Effective April 1, 2021, there’s a new law related to boating safety. This law requires boaters to be connected to the boat engine cutoff switch. You can do this by using the engine cutoff switch (ECOS) and an engine cutoff switch link (ECOSL). The ECOSL is either a lanyard that connects to the helm or outboard motor, or a wireless engine cutoff switch (ECOS). Engine cutoff switches play a major role in boating safety.
Coast Guard Regulation\Law
The specific regulation that requires this law change is Section 8316 of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2021. This law states that vessels that have the following specifications must adhere to the requirements:
- Less than 26′ in length
- Engine capable of 115 lbs of static thrust
- 3 HP or more
You will be required to use the engine cutoff link in the following circumstances:
- The helm is not within an enclosed cabin
- The boat is operating at plane or above displacement speed
The link will not be required if you are docking, trailering, trolling, or operating in a no-wake zone. I recommend inspecting your lanyard to make sure that it’s not cracked or broken. This may save you from getting a ticket, as well as your life!
In recent years, the Coast Guard has required boat manufacturers to install the engine cutoff switches as of December 2019. Although this is a recent requirement, boat manufacturers have been installing them for decades. If you are like myself, most of the time I was just trying to keep the lanyard out of my way.
Do you need to install a Boat Engine Cutoff Switch?
There should not be much in regards to changes or additions that current boat owners need to take. There’s a large amount of boats that have had this type of hardware already in place. It’s just a matter of using the safety devices. You can find more details on this regulation here.
Here are some interesting statistics taken from the American Boating Association website:
- Where cause of death was known, 79% of fatal boating accident victims drowned. Of those drowning victims with reported life jacket usage, 86% were not wearing a lifejacket.
- Where length was known, eight out of every ten boaters who drowned were using vessels less than 21 feet in length.
Wireless Boat Engine Cutoff Switches
A recent improvement to the lanyards that attach to you is the development of wireless engine cutoff switch links. There are several different types that are presently available. The one that stands out to me is the Fell Marine Mob+ system. Amazon has them here.
The Fell Marine Mob+ system consists of the xHub, xFob, and an xBand. Additionally, there’s an xTag available that can attach to clothing or a lanyard that goes around your neck. The xBand’s come in different colors. This will make it easier to convince your kids to wear one.
A proprietary wireless technology that I look forward to learning more about is the WiMEA protocol. This wireless technology was developed by Fell Marine. It provides a reliable and secure communication method for their devices.
1st Mate Marine Safety and Security System – Engine Cutoff Switches
Fell Marine has also partnered with Mercury Marine to develop the 1st Mate Marine Safety and Security System. As a matter of fact, this system was named the CES 2021 Innovation Awards Best of Innovation Honoree. Additionally, it won in two categories. Those categories were the Best of Innovation designation in the In-Vehicle Entertainment and Safety category.
The 1st Mate Marine Safety and Security System not only works with Mercury Marine, but also other major leading engine brands as well. I think this will be a nice addition to features available with new boats. Moreover, it will be an additional safety feature that will hopefully prevent catastrophic events and improve boating safety.
I have known people over the years that have lost family members to boating accidents. Some of them were commercial fisherman that fell over while checking crab pots. Although in some of these instances they would not be required to be connected to the lanyard. A wireless system could have helped save them.
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