Safety Lanyards and Kill Switches: Don't Turn on the Ignition Without It

“NMMA
SafetyLanyards
Safety lanyards have to fulfill certain measurable criteria to meet ABYC standards.

The engine kill switch that connects to a safety lanyard does just one thing: It stops the engine when a boater leaves the helm position involuntarily. It could save the life of everyone on board. To see what boatbuilders need to think about when installing the kill switch and safety lanyard, continue here.

 

Boat Building Standards:

 

Emergency Engine/Propulsion Cut-Off Devices

ABYC Standards--

  • The standard applies to all mechanically powered boats equipped with devices that disable propulsion when the owner is unexpectedly displaced from the boat.
  • An emergency cut-off device connected to the engine control system shouldn’t cause any interference or abnormal operation of the engine and its control system.
  • Boats with multiple control stations should have cut-off devices installed at each station.
  • Emergency cut-off devices should provide rearming or bypass capabilities for restarting in a time appropriate for the propulsion system after the device has been activated.
  • The re-arming or bypass system should be readily accessible, meaning no tools are required to gain access to it.
NMMA
A lanyard that wraps around the leg or connects to the life jacket can free up the arms for steering and other movements.
  • Emergency cut-off devices that do not use a mechanical lanyard should include an audible and/or visual alarm when the bypass mode is activated. The audible alarm should be at least 85 decibels at the operator position.
  • The audible and/or visual alarm shall remain active until the emergency cut-off device has been returned to its normal state.
  • The device for attaching the lanyard to the operator shall be designed to allow one-handed operation for both attachment and detachment.
  • Devices operated by pulling a lanyard free shall have a maximum pull-off force of 30 lb. when applied from anywhere within a hemisphere centered on and surrounding the mounting plane of the device.
NMMA
 

Note: The typical lanyard length is 60” (152.4 cm) +/- 12” (30.48 cm) when fully extended, and boat configuration and operator location may require a length that differs from that typical measurement.

“NMMA