National Safe Boating Week Tip #2 - Use an Engine Cutoff Switch

Boat operators and passengers can fall overboard from a boat for a variety of reasons including being hit by the wake from another boat, hitting an unexpected object in the water, leaning over the gunwale too far, or simply losing your balance. Unlike a car’s accelerator that slows the car down when released, a boat’s power lever, or throttle, is designed to keep the power on without the need for constant pressure. This means that the boat will continue moving even if someone is no longer at the helm of the boat and this is why an engine cut-off switch (ECOS) or device is so important. If the operator or someone else ends up in the water accidentally, the boat’s propeller would still be moving and could cause serious injury or death unless an engine cut-off switch or device stopped it.

The most common engine cut-off switch uses a lanyard which is attached from the switch to the boat’s operator and causes the engine to shut down should the operator leave the helm for any reason. Another option is an engine cut-off device that can be used to protect everyone in the boat in the event that any of them should fall overboard. Each person on the boat wears a small device on their life jackets and, if any of them were to fall overboard, the device sends a wireless signal to shut off the engine. There are several wireless options available on the market including the MOB+ made by FELL Marine who is a recent winner of the Sea Tow Foundation’s National Boating Industry Safety Awards.

As of April 1, 2021, federal law mandates the use of engine cut-off switches on boats less than 26 feet long when on federally navigable waterways when the boat is moving. Law enforcement can issue a citation starting at $100 for non-compliance, so it is important to make sure you use your engine cut-off switch or purchase a wireless option to use every time you head out on the water.