General Information; Lanyard Stop Switch - Mercury 496 MAG Bravo Owner's Manual

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CC942

CB839

Lanyard Stop Switch

The purpose of a lanyard stop switch (1) is to turn off the engine when the operator moves far enough away from

the operator's position (as in accidental ejection from the operator's position) to activate the switch. Some remote

control units are equipped with a lanyard stop switch. A lanyard stop switch can be installed on the dashboard

or side adjacent to the operator's position.

The lanyard is a cord usually between 4 and 5 ft (1.22 and 1.52 m) in length when stretched out with an element

on one end made to be inserted into the switch and a snap (2) on the other end for attaching to the operator.

The lanyard is coiled to make its at-rest condition as short as possible so as to minimize the likelihood of lanyard

entanglement with nearby objects. It is made as long as it is in its stretched condition to minimize the likelihood

of accidental activation should the operator choose to move around in an area close to the normal operator's

position. If it is desired to have a shorter lanyard, wrap the lanyard around the operator's wrist or leg, or tie a knot

in the lanyard.

IMPORTANT: The purpose of a lanyard stop switch is to stop the engine when the operator moves far

enough away from the operator's position to activate the switch. This would occur if the operator

accidentally falls overboard or moves within the boat a sufficient distance from the operator's position.

Accidental ejections and falls overboard are more likely to occur in certain types of boats such as low

sided sport boats or bass boats, and high-performance boats. Accidental ejections and falls overboard

are also likely to occur as a result of poor operating practices such as sitting on the back of the seat or

gunwale at planing speeds, standing at planing speeds, sitting on elevated fishing boat decks, operating

at planing speeds in shallow or obstacle-infested waters, releasing your grip on a steering wheel that

is pulling in one direction, drinking alcohol or consuming drugs, or daring, high-speed boat maneuvers.

While activation of the lanyard stop switch will stop the engine immediately, a boat will continue to coast for some

distance depending upon the velocity and degree of any turn at shut-down. However, the boat will not complete

a full circle. While the boat is coasting, it can cause injury to anyone in the boat's path as seriously as the boat

would when under power.

We strongly recommend that other occupants be instructed on proper starting and operating procedures should

they be required to operate the engine in an emergency (e.g. if the operator is accidentally ejected).

Should the operator fall out of the boat, the possibility of serious injury or death from being run over

by the boat can be greatly reduced by stopping the engine immediately. Always properly connect both

ends of the stop switch lanyard to the stop switch and the operator.

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 gear case

or propeller.

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

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.