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| 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. |
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Posts: 2125
| It’s a good reminder! ..admit I rarely wear mine, always had a wheel boat, but sounds like a good New Year’s resolution… really is dumb not to always throw on the pfd and kill switch
Edited by IAJustin 10/17/2026 5:32 PM
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Posts: 711
Location: Duluth | Wear it, period. You don't need your ride killing you or leaving you stranded if you do survive the fall out of the boat. If i trolled by myself often I'd buy one of those MOB bracelet systems. |
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| CincySkeez - 10/20/2026 9:09 AM
Wear it, period. You don't need your ride killing you or leaving you stranded if you do survive the fall out of the boat. If i trolled by myself often I'd buy one of those MOB bracelet systems.
When I decided I needed to start wearing it, I bought two quality carabiners to replace the incredibly cheap clips that came with the motors. I also have a kicker on my tiller and troll with it. When I hook a fish trolling alone, just stand up killing the motor and fight the fish. It is a 15hp kicker that was on the boat when I bought it. I having been running tiller boats off and on for 60 plus years and Saturday was as close to getting tossed out as I have come. |
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Posts: 388
Location: In the slop! | I keep the kill switch hooked up all the time, just take the jacket off when I get to the spot. If the boat is on plane, jacket on, switch hooked. Got in that habit on LOTW a long time ago. Seatbelts are required in cars. You won't drown in a traffic accident..... |
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