This is why we bang on about kill cords . . .

John Kennett · 09 July 2009, 10:16

I had these pictures emailed to me today, and I thought they might be interesting for people to see. I don't have every last detail, but the basic story is that the person in the photos was helming the RIB and managed to fall out at a fairly low speed. With no kill cord, the boat circled back and hit her.

You can clearly see where the propeller blades made contact. It doesn't take a lot of imagination to realise how much worse this might have turned out.

Jizm · 09 July 2009, 10:47

Bloody hell!

Lucky lady...

mdt · 09 July 2009, 11:07

that looks very nasty.... but as you say not half as bad as it could have been.

VERY LUCKY LADY

Bigmuz7 · 09 July 2009, 12:47

I made a post on Neildas thread about the two worst scenarios of A) seing your boat take off into the distance, or B) getting run over by it and you not getting out of the way fast enough. I dont think some peeps realise how likely scenario B actually is, since, as soon as you let go of non hydraulic steering the outboard will go to full lock, and you will more than likely be right beside the boat as it does so .. so its highly likely you will be in the firing line of a 21 pitch stainless blender doing 10000 odd RPM straight away .. horrific

I hope she isnt scarred for life, must have been a real frightener

JSP · 09 July 2009, 12:50

I think this should be made into a sticky John.
Hope she heals well!

neilda · 09 July 2009, 12:54

Jayzus.

Absolutely horrific.

PeterM · 09 July 2009, 13:53

These pics , put next to Neils 'incident' really do make you stop & think about the 'what ifs' . I'd guess it makes Neil really really really really think what if .........

There is some justification for anyone who may fall out of the boat wearing a kill cord - but you have to keep realistic.

I imagine (and dont want to test it) that if I go over the side the prop will still be spinning down/in gear for a second or so - even if the engine has had its electrics cut ?

It will stop in due course ( so wont come back to have second go) , but not instantly ?

JSP · 09 July 2009, 14:21

I don't think there will be any strength to the last few revs of the prop once the engine has been stopped. I would have thought it would be just the same as being hit by the hull or gear box. Which is gonna hurt!

wavelength · 09 July 2009, 14:30

we had a job here years back. Manual start engine-wouldnt fire so sole occupant put more throttle on. It did start this time-in gear! Boat went out from under him and came round and round and clouted him time and time again! Our coastguard vehicle got there dragged him out, guys decided no time to wait for an ambulance and shoved him straight in the CG vehicle and off to hospital with blues and twos on and the guy dripping blood out of every rip and cut in his wetsuit. Horrific. Looked like only his wetsuit was keeping him in one piece- a few interesting scars to say the least.

bombard · 09 July 2009, 14:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Kennett

I had these pictures emailed to me today, and I thought they might be interesting for people to see. I don't have every last detail, but the basic story is that the person in the photos was helming the RIB and managed to fall out at a fairly low speed. With no kill cord, the boat circled back and hit her.

You can clearly see where the propeller blades made contact. It doesn't take a lot of imagination to realise how much worse this might have turned out.

I was skippering a Draco @ the Southampton boat show in 2002 when i saw a rib with all its crew fall in. NO KILL CORD and unfortuantley one of them died. I dont know how anyone can be so silly not to wear one.

jyasaki · 09 July 2009, 15:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSP

I don't think there will be any strength to the last few revs of the prop once the engine has been stopped. I would have thought it would be just the same as being hit by the hull or gear box. Which is gonna hurt!

When the engine stops, so does the prop. The gears take care of that (unless you throw the thing in neutral as you go over the side.)

jky

Lewy · 09 July 2009, 15:43

is there anyone on this forum who doesnt wear a killcord deliberatley.?
i'd love to know...
its not as if they are difficult or cumbersome to put on. and as long as you have a spare ready to hand i just dont see the problem!

codprawn · 09 July 2009, 16:08

There ARE times when wearing a kill cord is not a good idea. In extreme conditions when a stopped engine is more dangerous than a man in the water.

Solo of course you must wear one at all times but if you have crew on board who can take the helm then it's not always the case.

Do the RNLI and other rescue services use them?

I remember the late great Shaun White saying that sometimes they caused more problems than they solved.

John Kennett · 09 July 2009, 18:05

I've heard those arguments from time to time as well. There may be special cases when this is true, but it is of little or no relevance to leisure users.

I would hate to think of someone removing their kill cord in bad conditions because you had somehow given them the idea that it was the sensible thing to do. Even in bad conditions a stopped engine is going to be better than a wildly out of control boat, with potentially multiple people in the water - someone may be able to grab the throttle and shut it down, but it's just as likely that they would get thrown out too.

Use your kill cord. Always.

m chappelow · 09 July 2009, 18:12

most RNLI ilb helms dont wear them as they could cause engine to stop when you dont need it to at the worst possible moment ,the atlantic class rhibs have capsize switches anyhow should the boat heel over . but for general public leisure use i dont see many reasons not to wear one ,before kill cords became standard most outboards tiller steered would go to idle or even cut out if you let go of it ,i always wear a kill cord at all times, be a fool not to, its there so use it .though i do think that the clips are small and too fiddley at times . mart.

codprawn · 09 July 2009, 18:31

There's a lot to be said for foot thottles!!!

m chappelow · 09 July 2009, 18:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

There's a lot to be said for foot thottles!!!

even some cars are fitted with them ,,,,,,,lol ,, but jokes aside you can have both hands on the wheel or even hang on with one hand and steer with the other ,,one hand for yourself and one hand for the ship.

Leapy · 09 July 2009, 18:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

There's a lot to be said for foot thottles!!!

Please say it then...because I can't see it at the moment and your exclamation count suggests knowledge. All I can visualise is the boat going up and down, the helm going up and down and potentially out of phase with the boat, and the throttle control all over the place

m chappelow · 09 July 2009, 18:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leapy

Please say it then...because I can't see it at the moment and your exclamation count suggests knowledge. All I can visualise is the boat going up and down, the helm going up and down and potentially out of phase with the boat, and the throttle control all over the place

good point ,,anyone had any experience with them on a boat ,,,,i did on a boating lake once at 1 mph .

codprawn · 09 July 2009, 18:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leapy

Please say it then...because I can't see it at the moment and your exclamation count suggests knowledge. All I can visualise is the boat going up and down, the helm going up and down and potentially out of phase with the boat, and the throttle control all over the place

Well obviously it won't work on a boat with jockey seats but on a racing boat like Cookees they work very well!!!

I used to drive an old Fletcher Bravo with one - it was brilliant.