Kill switch and life jackets
 

Saw this title on another site. So I wanted to start one here.

Do you guys use your kill switch lanyard. If you dont, do you find yourself thinking about putting it on but never do.... is it on ur concious when ur running wide open cruising....

Do you wear your life jackets all the time r just when running?

I wear my life jacket but I dont use the kill switch. But i will start. U never know what could happen on the water......

Was there an o sh*t moment when u wish u had the kill switch strapped on!!!

sent from my Galaxy NOTE II

^^

My tiller I always wear pfd and use the lanyard, center console I don't use either, but the kids wear there's while running.

My HS Buddy fell out of his boat while running, they found his boat almost a half mile from where they found him. If he would have been wearing his kill switch and life jacket he may be the one typing instead of me. He was by himself so no one really knows what happened.

I wear my KS when its rough or when its dark/almost dark. I dont ever really wear life jackets in my boat but I tell people where they are and they are welcome to use them.

I almost killed me and specksndasurf one afternoon in BL. Tiller handle got caught in the seat...wide open...cut all the way to the left....when I finally jerked it out of the seat it cut all the way to the right. Threw him all over the front of that boat like a rag doll. Funny to talk about now but man I was sure nervous when it was happening. And than i filled the dudes gas tamk with offroad diesel lol! If I ever run a tiller handle again, I'll definitely be wearing a kill switch.

I have a tiller handle boat... always wear both... when riding with my brother in his center console I never wear the life jacket... I don't think he uses the kill switch lanyard.

I try to always wear both when running, sometimes I'll take off my PFD if someone is fishing with me. That's why I bought a Mustang Auto Inflate.

wear my life jacket with killswitch attatched at all times while running. i think its against the law not to have it attached to some part of ur body while running your boat. every tournament i have fished you have to have it attached and pull switch after take off to make sure it works.

I run a tiller so I always wear life jacket. Supposed to wear kill switch but normally don't. It's a PITA!

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It should be a law to wear your kill switch bc you are endangering other boaters if something happens

I know someone is waiting to pounce on this one!!

I know it is advised, but you DONT have to wear a life jacket in a 16 ft boat with a hand tiller right?

In my bassboat I wear oe of the auto inflate vest with kill switch attached. In my Gatortail I just slip the KS around my wrist. Usually no lifevest.

i awlways wear my kill switch and life vest while running. i bought a bunch of inflatables . they are lightweight and you hardly realize they are on . IMO there is so much that can go wrong out there and so many underwater obstructions . buddy of mine had a passenger
and himself thrown from a boat 3 weeks ago after they hit a submerged log in the river..buddy made it passanger wasnt so lucky. for the people that say i only wear it if its rough or dark ect... do you only wear your seatbelt when youare speeding?? for me i wear it so i dont have to put my family through the grief of if something happened , its selfish to not wear one

Emergency Ignition Safety Switch

An emergency ignition safety switch is required to be operating and attached to the operator’s person, clothing, or PFD by a lanyard on any motorboat less than 26 feet long that:

• Is powered by an outboard motor in excess of 10 horsepower and …
• Is steered by a hand tiller or steering arm attached to the motor and …
• Has or is designed to have a safety switch.

Quick and easy web site for boating information. http://www.boat-ed.com/la/handbook/index.htm

It's the Law: Required Equipment

• PFD Requirements
• Types of PFDs

When preparing to go out on a vessel, the operator must check that the legally required equipment is on board.
Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs)

• All boats must have at least one U.S. Coast Guard—approved Type I, II, or III personal flotation device that is, wearable, and of the proper size for each person on board or being towed.
• Each person on board must wear a U.S. Coast Guard–approved Type I, II, III, or V PFD while underway on a motorboat less than 16 feet long using an outboard motor that is steered by a hand tiller or steering arm attached to the motor. This requirement does not apply to electronic trolling motors.
• In addition to the above requirement, boats 16 feet in length or longer must have one U.S. Coast Guard—approved Type IV cushion or ring-buoy on board and readily accessible.
• Each person riding on a personal watercraft (PWC) must wear a U.S. Coast Guard—approved Type I, II, III, or V personal flotation device.
• Louisiana law requires that all children 16 years of age and younger wear a U.S. Coast Guard—approved PFD while underway on a vessel less than 26 feet long. The personal flotation device must be fastened and of the proper size for the child.

• Besides being USCG—approved, all PFDs must be:
  • In good and serviceable condition.
  • Readily accessible, which means you are able to put the PFD on quickly in an emergency.
  • Of the proper size for the intended wearer. Sizing for PFDs is based on body weight and chest size.

I'm guilty of not wearing a PFD all the time but, I do always run my kill switch. I've been thrown half out of my boat because of obstruction unseen and wasn't wearing it. It beat and scared the crap out of me when the motor slammed back into the water!

Kill switch is the "click it or ticket" law of the water. If your boat has a kill switch you better be wearing it or expect a fine.

I read it as a tiller handle OVER 16'. On my 16' alweld, my passengers and I always wore jackets while running(and kill switch). When I sold that boat to my boss, he doesn't wear a jacket since the boat is actually 16'2", therefore over 16'.

Personally I dont see why anyone would not wear a jacket in a tiller handle the way they can jerk around so fast.