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Boat Engine Cutoff Switch Law Goes Into Effect April 1

Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2021 11:37 pm
by WB Staff
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Applies to boats less than 26 feet operating on plane or above displacement speed

SPRINGFIELD, Va. – There are new engine cutoff device wear requirements for recreational boat operators as part of the January 1, 2021, passage of National Defense Authorization Act that included a U.S. Coast Guard Reauthorization. These devices, commonly referred to as engine cutoff switches (ECOS), are designed to prevent a boat-strike injury if an operator is accidentally ejected overboard while underway.

Engine cutoff devices can be located at the helm of the boat or on the tiller or body of an outboard engine and typically connect a boat’s operator to the cutoff switch with a lanyard. Some ECOS devices eliminate the lanyard and rely on wireless proximity devices to shut down an engine if the operator goes overboard.

Effective April 1, 2021, the new law requires a vessel operator to use either a helm or outboard lanyard or wireless ECOS on certain vessels less than 26 feet when traveling on plane or above displacement speed. These vessels include (1) boats that have a functioning engine cutoff device installed at the helm or on an outboard engine or have wireless ECOS, or (2) boats manufactured beginning January 2020. The Coast Guard increased the number of boats required to have ECOS installed after this date in an effort to reduce boating accidents and fatalities.

Exceptions to the ECOS requirement include if the main helm of the vessel is in an enclosed cabin or the vessel is not operating on plane or at displacement speed. Low-speed activities such as fishing or docking do not require use of an ECOS. The vessel operator is also exempt if the boat’s motor produces less than 115 lbs. of static thrust – or about the size of a 2-hp engine.

The new law applies to all federally navigable waterways. As this is a federal law, states do not have the ability to enforce the new ECOS regulation — though seven states (Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Louisiana, Nevada, New Jersey and Texas) currently have their own ECOS laws. BoatUS expects most states to amend their regulations to match federal law over the coming years. While boat operators who fail to follow the new requirement could face a $100 civil penalty for the first offense, BoatUS expects the U.S. Coast Guard’s initial focus will be education.

Boaters are encouraged to check the U.S. Coast Guard website for additional information on this new use requirement and other safety regulations and recommendations.

“BoatUS supports responsible use of cutoff devices and wants to get the word out to boaters to be aware of this new requirement so they can prepare,” said BoatUS Manager of Government Affairs David Kennedy. “We believe the new requirement allows recreational boaters to operate their vessels in a practical manner while increasing boating safety.”

Kennedy suggests that boat operators double check to see that their engine cutoff switch is working and begin the season by getting into a good habit of wearing it.

Re: Boat Engine Cutoff Switch Law Goes Into Effect April 1

Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2021 10:44 am
by Jeff C.
This is a good idea. I'm assuming this will go into effect for the Delta, but not inland lakes unless CA decides to make it state law as well.

Re: Boat Engine Cutoff Switch Law Goes Into Effect April 1

Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2021 6:10 pm
by MichaelB
Jeff C. wrote:This is a good idea. I'm assuming this will go into effect for the Delta, but not inland lakes unless CA decides to make it state law as well.
Wondering if this means all public water:
"The new law applies to all federally navigable waterways."

Re: Boat Engine Cutoff Switch Law Goes Into Effect April 1

Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2021 7:56 pm
by sdavis24
Maybe I'm missing something, but I would hope this is a non-issue with most boaters. We've all seen videos and heard stories, a kill switch seems like common sense.

Re: Boat Engine Cutoff Switch Law Goes Into Effect April 1

Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2021 8:16 pm
by Freefall
sdavis24 wrote:Maybe I'm missing something, but I would hope this is a non-issue with most boaters. We've all seen videos and heard stories, a kill switch seems like common sense.
Common sense isn’t very common anymore unfortunately. I still see countless guys running without PFDs. I pray they don’t become a statistic.

Re: Boat Engine Cutoff Switch Law Goes Into Effect April 1

Posted: Sat Mar 27, 2021 9:04 pm
by Hookset5
Right, everything's a good idea if you were the moron who helped implement this to the general public. Ill sell my boat before I have to comply to ignorant people making rules like this. Its there if you want to use it, leave it alone.
Fishing has become the new target for compliance demand, im going back to fly fishing, unless we've removed “walking on slippery rocks” from the general public because someone drowned? Is the backcast still wide open for us to decide? Or is the hook going back-and-forth something people have done with their cheek attached???.. so I cant do that either?

Something to consider..

Re: Boat Engine Cutoff Switch Law Goes Into Effect April 1

Posted: Sun Mar 28, 2021 6:43 am
by kraetzer
Hookset5 wrote:Right, everything's a good idea if you were the moron who helped implement this to the general public. Ill sell my boat before I have to comply to ignorant people making rules like this. Its there if you want to use it, leave it alone.
Fishing has become the new target for compliance demand, im going back to fly fishing, unless we've removed “walking on slippery rocks” from the general public because someone drowned? Is the backcast still wide open for us to decide? Or is the hook going back-and-forth something people have done with their cheek attached???.. so I cant do that either?

Something to consider..
Are you still driving your car/truck? I assume you don't like seat belts either.

Re: Boat Engine Cutoff Switch Law Goes Into Effect April 1

Posted: Sun Mar 28, 2021 8:03 am
by Hookset5
You're correct, 80s kid survived and happy to be alive, living freely without restraints. When your glass house breaks, whats your next complaint?

Re: Boat Engine Cutoff Switch Law Goes Into Effect April 1

Posted: Sun Mar 28, 2021 8:26 am
by Hookset5
How about considering the accidents that happen, may be self induced? If BOB got chopped up in a propeller because he fell out of his own boat, tell BOB “dont fall out of the boat next time, Bob!”
And leave the rest of us alone. This isn't how intelligent people exist, this is how you control people to the point of stupidity.
Add “earmuffs, on a cold day” to your safety regulations.
We might get an earache out there.. and its your responsibility for my safety. Ill sue! Be smarter than the problem, Bob.

Re: Boat Engine Cutoff Switch Law Goes Into Effect April 1

Posted: Sun Mar 28, 2021 5:46 pm
by Jboutfishn
Your not only protecting yourself but everyone on the same lake from your runaway boat if/when you get tossed out.

Just sayin.

Re: Boat Engine Cutoff Switch Law Goes Into Effect April 1

Posted: Sun Mar 28, 2021 8:37 pm
by Hookset5
Well, if we continue down an apprehensive state of mind, there is no end to “just saying”. It gets costly, it gets unmanageable and it gets intrusive to micro manage peoples safety.
Im not paying the price for other peoples problems. I dont like the way this article proposed other state to follow suit. I think you will ruin the experience which brings people too the water with policing such nonsense. We go there to be alone, leave us alone.

Re: Boat Engine Cutoff Switch Law Goes Into Effect April 1

Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2021 11:30 pm
by Pepsi man
I don't see what the fuss is about. I have made it a habit of wearing my PFD with the safety lanyard since owning my first console boat. Going 70+ things can happen fast, which is why just about any tournament worth anything has this in the rules. I can see how some people can see it as letting a foot in the door, but I actually agree with this rule as a runaway boat doesn't rule out innocent or well educated people..I mean it if only kills the driver, sure.. if there are other rules that don't make sense come up I don't see why we couldn't argue* that then?

Re: Boat Engine Cutoff Switch Law Goes Into Effect April 1

Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2021 7:12 am
by monte300
Wearing a kill switch lanyard is one of the most common sense things we do out there. It literally takes 5 seconds to do, but can keep you and/or your guest from getting gutted by your prop in case you get ejected from the boat and knocked unconscious. At the risk of being too graphic, years ago a guy had this happen to him on the Delta and the lady working at Holland Riverside Marina said they found and brought his body back to their location and she said it was not pretty.

Re: Boat Engine Cutoff Switch Law Goes Into Effect April 1

Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2021 10:02 am
by Hookset5
I just realized the date stapled to this article. April fools joke?
If not, does the little plastic clip that goes around the ignition kill switch have to be a certain type? If its plastic, and it fails, is that the boat manufacturers fault? or the state’s, counties? Grandma’s or uncle’s? Or mine?

Re: Boat Engine Cutoff Switch Law Goes Into Effect April 1

Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2021 10:53 am
by spottedbass
Ah... so I’ve held my tongue a bit on this since it came up.... but as the posts progressed... I’d like to chime in a bit.
A year and a half ago while fishing Powell, I collapsed on the deck and had a seizure over 25 miles from launch. Thank god the guys I was with pulled me back into the boat, virtually saving my life. I do not have epilepsy and this was a random medical emergency. If it would have been 20 minutes earlier or 20 minutes later, we could’ve been running full speed down the lake, with other boats around. If this happened with no kill switch the outcome could have been catastrophic.
So do you tell “bob” to just not have a medical emergency on the water?

It is common sense, and almost everyone on this post has shown it... almost....as far as April fools joke.... lol yeah...
there is only one joke and fool relating to this post.

Re: Boat Engine Cutoff Switch Law Goes Into Effect April 1

Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2021 5:34 pm
by Hookset5
You’re confusing my point that ignorance of safety is causing increased safety is causing increased safety. Sorry, your dilemma doesn't speak for everyone, should it? Are you the person who’s accentuating this need? Are you the guy everyone needs to follow advice from?
If you follow along in time you will see needs arise in poignant locations, pretty mush wherever you want, as long as you had a hard time, we all do too? We didn't even need a boaters license before last year, y'all are perpetuating the existence of safety because you want more boaters on the water. Its the new place to ticket! Quit the nonsense the fest of us continue to support. I do support ignorance, and I do have a boat for sale.
Sorry Bob, you lose.. unless this is still a joke? I remember the 80’s. This would be a joke then and all the way up too 2021.