Autotether

[Go Aweigh2452]

For those of you who absolutely need to be tethered to the kill switch, here is a product that allows movement throughout the boat... wirelessly

http://www.autotether.com/

Oops, wrong section... oh well...

[rodell]

I've often thought about MOB protection when I'm single handing (not that I have a kill switch, of course). What I probably need is something that brings the engines to idle and runs the rudder to the stop!

I would really hate it if one of these systems decided I wasn't on board when I actually was, such as in the locks or somewhere like that.

[SomeSailor]

I was just thinking about this yesterday morning. I was taking the boat out by myself fishing at around 5:00 am and had to push the boat past the end of the river dock by hand because of the currents. It requires some pretty quick and nimble-footed work to get on after the bow gets out into the current (It WILL leave you behind) :)

But, that got me thinking about trolling out there by myself. If I fell off (I wear an auto-inflate PFD, there's nothing keeping my ride from trolling off without me. :)

I think I'll get one of those.

[Timflan]

I used the Autotether all last season. You can read my round-up of overboard alarms at MadMariner.com, or in the April 2008 issue of Pacific Yachting PNW.

The Autotether works exactly as advertised, but it doesn't happen to be my favorite person-overboard engine-cutoff switch. I haven't yet written this opinion up for Navagear, but the short version is that Autotether requires you to remember to turn it on, and remember to turn it off, EVERY TIME you go out.

In my opinion, emergency equipment should require about as much thought and effort as a fire extinguisher: Understand how it works, install it, and check it every few months to see if it needs service.

Now I've got Maritech's Virtual Lifeline installed, and I have to do NOTHING to be protected by the system. I run my boat. If I fall in the water, the engine shuts off. One push-button operation executed on the beeping and flashing thing allows any crew remaining on board to start the engine.

Virtual Lifeline is about twice the price of Autotether, and let me repeat that Autotether works EXACTLY as advertised. It's a bargain. Just make sure that functionality is really what you want aboard your boat.

[SomeSailor]

I like the idea of being able to disarm the system (not turn it on), but I can see your point. Like a PFD that's not being worn I suppose, it'd do no good.

I wear my portable VHF (w/GPS and DSC) clipped onto my pfd (auto-inflating), so at least they'd find me eventually. :)

[Timflan]

You can disable the Virtual Lifeline system. Just push the button to put it into "Rescue" mode, and it'll allow the engine to run even if somebody falls into the water.

[SomeSailor]

Hi Tim;

Long time since we've seen ya on here. I was thinking about an auto-tether myself as I single-hand the boat a lot while fishing. Seems like it would be a prudent safety tool.