Compulsory licensing and mandatory kill cords? What do you think?

[Nos4r2]

Powerboat & RIB Magazine is campaigning for compulsory licensing for powerboat users, and for kill cords to be mandatory with fines imposed for anyone not complying.

Do you agree that following the incident at Padstow this weekend the time has come to bring in legislation? Or do you think the current system is sufficient?

There's a poll at the top of this thread. It's anonymous so please click on the option that you favour. Feel free to discuss the ramifications of either option, or if you feel I've left something out.

It closes in 7 days.

NOTE.WE ARE NOT ADVOCATING NOT WEARING KILLCORDS.THEY ARE AN ESSENTIAL PART OF SAFETY EQUIPMENT.
PLEASE DON'T WADE IN SAYING 'I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU LOT DON'T WANT TO USE THEM, THIS IS NOT THE CASE

[thomas]

Just who do you legislate? do you go from tenders to super tankers?

My old Targa 30 didn't have kill cords yet my friends 10m cabin RIB does, both have very similar driving positions.

The other problem is policing it as with speed limits, we have an 8 knot speed limit in Chichester Harbour, on Monday a bloody great Sunseeker, 40' ish, when bombing past East Head on the plane, several RIBs with younger kids driving were coming through the anchorage on the plane - We have two harbour master RIBs and they were out and about collecting dues but they can't be going around checking every tender nipping from yacht to beach to make sure they have a kill cord connected - crap idea and impossible to police.

Mandatory training, an hour or so would be enough to cover basic safety and rules of the road, also compulsory insurance with a sticker to show it's up to date

[John Kennett]

I've changed the wording a bit as the PB&R campaign is wider than just kill cords.

[Nos4r2]

Originally Posted by John Kennett

I've changed the wording a bit as the PB&R campaign is wider than just kill cords.

Cheers John

[Doug Stormforce]

Originally Posted by John Kennett

I've changed the wording a bit as the PB&R campaign is wider then just kill cords.

You might look at tweaking the wording again as PB&R Mag wants to make the warning sticker on the console compulsory as well, with fines for non compliance of having the correct sticker.

[Poly]

Originally Posted by Doug Stormforce

You might look at tweaking the wording again as PB&R Mag wants to make the warning sticker on the console compulsory as well, with fines for non compliance of having the correct sticker.

Does the "Correct Sticker" include the words "Powerboat & Rib Magazine" at the bottom

[DM]

Originally Posted by Poly

Does the "Correct Sticker" include the words "Powerboat & Rib Magazine" at the bottom

I sincerely hope not.

Using a tragedy to promote a business would be the sickest marketing ploy ever.

[jwalker]

I agree with Poly's sentiment, it may not be a blatant attempt at publicity (I'm trying to be kind ) but I bet the notion of benefit hasn't gone passed him.

[Doug Stormforce]

Originally Posted by Poly

Does the "Correct Sticker" include the words "Powerboat & Rib Magazine" at the bottom

Yep

Powerboat & RIB Magazine

[Chris Caton]

Originally Posted by Doug Stormforce

Yep

Powerboat & RIB Magazine

Hmmmmmm....... don't think one of these will gracing our rib console anytime soon

[C2 RIBS]

Originally Posted by Chris Caton

Hmmmmmm....... don't think one of these will gracing our rib console anytime soon

We use similar ones we got from RNLI,

I am unsure on why there is such an anti feel towards a commercial mag seller who is trying to help people save their lives. Yes the timing is directly after a tragedy but actually what better time than to focus our minds on basic skills and basic survival options. Everyone can choose not to use on, buy one, obtain one and will continue to make their own decisions on their safety.
Clearly from the position of what operators were reporting this weekend on many forums, within 24-48hrs of the deaths, the advice was ignored anyway and loads were out without using them.

I believe other companies such as RYA do similar stickers and they have their logos on the sticker.

[JamesF]

I'm pleased to see the consensus emerging.

[Dirk Diggler]

Originally Posted by Poly

Does the "Correct Sticker" include the words "Powerboat & Rib Magazine" at the bottom

[Cookee]

Can anyone confirm a statistic I heard? Training is compulsory in France and yet they have more accidents? If true is that because they have more activity on the water or is it per 100 boaters? Or is it BS?

[IanH]

I burned my fingers this morning taking a very hot bowl out of the microwave with one hand whilst shaving with the other.

Due to the number of fatal burns from exploding liquids and burns from handling hot plates, I understand that Microwave User magazine will be producing stickers saying always use your tray when taking hot items out of the microwave and want to get legislating banning non attentive use of a microwave.

[Carl]

in my opinion,it is very hard to "forget" to put your kill cord on,when im in my boat i am fully aware of what is going on in my immediate area (ie dash,console for a rib)and i find hard to believe that when your under way you wouldnt notice a bright red cord bouncing up and down reminding you to put it on. i think its more to do with "it will be ok,and i cant be bothered" a bit like seat belts in cars. i have 2 kill cords,one for driver and one for passenger,just a throw back to racing days,and one reminds the other to put it on

[Ribbed41Pleasure]

And then Mercury users (if like the last two I have owned) will have a greater risk of injuring people from false emergency stops because the kill cord toggle switch is too sensitive. I gave up using mine for this reason. I had to balance risk of no kill chord against using one which caused it's own dangers. So now only briefed 'trusted' crew go near the throttle/helm. I make it quite clear to everyone the dangers and get quite 'shirty' with people on the boat who don't listen or head the warnings. Kill chords in my experience solve one problem but can create another - they are not the holy grail in my view (for Mercury anyway)

[willk]

Originally Posted by C2 RIBS

I believe other companies such as RYA do similar stickers and they have their logos on the sticker.

Yes, is it this one?

[willk]

Originally Posted by Ribbed41Pleasure

And then Mercury users (if like the last two I have owned) will have a greater risk of injuring people from false emergency stops because the kill cord toggle switch is too sensitive. I gave up using mine for this reason

Time for you to buy a Suzuki or a Yamaha then, and give up your foolish ways...

[Nos4r2]

Originally Posted by C2 RIBS

We use similar ones we got from RNLI,

I am unsure on why there is such an anti feel towards a commercial mag seller who is trying to help people save their lives. Yes the timing is directly after a tragedy but actually what better time than to focus our minds on basic skills and basic survival options. Everyone can choose not to use on, buy one, obtain one and will continue to make their own decisions on their safety.
Clearly from the position of what operators were reporting this weekend on many forums, within 24-48hrs of the deaths, the advice was ignored anyway and loads were out without using them.

I believe other companies such as RYA do similar stickers and they have their logos on the sticker.

I don't have a problem with the logo being on the sticker at all. HMS is paying for them, and it's not as though the stickers say

PB&R
wear your killcord
PB&R


If he sells a couple of extra subscriptions, it won't go anywhere near to paying for what he's undertaken. Lifejackets are branded too and you pay a hell of a lot of money for them,yet I don't hear anyone complaining that they're paying to advertise Spinlock or Kru.


I do however have a huge problem with the idea of compulsory regulation for reasons I've stated a few times.