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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).
WARNING
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:
1 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.
2 Loss of power and directional control in heavy seas, strong current or high winds.
3 Loss of control when docking.
WARNING
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.