www.iFourWinns.com

I have never used one in 25 years of boating.
My first boat, which I had for 2o years did not have one.
My second boat does --- but it is not used.

If I were alone, and in heavy weather I might use it.
However that has never happened.

They might have a place, but in the real world of boating I have not experienced it yet.

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DaleG -- West Palm Beach FL
2003 240Horizon -- 5.7Gi -Duoprop

In 32 years of driving I never needed a seat belt either, but I wear them anyway If I was out there by myself then I wouldnt care, but with all the drunk people blasting around that really shouldnt be operating a boat to begin with, the 40 foot + boats that think its great sport to make the largest wakes possible because they can and an extremely crowded lake/river I'll use it. Doesnt really cost anything to use but could save a bundle from getting sued if your unpiloted boat rams into something or someone.

But yea they are a pain, I have got tangled in them and pulled it out going 60mph in my last boat - talk about a big surprise. Same with yanking it out when docking when moving from the helm.

You never need a safety device until it's needed ! I never used to wear a seatbelt; until I broke a laminated screen with the side of my head (28 years ago, pulse rate of 30 bpm when I was discharged from the hospital and drove home 70 miles (in shock; !!!),, my wife, a physiotherapist said my neck would be locked wihin 10 years; thankfully she was wrong!).

I do usually clip on the kill cord. Stupid though that boats don't come with two of them. If you are overboard with the killcord attached, the people left on the boat can't use power to come back and pick you up. If I fall overboard on my own if I hadn't attached the killcord the next landfall for my boat would be 60+ miles away ! That's an awfully lonesome wait in the 57 deg. F water.

There have been real cases here in the UK of RIBs (not DP drives) circling back an severely injuring their drivers who are in the water and because they did not use the killcords the engines kept on running. Props turning at 2500+ RPM cause pretty horrible injuries.

Graham

I keep an extra kill cord wrapped around the steering column because, as you said, if I go over it would be nice if someone in the boat can come and get me

We moved here 10 years ago and didnt get a boat until 5 years ago, one of my first days on the Tennessee river I watched a 18' or so bowrider with 5 adults towing a tube with two kids around 30mph and was attempting to go under a bridge. Unfortunately the boat was going to go through one opening and the tube/kids the other. Luckily the kids were smart enough to jump out of the tube before it ripped off and was flung about 100' off to the side, when the driver seen what was going on he over-corrected and hit the side of one of the concrete pylons hard throwing him and five other people out of the boat. And of course no kill switch cord so the boat was probably 1/2 throttle or more and going around in circles with seven people in the water. Eventually the thing took off straight and ran right up on the shore where a bunch of people were fishing. Whole thing took abouit 30 seconds but seemed like it too an hour before that boat stopped.

Luckily everyone had life jackets or could swim, no one was hurt badly, but a few feet here or there and people would have died. I have been boating on and off for 30 years or so and never wore the cord until I seen that. Granted there was a lot of stupidity going on besides not wearing the cord and I would never be in that situation since I dont pull tubes, cross under crowded bridges on plane or drink much - but I still clip it on most of the time.

When I'm alone. That being said, we always wear our auto inflatable lifejackets when under way, without fail.

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2008 210SS 6.2L DTS Bravo 1 Now featuring MercMonitor w/SmartTow

only on the RIB we have at the seaside through very rough waters.

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2006-288 Vista
"Drogue One" - a starboard story -
2 x Volvo Penta D3 - 160 HP

previous boats:
2001 -FW 268 Vista
1998 FW 258 Vista
2003 Saver 690 Cabin Sport

I've tried to wear it, and everytime I forget its on and kill the engine,

Interesting and good topic. I never gave it much thought and both of mine have never been attached to me,,,previous owner maybe.

I think what I will do will be to first, get spares so if I do land in the drink, others aboard will be able to start her up and come get me. I also think I will devise some sort of bracelet that I can attach them to that will disconnect quickly for docking or if I need to move away from the helm. Like seatbelts they can be a pain but can save my life or someone elses life. Once I come up with my bracelet, I will use mine faithfully.

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07 Azure AZ200,
Previous boat,
95 278 Vista,
And a lot of others.

Ontario, Canada

My Merc DTS switch is kind of a cheater, pulling the tether flips a spst switch. You don't actually have to have the tether installed. Are all Mercs like this? This is my first Merc.

My 2001 Volvo had a "normal" tether that requires a special clip to depress the switch, tether always required.

Greg

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2008 210SS 6.2L DTS Bravo 1 Now featuring MercMonitor w/SmartTow

After you kill a the boat docking two or three times on a windy day you start remembering to unclip it I started using a coiled style cord, it will start tugging on you a little before it pulls the plug and it doesnt get tangled as easy and pulled out, After a while its second nature to take it off it before docking.