Keep The Lanyard Stop Switch And Lanyard Cord In Good Operating Condition - Mercury MerCruiser Diesel Inboard 2.8L Operation & Maintenance Manual

Table of Contents

A decal near the lanyard stop switch reminds the operator to attach the lanyard to his or her personal flotation device or wrist.

Accidental ejections, such as falling overboard, are more likely to occur in:

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Low‑sided sport boats

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Bass boats

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High‑performance boats

Accidental ejections can also occur from:

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Poor operating practices

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Sitting on the seat or gunwale at planing speeds

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Standing at planing speeds

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Operating at planing speeds in shallow or obstacle‑infested waters

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Releasing your grip on the steering wheel

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Carelessness caused by consuming alcohol or drugs

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High‑speed boating maneuvers

The lanyard is a cord usually between 122 and 152 cm (4 and 5 ft) long when stretched out, with an element on one end made

to be inserted into the switch, and a snap on the other end for attaching to the operator. The lanyard is coiled to make its at‑rest

condition as short as possible to minimize the likelihood of lanyard entanglement with nearby objects. Its stretched‑out length is

made to minimize the likelihood of accidental activation should the operator choose to move around in an area close to the

operator's normal position. The operator can shorten the lanyard by wrapping the lanyard around his wrist, or by tying a knot in

the lanyard.

Activation of the lanyard stop switch will stop the engine immediately, but the boat will continue to coast for some distance,

depending upon its velocity. While the boat is coasting, it can cause injury to anyone in the boat's path as it would under power.

Instruct all passengers on the proper starting and operating procedures should they be required to operate the boat in an

emergency.

If the operator falls out of the boat, stop the engine immediately to reduce the possibility of serious injury or death from being

struck by the boat. Always properly connect the operator to the stop switch using a lanyard.

Accidental or unintended activation of the switch during normal operation is also a possibility. This could cause any, or all, of

the following potentially hazardous situations:

•

Occupants could be thrown forward due to unexpected loss of forward motion, a particular concern for passengers in the

front of the boat who could be ejected over the bow and possibly struck by the propulsion or steering components.

•

Loss of power and directional control in heavy seas, strong current, or high winds.

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Loss of control when docking.

Avoid serious injury or death from deceleration forces resulting from accidental or unintended stop switch activation. The boat

operator should never leave the operator's station without first disconnecting the stop switch lanyard from the operator.