Kill switch boat install#

Character 9 represents the month, A-L for January-December, respectively. If the model year is 20, then the date of certification needs to be determined.Ĭharacters 9 and 10 represent the date of certification of the boat.

If the model year is 21 or later, the boat DOES need an ECOS to be installed. If the model year is 19 or lower, the boat DOES NOT need an ECOS to be installed. The HIN is usually found on the starboard outboard side of the transom, but can also be found on the boat’s certificate of number (i.e., registration).Ĭharacters 11 and 12 of the HIN represent the model year. This is done by checking your boats hull identification number (HIN), which all boats are required to have. The ECOS installation requirement was implemented in the middle of the 2020 model year, so determining the model year is the first step. How do I tell if my boat was built after 1 January 2020?Ī10. For those boats, an Engine Cut-Off Switch must be installed and the owner is required to maintain it. The installation requirement applies to manufacturers, distributors and dealers of “covered recreational vessels” after. No, unless the boat was built on or after.

Kill switch boat install#

My boat doesn’t have an Engine Cut-Off Switch, do I need to install one?Ī9. The term 'covered recreational vessel' means a recreational vessel that is (A) less than 26 feet overall in length and (B) capable of developing 115 pounds or more of static thrust (which equates to about 3 horsepower). What is a 'covered recreational vessel'?Ī8. Just like navigation lights or exhaust blowers. If the boat was built in January 2020 or later, the Engine Cut-Off Switch systems must be maintained in working condition for the life of the boat. I recently bought a 2020 model year boat am I required to ensure that the Engine Cut-Off Switch and Engine Cut-Off Switch Link work?Ī7. If the boats’ primary helm is inside an enclosed cabin it is not required to have an Engine Cut-Off Switch. Boats less than 26 feet in length that generate more than 115lbs of static thrust (~ 2-3hp) and were built beginning in January 2020. What boats need to have an Engine Cut-Off Switch installed?Ī6. In these scenarios anyone in the water is a potential propeller-strike victim, all other vessels on the water face a collision hazard, and maritime law enforcement officers face additional risk in trying to bring the runaway vessel to a stop. This includes situations where the operator is ejected from the vessel, which typically leads to a runaway vessel. Engine cut-off switches are an important tool to prevent unnecessary accidents, injuries and deaths caused by a recreational vessel operator being unexpectedly displaced from the helm. What are the benefits of using my Engine Cut-Off Switch and Engine Cut-Off Switch Link?Ī5. Wearing your Engine Cut-Off Switch Link immediately stops the engine and allows the operator to regain control of the boat. If thrown out of the boat, there is always the danger of a spinning propeller, especially since an unmanned boat can often start traveling in circles at the point where the ejection took place. Boats can make sudden and forceful turns that create enough torque to eject an operator from the helm area or completely out of the boat. Why is it important to use an Engine Cut-Off Switch Link?Ī4. All operators of recreational boats less than 26’ in length that have an Engine Cut-Off Device installed. Who needs to use an Engine Cut-off Switch Link ECOSL?Ī3. It is typically a coiled lanyard, but may also be an electronic fob. The link must be attached to the operator, the operator’s clothing, or operator’s personal floatation device. An ECOSL is the device that connects the operator to the ECOS. What is an Engine Cut-Off Switch Link (ECOSL)?Ī2. An Engine Cut-Off Switch is a safety mechanism used to shut off propulsion machinery when the operator is displaced from the helm.

What is an Engine Cut-off Switch (ECOS)?Ī1. National Recreational Boating Safety Survey.Recent Research on Recreational Boating Accidents and the Contribution of Boating Under the Influence.National Life Jacket Wear Rate Observational Study.Life Jacket Wear / Wearing your Life Jacket.District Recreational Boating Safety Specialists.