Kill cords: the industry and boating bodies respond

In the October issue of the magazine (on the newsstands October 5), we present the second part in our special investigation into kill cords .

READ THE FIRST PART HERE

For this second feature, we approached engine manufacturers, boatbuilders and boating bodies to see where they stood on the issue, and put to them readers' suggestions.

All reader feedback on how to move forward with kill cords following appeals for ideas in the magazine and online fell broadly into six main categories:

- Wireless kill cords : new technology using radio frequency identification (RFID) that enables you to move around the boat but still cuts the engine in the event of an ejection

- Helm sensor : a pressure or optical sensor that cuts the engine if the helmsman goes overboard

- Spring-loaded throttle : a sprung or electronic throttle which gradually returns to idle if pressure is not applied

- Legislation : make wearing kill cords compulsory - Better training and awareness : a national safety campaign encouraging kill cord use - No change : the tragic accident in Padstow has done more to push people to wear kill cords than any amount of legislation, training or design change

Armed with these ideas, we came up with five questions:

1. Do you think the current design of the kill cord could be improved upon and why? 2. Which of the six readers' suggestions do you favour? 3. Would you consider using one of these systems on your engines/boats? 4. Do you think customers would be prepared to pay more for a safer, more user-friendly solution? 5. How would you like to see things develop from here?

Click on the links below to see what the industry and associations had to say:

British Marine Federation Kill cords are there to protect the boater and when used properly are fit for purpose; they stop the engine when the driver moves away from the controls for whatever reason. In line with the recent MAIB safety bulletin and RYA safety guidance and training, the BMF believes in continually educating and reminding boaters to use the kill cord. We agree with the suggestion of better or rather continued training and awareness. The issue of kill cords was recently discussed by the British Marine Federation's national council, a representative group of industry members, and it was agreed that raising awareness of the need to wear kill cords and educating boaters is an important focus for both governing bodies and the industry as a whole; by working proactively with our members the BMF will continue to work to ensure this happens. Going forward, the BMF is supporting the RYA's current drive to remind everyone driving powerboats and RIBs to wear a kill cord, following the recent publication of the MAIB's safety bulletin message, and also highlighting best practice. In fact, a safety area is being planned at the forthcoming PSP Southampton Boat Show which will be educational for visitors, giving advice and guidance on a number of boating issues including the use of kill cords. The whole industry needs to work together to take every opportunity to raise awareness and educate boaters to make the use of kill cords as important as wearing a lifejacket or buoyancy aid. RNLI Do you think the current design of the kill cord could be improved upon and why? As an organisation whose expertise lies in the manufacture and maintenance of lifeboats (of which no kill cords are fitted; see Q3) we are not in a position to comment on the technicalities of kill cords. Which of the six readers' suggestions do you favour? Again, as an organisation that does not manufacture kill cords we would be reluctant to comment on any replacement or alternative. However, of the six options presented, the RNLI would always support training and more importantly increasing an individual's risk awareness so that they think it is something that could happen to them and therefore want to actively engage in the proper use of kill cords to prevent any serious harm. Would you consider using one of these systems on your engines/boats? The RNLI doesn't use kill cords on our inshore lifeboats because, when the boats are operating in surf, there is a greater risk that movement from the crew could inadvertently cut the engine/s and put the crew in danger. However, the throttle of the D class inshore lifeboat is sprung so that should the crew go overboard, the throttle will return to idle. Do you think customers would be prepared to pay more for a safer, more user-friendly solution? The RNLI in its advice has never tried to recommend how or what people should spend their money on, but instead focus on giving practical advice based on facts, allowing the boater to make an informed decision on the best boating safety equipment for their type of boating and competence. Research has shown that individuals will act if they understand the true risk and consequences so the RNLI aims to raise an individual's risk awareness, ensuring they can then make an educated decision about whether to use a kill cord and which one is suitable for their boat and competence. How would you like to see things develop from here? The RNLI along with key partners would like to reduce the number of fatalities and serious accidents by educating people so increasing their risk awareness around water-based activities and encouraging people to take personal responsibility. This includes undertaking training to become competent in their sport, carrying and utilising safety equipment including lifejackets and kill cords and undertaking basic checks and good safety practice as daily norms. RYA Do you think the current design of the kill cord could be improved upon and why? The current design has been around for a long time, is highly recognisable and is virtually universal in its simple design and the way it attaches to the helm (i.e. around the leg). It is a very safe solution which the helmsperson can look down and at a glance check that it is attached.

Which of the six readers' suggestions do you favour? A casual observer at any local harbour will note that there are many boats which go out on a sunny day without the helm wearing a kill cord. A change in behaviour is required. The idea that the kill cord is paramount to the safety of those on board and those in the vicinity of the boat needs more exposure though public awareness and training via a national media campaign and at slipways. The RYA has been issuing kill cord stickers for many years; kill cord wearing on RYA Powerboat courses is of utmost importance. The RYA is working with a number of agencies to try to increase public awareness of kill cord discipline.

Would you consider using one of these systems on your engines/boats? At present, there is not enough evidence regarding the robustness of the new systems. It is an area we are watching with interest.

Do you think customers would be prepared to pay more for a safer, more user-friendly solution? It is difficult to see how any of the systems described could be more safe than the current kill switch/kill cord system, which stops the engine should the helm move too far/be displaced from the controls. It is a very visible system (everyone can see if the helm is wearing it), which can be easily checked each time before departure by pulling out the kill cord to make sure the engine stops.

Equally, the idea of something which no one else can easily spot is working being more user-friendly is questionable.

Once the vessel itself is bought, safety kit tends to be very price sensitive. For example, many people already choose to buy a generic kill cord as a replacement when the time comes as, although these are pure plastic and without an inner core, they are freely available online for about ¼ of the price of a genuine engine manufacturer's own kill cord. Whether the thousands of powerboat or sportsboat owners who already have a working kill cord system (whether or not they choose to wear it) will upgrade to one which will cost to buy and have retrofitted is not at all certain. How would you like to see things develop from here? There has certainly been quite a lot of discussion about kill cords in recent months; I hope that this will continue and that not only drivers but also passengers become more aware of the kill cord. It is important that passengers are able take on a measure of social responsibility, and that they do not feel embarrassed to point out if they spot the driver is not wearing the kill cord. Scorpion RIBs Do you think the current design of the kill cord could be improved upon and why? Whilst we believe that the current design is a perfectly adequate solution when used correctly by the helmsman/driver, it would be complacent to believe that any design could not be improved.

Which of the six readers' suggestions do you favour? Although we do like the idea of the electronic proximity sensor, this still puts the onus on the helmsman to ensure that the sensor is on his/her person, and not simply strategically placed near the helm. In the absence of a foolproof new design the current kill cord is undoubtedly a safe solution when used correctly but more training and awareness must be available to owners.

Would you consider using one of these systems on your engines/boats? We would consider installing any cost-effective system which we believe to be an improvement on the current kill cord, and which has been independently tested and certificated.

Do you think customers would be prepared to pay more for a safer, more user-friendly solution? We do not believe that customers would be prepared to pay more. We do believe that the kill cord in place now is a safe system, but there will always be people who will pay for options that they feel will best suit their personal requirements.

How would you like to see things develop from here? This will be down to the engine and component manufacturers who must lead the way in future developments. Cobra RIBs Do you think the current design of the kill cord could be improved upon and why? We think the kill cord could be improved. The RYA's current advice to switch off the engine whenever you leave the helm is impractical. You may eliminate one risk but you open yourself up to another if the engine doesn't restart Which of the six readers' suggestions do you favour? We like the idea of a sprung throttle but we're concerned that it may prove unpopular with customers who like to cruise at a constant speed. Any solution needs to be simple and reliable so we would favour using the existing kill cord but with an alert system that reminded the helmsperson to clip on similar to the seatbelt warnings you find in modern cars.

Would you consider using one of these systems on your engines/boats? We would definitely look at fitting any new product that we believed was a good and reliable upgrade on a conventional kill cord. Do you think customers would be prepared to pay more for a safer, more user-friendly solution? We think our customers would be prepared to pay extra for that kind of upgrade.

How would you like to see things develop from here? We have already held a couple of meetings with product designers to discuss this issue but ideally we would like it to be a universal solution that could be fitted to every engine and boat. The more commonplace it is the more people will get used to using it. Pascoe International Do you think the current design of the kill cord could be improved upon and why? Yes, current kill cord systems are cheap and simple, but often fail over time, or the owner uses an old or damaged cord leading to the unit being disabled, not used or in an unserviceable state.

Which of the six readers' suggestions do you favour? We feel the only true way to tackle the problem is better awareness and training. All the other suggestions rely on the user or create potential other operation or policing issues.

Would you consider using one of these systems on your engines/boats? We are looking at wireless kill cord options and do include clear use instructions with our boats. However we are restricted as a builder by what is warranted by the engine suppliers. A number of inboard diesel engines used in small open boats have no engine manufacturer warranted kill cord option.

Do you think customers would be prepared to pay more for a safer, more user-friendly solution? We think that customers would object to an expensive or complicated system when they would feel that they would use a kill cord correctly. This is really where training and awareness come in, as the customer would actually seek out a builder who offers a more user-friendly or comprehensive option.

How would you like to see things develop from here? Engine manufacturers need to offer better, longer lasting cut-off solutions for small boatbuilders. Offering the engine with a quality kill switch as standard (common in outboards, less so with inboards) and offering the option of a manufacturer-approved wireless system is a good way forward. The boatbuilders themselves should then have no excuse not to be fitting kill cords and including instructions on use in their own documentation, regardless of RCD requirements Williams Performance Tenders Do you think the current design of kill cord could be improved upon and why? The current design of kill cord is effective at doing what it is intended to do, provided it is used correctly. It is the most basic, thus the most reliable way of interrupting an engine's ignition using a mechanical switch physically linked to the helmsman via a tether. Problems only arise when they are not used as intended. You may apply modern technology to carry out the same function, but the current systems marketed are in no way foolproof. Furthermore, many of these systems are far less conspicuous than a brightly coloured tether next to the steering wheel making them more prone to being ignored which is probably the biggest fundamental problem to begin with.

Which of the six readers' suggestions do you favour? Better training would go a long way to help educate boaters of the importance of using a lanyard kill switch especially in smaller, open boats. There are very few owners of high-powered motorbikes that would consider riding without appropriate protective clothing. Apart from a crash helmet, it is not a legal requirement to wear such clothing and much of the time it is somewhat of an inconvenience, but if you have a tumble without wearing it the consequences will be far more severe. The message needs to be drummed home stronger and louder. Would you consider using one of these systems on your engines/boats? Lanyard kill cords are fitted to all our boats in the event a helmsman should become detached from the craft. In addition to this, all the craft we manufacture at Williams use water-jet propulsion, a conscious decision made when we first entered the yacht tender market. There are no exposed props or moving parts protruding beneath the hull which are effectively smooth from bow to stern making them inherently safer for people in the water. We have experimented with sprung-throttle controls and concluded they were better suited to all-or-nothing throttle settings but proved difficult to attain good control at intermediate speeds on lumpy water. We have yet to test any of the wireless devices which claim to offer improvements over the conventional kill cord. Such a critical safety device must be extremely robust and able to withstand the harshness of the marine environment. Do you think customers would be prepared to pay more for a safer, more user-friendly solution? I believe ultimately this decision comes down to individual preference, but the ability of the electronic or wireless kill cord to offer value-added features such as remote start/stop, immobiliser or even interface with other electronic devices on board the mothership or on land would undoubtedly sway a certain number of boaters. User friendly is one thing, but whether or not these new systems are any more effective than the current industry standard kill switch is arguable. How would you like to see things develop from here? If there were a solution which could not be fiddled or ignored and was 100% reliable it would be an obvious fitment across the board for all manufacturers. We will certainly see more variations of the electronic type kill switch appear on the market and the cost of these will likely reduce over time. I do not think they are any substitute for the awareness of why these basic safety devices exist in the first place. Suzuki Marine Do you think the current design of the kill cord could be improved upon and why? The current design is robust, reliable, simple and visible. It is a tried and tested system and if checked, maintained and used correctly, provides a fail-safe system. There may well be better designs that haven't been considered yet and advancements in outboard technology are certainly getting us closer to the possibility of having more workable alternatives.

Which of the six readers' suggestions do you favour? Your readers have come up with some excellent ideas and have rightly highlighted that they all have positives and negatives. We are strong believers in raising awareness of boat safety and training and would support an RYA/RNLI campaign around this.

Would you consider using one of these systems on your engines/boats? The current kill cord system fitted to all Suzuki outboard motors provides a fail-safe system if checked, maintained and used correctly. Suzuki's Marine R&D Centre in Japan is continuously looking into new ideas and technological developments in all areas of outboard design including safety and security.

Do you think customers would be prepared to pay more for a safer, more user-friendly solution? It would be better to pose this question to your readership. However, safety could well be an important factor in a lot of our customers' purchasing decisions and should a new system ever be adopted we would endeavour to keep any cost increases to a minimum. How would you like to see things develop from here? We would like to support a continued effort from the industry to increase training and raise awareness of boat safety alongside continued research into the alternative solutions. We will continue to do our bit by promoting safe boating practices. Mercury Marine Mercury Marine is committed to keeping our boaters safe, and the safety lanyard/switch provides a positive influence on boating safety. We encourage boatbuilders to install lanyards on all boats and urge customers to use them while operating a boat.

Additionally, we helped create and we support recommended compliance from the American Boat and Yacht Council regarding the approved standards for installation of safety lanyards and switches.

Mercury outboard engines with tiller handles and all Mercury engines with panel and side-mount controls are equipped with lanyard switches, and Mercury offers accessory lanyard/switch kits for installation on all Mercury engines. We strongly support the use of safety lanyards and switches. Honda Marine As far as we know, the kill cord solution is still the most effective - in that there are no flaws and it works well. We don't see any need or requirement for another solution which will, in all probability, add cost to the consumer at a point in time where cost is a major consideration.

The point at which a kill cord fails is where it's improperly used - or not used at all. Thus, as we see it, the problem and its solution lie in education and training.

Honda is the only manufacturer to offer free RYA Level II training with the purchase of any Honda outboard from 50hp upwards. And, as you state in your feature, the importance and correct use of kill cords forms a key part of this training. We also sponsor the RYA Youth RIB Championship - now in its 12th year - which encourages youngsters to take up boating but crucially, equips them with the skills, training and experience to enable them to enjoy boating in a safe and responsible way. Note: Regarding comments made in the feature about the risk of litigation preventing manufacturers from replacing the kill cord, we would like to state that this is not the case for Honda. Honda's core philosophy has always placed importance on the safe use of our products and this is demonstrated by actions such as the offer to customers of free RYA Level II training with the purchase of any Honda outboard from 50hp upwards.

Mercury Marine

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