How to best deal with a run away boat?

Carpediem44DB

Carpediem44DB

Well-Known Member
Aug 18, 2015
3,230
Sanfransico Bay area
Boat Info
2000 Carver 506
2006 44 DB Sedan Bridge
Engines
Volvo TAMD 74 P
Runaway Boat Causes Chaos in St. Mary's River | Watch (msn.com)

Okay, here you are watching a scenario such as this, what is the best course of action?

I say, if the area is isolated and the boat is not likely to hit anything or anyone, best to just let it be until it runs out of gas. I really don't see a safe way to intervene. The one intervention I would possibly be tempted to try if the boat was a danger would be to attempt to foul the prop with a lenght of line. Attempting to board the boat to gain control just seems like a fools errand. Any other bright ideas?
 
upload_2022-7-7_19-55-30.jpeg
 
Fouling the prop seems like a great idea. Never thought of that. Maybe throw a buoyant net at it or any nylon line that floats like a ski rope.
 
@Carpediem44DB You took the words right out of my mouth. I watched the video before I read your post completely. Fouling the prop is the only safe way I would think.
 
All id’t take is one well placed sky-hook……..’course they’re expensive and hard to find…..:p
 
Polypropylene line floats. It’s often used for throw rings and would probably foul the prop. It’s not as strong as nylons though so a higher powered boats prop might just cut through without snagging.
 
.223 round to the outboard. Glad no one was hurt.

A friend told me a (80's) story when he was 22 he and another friend took their very similar boat up to Georgetown for a night of drinking and then headed home. They we both sitting on gunwales because the windshield was cloudy and ended up in the water due to another boat's wake.

Their boat was running and continued to circle them. First they thought it was funny but they quickly realized that they were in trouble with no way to get back on the boat. They had to swim to Roosevelt Island which was not a far swim but the Potomac is a river and it was dark.

One made it .....the other drowned. The boat eventually ran aground.
 
Buy yourself one of these. You run a power and ground to it from a feed source that’s on with the ignition then split the ignition run wire through it to cut the engine with. The operator either wears a fob or keeps it in their pocket and up to three more fobs for crew. If the operator presses their button or falls overboard the engine quits. If the crew presses their button or falls overboard and alarm sounds. Way more comfortable and useful than the lanyard to a kill switch setup.

https://www.westmarine.com/buy/fell...gine-cutoff-switch-gray--18736249?recordNum=1
 
Hoplite808 said:
Buy yourself one of these. You run a power and ground to it from a feed source that’s on with the ignition then split the ignition run wire through it to cut the engine with. The operator either wears a fob or keeps it in their pocket and up to three more fobs for crew. If the operator presses their button or falls overboard the engine quits. If the crew presses their button or falls overboard and alarm sounds. Way more comfortable and useful than the lanyard to a kill switch setup.
https://www.westmarine.com/buy/fell...gine-cutoff-switch-gray--18736249?recordNum=1
https://www.westmarine.com/buy/fell...gine-cutoff-switch-gray--18736249?recordNum=1
Click to expand...
That would require some planning and forethought, looks like the captain of that vessel had neither of those.
 
Hoplite808 said:
Buy yourself one of these. You run a power and ground to it from a feed source that’s on with the ignition then split the ignition run wire through it to cut the engine with. The operator either wears a fob or keeps it in their pocket and up to three more fobs for crew. If the operator presses their button or falls overboard the engine quits. If the crew presses their button or falls overboard and alarm sounds. Way more comfortable and useful than the lanyard to a kill switch setup.
https://www.westmarine.com/buy/fell...gine-cutoff-switch-gray--18736249?recordNum=1
https://www.westmarine.com/buy/fell...gine-cutoff-switch-gray--18736249?recordNum=1
Click to expand...
I purchased and installed a Fell Marine cut off switch about 4 years ago. I wear when out alone. It works great and if another is a onboard when you go overboard, after the engine cuts off, it will default to allow you to restart without having to figure out buttons or switches.
 
I was considering the Fell Marine Fob, but unless I am wrong it only works if you fall into the water or hit a button. Once, I was knocked over by a large wave but stayed on the boat. Luckily I had a passenger onboard who I told to grab the wheel. But if I was knocked unconscious or had medical emergency where I couldn't hit the button on the fob, the nothing would stop the boat until it ran out fuel or hit something. I just wear the kill switch lanyard; its cheap, works and already on the boat.
 
Last edited:
argus1 said:
I was considering the Fell Marine Fob, but unless I am wrong it only works if you fall into the water or hit a button. Once, I was knocked over by a large wave but stayed on the boat. Luckily I had a passenger onboard who I told to grab the wheel. But if I was knocked unconscious or had medical emergency where I couldn't hit the button on the fob, the nothing would stop the boat until it ran out fuel or hit something. I just wear the kill switch lanyard; its cheap, works and already on he boat.
Click to expand...

You can leave the lanyard switch in with the fell marine switch too you know.
 
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