Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr. Sandman
To augment this, this season I plan to add an "auto tether" a clever wireless device that has a small clip (about 1"X1") that you put on your belt or pfd, if the capt falls overboard (moves more than a boat length from the receiver) then the engine stops. If a passenger moves more than a boat length away then an alarm goes off. For me, I run on auto-pilot most of the time and while I am keeping an eye on what is in front of us, I walk around the boat and get lines ready, land fish, etc. On the troll I am 99% on auto...and when I am by myself falling over would be a death sentence as I would see the boat driving away from me with no chance of ever getting back on board. When others are on board, esp offshore, if someone falls over at cruise it may take a minute or so before you realize he is gone so in that case you don't want the engine to stop you want an alarm asap. It is not easy to find someone in the ocean after a couple mins (even with GPS track on). It is only about 300 bucks and after hearing a few real life horror stories like above I figure it is cheap insurance.
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I purchased the auto-tether a couple of years ago. Did a "group buy" with some friends. I got it because I boat and fish alone most of the time, so its a MUST. Works really well. (Now if I would just wear my life jacket !!) (Opps did I just type that !!) Anyway, it does not go off due to water/submersed. Its distance activated. I have only the single, but for a larger boat with a helm up top they have the multiple version so it will kill the engine if a passenger goes over.