I saw this today and wonder how many sailors on boats under 26' use a kill switch? kill switch requirement
Kill switch required for all boats under 26'
- Thread starter Hayden Watson
- Start date
Probably not an issue for most sailboats
Q12. Do I need to keep the Engine Cut-Off Switch Link attached at all times? |
| A12. No. The Engine Cut-Off Switch Link doesn’t need to be attached when the vessel is idling or performing docking maneuvers. The Engine Cut-Off Switch Link must be attached whenever the boat is operating on plane or greater than displacement speed |
| Q13. What does “on plane” mean? |
| A13. For a boat, “on plane” means the boat has reached a speed that moves the boat from a “displacement” mode to a “planing” mode. As more power (and speed) is applied, lift increases, and the boat, in effect, rides over its bow wave, reducing wetted area of the hull and thus reducing drag. At this point, the boat is said to be "on a plane" or simply "planing." Sailing vessels are generally not capable of getting “on plane” because of their displacement hull, whereas a ski boat, bass boat or runabout can usually achieve planing with little effort. |
Most sailboat owners own dinghys so this certainly does apply to sailboat owners. We see a lot of horrible accidents happen in dinghys that could be prevented by wearing a kill cord. Also should be noted that the kill cord should be ATTACHED to the driver not just slid on a wrist or ankle.
Hey,
Also note this:
Section 8316 of the Elijah E. Cummings Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2020 requires individuals operating covered recreational vessels (less than 26 feet in length, with an engine capable of 115 lbs. or more of static thrust, which equates to about 3 horsepower or more) to use ECOS “links” while operating on plane or above displacement speed. Using the ECOSL is not required when the main helm is installed within an enclosed cabin. Common situations where ECOSL use would not be required include docking/trailering, trolling, and operating in no-wake zones.
My dink has a 2.5hp engine, so I don't need to do anything. My little engine can't make my walker bay plane and the speed limit in the harbor is 5 kts.
Barry
Also note this:
Section 8316 of the Elijah E. Cummings Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2020 requires individuals operating covered recreational vessels (less than 26 feet in length, with an engine capable of 115 lbs. or more of static thrust, which equates to about 3 horsepower or more) to use ECOS “links” while operating on plane or above displacement speed. Using the ECOSL is not required when the main helm is installed within an enclosed cabin. Common situations where ECOSL use would not be required include docking/trailering, trolling, and operating in no-wake zones.
My dink has a 2.5hp engine, so I don't need to do anything. My little engine can't make my walker bay plane and the speed limit in the harbor is 5 kts.
Barry
So if I had a Melges 24 with a 4HP outboard I would need to use the ECOS Link while surfing down waves with the chute up and the outboard stowed away.
Section 8316 of the Elijah E. Cummings Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2020 requires individuals operating covered recreational vessels (less than 26 feet in length, with an engine capable of 115 lbs. or more of static thrust, which equates to about 3 horsepower or more) to use ECOS “links” while operating on plane or above displacement speed.
Section 8316 of the Elijah E. Cummings Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2020 requires individuals operating covered recreational vessels (less than 26 feet in length, with an engine capable of 115 lbs. or more of static thrust, which equates to about 3 horsepower or more) to use ECOS “links” while operating on plane or above displacement speed.
Yes, but you'll need to have a cord long enough to reach into the cabin, where the motor is stowed.
Theoretical displacement hull speed is calculated by the formula: velocity in knots = 1.35 x the square root of the waterline length in feet.
3.818376618407357 to 6.88367634335026 knots for 8ft to 26ft through the water so if you can prove you were only going 3.4kt on your recorded gps you will still get a ticket if you were going against a incoming tide of 2.3kt in your 8' pram. Theoretically
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3.818376618407357 to 6.88367634335026 knots for 8ft to 26ft through the water so if you can prove you were only going 3.4kt on your recorded gps you will still get a ticket if you were going against a incoming tide of 2.3kt in your 8' pram. Theoretically
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Read the USCG docs. All of the jokes aside, the rule does not apply to sailboats, only tenders with enough power to plane, and only then when they are above planing speed, but I wouldn't push that latter.
I may have achieved this last summer. We were ashore getting pizza when we noticed that Tosca had gone walkabout. I have never rowed that fast, and hopefully never will again.
thanks to our government for publishing some confusing requirements. you have to laboriously read the regs to see what's a 'covered' vessel ( 'covered,' as in: set forth in the regs, not 'covered' as in: having a cabin. ) Some boater webistes like 48North are inducing confusion by just announcing "Section 503 of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018 required manufacturers of covered recreational vessels (less than 26 feet in length, with an engine capable of 115 lbs. or more of static thrust) to equip the vessel with an ECOS installed as of December 2019. Section 8316 of the Elijah E. Cummings Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2020 requires individuals operating covered recreational vessels (less than 26 feet in length, with an engine capable of 115 lbs. or more of static thrust, which equates to about 3 horsepower or more) to use ECOS “links” while operating on plane or above displacement speed." for the actual text on ECOSLs, see Engine/Propulsion Cut-Off Devices
i'm not planning to put one of these on my little 19 foot cat boat with its yanmar 10GM even though my wheel is in the cockpit. (since yans on the com-pac horizon cat 19 s have a throttle stop pull cable in the rear transom from helm down to engine , an ECOSL install could be quite interesting indeed. )
wonder if boaters can be stopped by USCG just because my ECOSL isn't visibly attached to me ?
i'm not planning to put one of these on my little 19 foot cat boat with its yanmar 10GM even though my wheel is in the cockpit. (since yans on the com-pac horizon cat 19 s have a throttle stop pull cable in the rear transom from helm down to engine , an ECOSL install could be quite interesting indeed. )
wonder if boaters can be stopped by USCG just because my ECOSL isn't visibly attached to me ?
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 22,786
I read this a couple of times. I think I am clear of any application, but will not know until I get stopped and boarded for inspection. Even then I suspect if the rules are confusing for us sailors to hav e17 messages, imagine how the CG feel. I can see them just stopping (hopefully not frisking) boaters and boarding just to learn what the boaters are doing about the regulation. I can hear the Chief saying. Stop them, stop them all and remind them we have rules.
Just an idea, if you want to know what the CG is thinking ab out this rule, have the CG Auxiliary give your boat a "Voluntary Safety Check". It will be a good experience.
Just an idea, if you want to know what the CG is thinking ab out this rule, have the CG Auxiliary give your boat a "Voluntary Safety Check". It will be a good experience.
In your case the rule is quite clear that it only applies if a working kill switch is installed. If it did not come with one or if it was removed it is not required. Simple. Most dinghies powered by outboards are included because they have a kill switch.
If you read the USCG FAQ page it explains all. As for boater web sites being confusing... you really can't blame the USCG for that! Always go the the source.
USCG FAQ re. Kill Switches
The kill switch retaining lanyard is a PIA on outboards, at least the portable ones <15 hp, so produced. They are not designed for actual use according to the requirement as far as I can tell, entirely perfunctory. For any dink that can plane with the hp needed the operator needs to move fwd for proper boat trim and use an extension from the OB throttle. By the time the operator gets that far forward on the short lanyard it is pulled from the switch if anywhere but on the operator’s wrist (maybe there even), shutting down the engine. So now you need to make one up yourself. A long one, maybe 3 to 4 ft, that will no doubt sooner or later get fouled on something between operator and OB, etc. The short OME lanyards are “useful” only when they are not required, IMO. That is, when the operator is sitting near the engine on a dink with low hp OB that usually will not plane it, especially with two aboard.
Say, an 8.5 ft inflatable, air floor, with a 2 to 5, maybe 6, hp OB, etc.They might be functional as intended on a boat over 10 ft LOA heavy enough to keep its own bow down while planing, such as14-ft whaler, etc.
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