life choices, if I don`t wanna wear a seat belt, why does my freedom stop where your fear begins? It doesn`t sorry

thirdchildhood

iTrader: (6)

But if you are ejected from your boat at high speed, or any speed for that matter, that boat will continue on until it hits something if a cut-off lanyard is not worn. It could also mean the difference between folks floundering in the water vs. being able to swim back to the boat. I don't see why any boater has a problem with this being a law. The seat belt comparison is invalid. The lanyard law protects others from a runaway boat.