| Today proved the value of having the kill switch hooked up to you. I always clip it to life pfd when under way. I was taking my boat from my house to the launch and was going slowly through a bay near my house, maybe 10mph. In 6 to 8ft of water I hit something, probably a floating log. I have an 18ft Lund tiller with 90hp and the boat spun 180, almost throwing me off the chair. I ripped the kill switch out and got it stopped. Bent the almost new prop pretty good, but no other damage. I have been through that bay a thousand times but things happen. I was stunned by the violence of the spin.
I started wearing mine every time after rescuing two guys that got thrown from a tiller in front of my house and their boat kept going in circles with one hanging on the gunnel. Since then, I start the motor, put on my pfd, turn on my electronics and hook the kill switch before putting motor in gear. Will continue that routine until I am too old to get in the boat. |
