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#
006 |
Kill Cords ... |
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 " Kill-cords... think about them" |
Automatic Craft Immobiliser, that is what
Kill-Cords are, as far as powered craft are concerned. The correct fitting of the Kill-Cord is very important especially in fast planing boats. These craft have the nasty recurring habit of running in anti-clockwise circles when at full speed round and around, passing the spot where helmsman go overboard. I was witness to such a tragic and horrific accident back in the early seventies on a London reservoir when a father and son were thrown overboard from a RIB. |
The now illegal steering captive ball and socket linkage had parted
company. The predictable full left lock is achieved by the propeller
torque. Anyone who has not yet discovered how much easier it is to turn
to the left rather than to the right when powered by a single outboard,
should. Just take your hands off the wheel for a few seconds and most
craft will try to turn to the left. If this happens then the sacrificial
trim tab should be adjusted to the left a bit. |
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| As you may have guessed, unless you did not
hear, this leads us all to consider the very sad accident that marred
the last three days of the Southampton Boat Show. It was fatal and undoubtedly
it was an accident that should never have happened. I believe that it occurred for four reasons. A novice driver not wearing the all important Kill-Cord was of course the ultimate situation that was just asking for trouble. It is likely that on this occasion, the driver and passengers were not holding on |
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tight enough as the throttle may have been
thrown wide open.Then there is the question of whether the craft was set
up correctly and suitable to take the power of the outboard. There is no doubt that smaller RIBs built with sit-astrides have a very high centre of gravity, needing more astute handling from the driver and awareness from the passengers. The now obligatory use of the Kill-Cord should come as naturally as it is for us all to wear seat belts in cars. Slipping the Kill-Cord loop around one's wrist or leg is just not good enough, since |
" A novice driver not wearing
the all important Kill-Cord was of course the ultimate situation that
was just asking for trouble... "
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" Slipping the Kill-Cord
loop around one's wrist or leg is just not good enough... "
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other accidents this year have shown that the cord can slip off. It
must be clipped onto the life jacket in such a way as not to foul the
arms as they steer and control the craft. |
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