A lifesaving option is a wireless engine cutoff device. Wearable fobs or “tags” communicate with a hub or host unit that sounds an alarm and shuts down the engine should the skipper fall overboard. A crew member overboard fob is programmed to trigger just the alarm. Until then, anyone wearing a fob can move freely about the boat, without the short-leash hassle of a lanyard.
There’s a range of systems available, from the electromechanical Autotether Marine cutoff device, to the wireless electrical Fell MOB+, to those that also log location through Bluetooth to guide you back to the MOB and even alert others, such as the ACR Overboard Location Alert System (OLAS) Guardian. And more are on the way
The Fell and ACR systems deactivate the engine shutdown in six or five seconds, respectively, so that the motor can be restarted to effect a rescue.
Autotether and Fell MOB+ can each monitor up to four fobs; the ACR OLAS Guardian can handle up to six Android- or eight iOS-linked tabs, and up to 15 with an extender.
The ACR OLAS works in conjunction with smartphone and tablet apps, providing onscreen direction to the MOB’s signal fob. (Autotether is self-contained.)
Fobs can be programmed for operator (with cutoff and alarm) or passenger (alarm only) modes.