I thing the Lanyard must be attached to you at planing speed. I doubt a 4 hp could put anything larger than a paper airplane on plane flat out.
It is speed triggered law. Obviously an operator being tied to an engine kill switch would make singlehanded docking virtually impossible.
And I dont this it's state law. Only federal (USCG). Like Boater Safety Certificates are only state law. The USCG don't give a damn about your BSC.
Quote:
Originally Posted by bulletbob
I think it only applies to boats/motors that have a lanyard style ECOS factory installed, which is almost all boats/motors in the past 20 years or so... If you[like me] are still running 30-40 year old boats /motors that were not wired with factory installed lanyard cutoffs I don't think it applies..
If it does, and I'm wrong, every little 4 hp 2 stroke on every little 10 foot jon boat, is going to have to be hacked into, and have a device installed somehow into the ignition primary, which poses a problem because on a lot of small outboards there is nothing really exposed to "cut into".. Its all under the flywheel on many small motors... It would have to be something that grounded- [ or opened somehow], the ignition secondary wiring which is the coil/plug wire.
Not sure how this is going to work out, because the law states that its not required on boats that are not traveling at "planing speed"[their terminology]].. So that same 10 footer with the 4 HP is exempt, but if you DARE put your 1965 7.5 HP on that will carry the boat up on plane, are you now illegal??. I hope this particular "regulation" is not another excuse for the State Marine Police/CG/ County and local marine patrols to stop and annoy any boat owner they see up on plane to check and see if they are "in compliance"... A LOT of very good, very competent, very safe and very conscientious boaters don't use a lanyard on their belts, because they aren't drunk and partying and falling into their own propwash at 30 knots.... bob
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