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This has been a frequent discussion topic over recent years. In one discussion we blue-skied some sort of electronic kill-switch that could stall the outboard should a single-handing Capt fall overboard. Well Mates, the electronic kill switch is reality, and a touch of weather-helm will solve the problem under-sail ... tethers now optional??

I'm pretty impressed with the new online BoatUS magz linked in a couple of recent threads.
Using Ray's link (below), go to Hot Tips on page 42 to see the Wireless MOB Alarm ($300).

NiceAft wrote: . . . article (2008 SUV TOWING & MILEAGE GUIDE) in the March issue of BOATUS MAGZINE.

http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/boatus/200803/

Very cool, Frank. It would seem that presently they make them for only OVC, Yamaha, Mercury, Honda & Suzuki, but perhaps one of these will fit the Tohatsu, or that they might make one in future?

The only major drawback I can see is the batteries only last 100 hours, so it would be a good idea to bring several rechargeable batteries.

The only other concern I'd have, particularly with guys our age, is that it won't automatically protect in the event the captain has a heart-attack or similar malady where he would fall down within the cockpit, but not actually go overboard. However, I suppose the victim could push the red 'alert' button on the unit and that would do the same thing, a bit like those 'help me I've fallen and I can't get up' things old folks wear around their necks.

What I'd love to see (and haven't seen anything like it yet, holler if I've just missed it) is a MOB alarm system which ties into my Raymarine pilot (presuming it's engaged, which it usually is if I'm single handing and at risk of falling overboard) and which engages wind vane mode and steers into the wind, and keeps steering into the wind, allowing one a fighting chance to swim to the boat.

The auto kill switch idea would be a nice complement to the above, covering both motoring and sailing.

NO

The tether is like an extra arm when you need the support. Don't leave the cockpit without one.

..

Frank, the wireless motor kill switch has been around for quite some time.

See this thread, nearly two years old. You made a contribution to that one.

In any case, this is only a minor improvement over the standard motor cutoff lanyard.

The question for singlehanded sailing, as opposed to motoring, has never been quite that simple.

Saying "build in some weather helm" doesn't work, because the autopilot will defeat it. You can't even just shut off the autopilot, since for every autopilot with which I'm familiar, that will simply lock the wheel, but still permit the boat to continue to sail away from you for who knows how far.

The real question is how to disconnect the autopilot, and then, regardless of wind, weather, current and point of sail, cause the boat to execute some maneuver which will stop it so you have a chance to swim to it (or pull yourself to it by your tether) and climb back aboard.

I will continue to rely on simple rope rope
and shackles and use them except in the mildest conditons.
Little can fail with it.

I consider a tether's biggest advantage to be that there is some chance that the tether will prevent you from falling over board in the first place, where thee is no chance a little circuit board can do that for you.

As Chip says, us gray-haired folks know we have other considerations. My heart problem appeard out of nowhere. I found that a lot of my youthful idealism and sense of personal invulnerablity was over optimistic ...... so now I'm now a more cautious sailor than ever before.

OK;
for those of you who use tethers, can I get a description of just how they are set up and used. I will be in the cockpit of an '03 M with SS binnacle post. How would I tether myself for singlehanded sailing. I could reach the lines from the helm but would most likely be seated between the binnacle pod and traveller/companionway and using autohelm to steer while sailing and handling lines during tacks. The only time I would be at the helm is when the engine is running going in and out of the marina. I was thinking a big wide belt with SS rings to attache carabiners to and a couple snap shackles/carabiners to attache to the aft cleats or mid stantions, I would be straddled in between the two tethers shackled port and starboard, not sure yet. I wouldn't mind some other ideas to consider if anyone has any suggestions...

OK;
for those of you who use tethers, can I get a description of just how they are set up and used. I will be in the cockpit of an '03 M with SS binnacle post. How would I tether myself for singlehanded sailing. I could reach the lines from the helm but would most likely be seated between the binnacle pod and traveller/companionway and using autohelm to steer while sailing and handling lines during tacks. The only time I would be at the helm is when the engine is running going in and out of the marina. I was thinking a big wide belt with SS rings to attache carabiners to and a couple snap shackles/carabiners to attache to the aft cleats or mid stantions, I would be straddled in between the two tethers shackled port and starboard, not sure yet. I wouldn't mind some other ideas to consider if anyone has any suggestions...

are there stats indicating when crew are most likely to fall overboard?

I've always heard of crew falling overboard while watering the water, but how often does it happen?

How likely is it that someone will fall overboard while motoring, if sitting in a cockpit?

I would think, that other than watering the water, that the most likely time to fall overboard is while sailing and while moving to the forward deck . . . but I don't know.

ANYWAY, stats would be nice to know, since we all play the "odds", when we sail and all our concerns really derive from the "odds", of something actually happening.

Terry wrote:... for those of you who use tethers, can I get a description of just how they are set up and used. I will be in the cockpit of an '03 M with SS binnacle post. How would I tether myself for singlehanded sailing....

Well I won't say I've actually USED it yet, but I do own a couple of tethers. My plan for cockpit use is tethering to eyebolts. The 26X has a good foundation for the pedestal, thru-bolted to the cockpit sole, and heavily backed. I removed these two forward pedestal bolts & replaced them with 3/8" eyebolts, one on each side of the pedestal.

This provides two very beefy anchor points in the cockpit, and their location easily serves both the trimmer position and the helmseat. If the M-pedestal doesn't have similar, I'd just drill the cockpit sole for a beefy eyebolt, backing it with a good-sized fender washer over the aft-berth.

Frank C wrote:

Terry wrote:... for those of you who use tethers, can I get a description of just how they are set up and used. I will be in the cockpit of an '03 M with SS binnacle post. How would I tether myself for singlehanded sailing....

Well I won't say I've actually USED it yet, but I do own a couple of tethers. My plan for cockpit use is tethering to eyebolts. The 26X has a good foundation for the pedestal, thru-bolted to the cockpit sole, and heavily backed. I removed these two forward pedestal bolts & replaced them with 3/8" eyebolts, one on each side of the pedestal.

This provides two very beefy anchor points in the cockpit, and their location easily serves both the trimmer position and the helmseat. If the M-pedestal doesn't have similar, I'd just drill the cockpit sole for a beefy eyebolt, backing it with a good-sized fender washer over the aft-berth.

Capital idea Frank!
The '03-'04 M's have a SS helm post with a 1"-1.5" inch (not sure) circular flange with 4-5 through bolts that one could use for an eye bolt. I know they are through bolts because I finally covered the ends of them with rubber caps after gouging my head under the aft berth too many times. This would allow more freedom of movement from all cockpit positions. I already installed something similar on the forward stantion bases, heavy SS fairleads bolted inplace on the two inside stantion plate bolts where I have bullet blocks to lead halyards aft. I am sure they could double as forward connections but could have me dangling over the side....perhaps another U-bolt near the mast might be better. Anyway I like the idea of being tethered to the cockpit sole as that would always keep me in the cockpit as opposed to dangling over the side.

Falling out of the cockpit doesn't worry me as much as sliding off the foredeck and cabin even in light seas.
I had envisaged a jackline down each side anchored at fore and aft to clip the harness to but it probably won't happen until it's too late.

I also want to add two eyebolts thru the rails that hold the vertical cabin hatch. Those eyebolts can serve same function as the ones at the sole. Further, they can serve as anchor points for a continuous jackline that goes up past the st'bd winch, forward around the mast, then aft past the portside winch, over the aft cabin-edge, down again to the second eyebolt.

Rigging this jackline will be a bit tricky. Since you want to clip-on and move forward on deck, the jackline would need be rigged across the tops of any running rig that's been led aft ... halyards aft as examples.

IMO, the jackline can terminate around the mast, or possibly at the 26X's deck padeye. Unfortunately, the padeye would mean the fore-hatch is pinned shut by the jackline. If one uses the twin-tether (3 & 6 footers) then the 6-foot tether from the mast is almost adequate for any needs. Alternatively, use the 3-footer to clip onto the deck padeye.

M-boat owners don't have this nicely centered deck padeye.
bummer

Actually fitted a couple of fixing points at the base on each side rear of our mast to bring lines aft and these would do for fixing the tether and a jackline could be fixed easily to the base of the staunchions.
Thanks for prompting this as now it has been moved up the "to do list" but still behind painting the house