laythewood

What are the best wireless engine kill switch options available? I am familiar with the FELL Marine product and ARC Guardian but I’m wondering what else is out there. I thought I saw something on one of the Saturday fishing shows where the guy was wearing a watch with a GPS that had a built in kill switch— maybe I am mistaken. Not sure if it matters but I will be hooking into a Yanmar inboard engine— not an outboard with fly by wire, NMEA, etc. Thanks.

fishbadger

I've been very happy with my Autotether. Hard-wired the dash unit to the batt's, wireless fob-thingy in my pocket. I replace the fob batteries frequently enough. The only time it bothers me is when I'm bending down or contorting my posture somehow, and the button on the fob gets accidently pushed in my pocket (and the engines shut down, usually on the troll while fishing, which has been inconvenient, but not dangerous).
fb

harley'sboat

not sure how you would hard wire, triple A to the boat, but this is a different story
Last time I had the Autotether it was not compatible with the Yanmar

in any event does your boat have a corded kill switch
if it doesn't the Autotether will not work

I have had several Fell (on different boats) and it is far superior the AUTOTETHER both in quality and customer support. They have had some bad units, but they are great about replacing them if needed.
These are actually hardwired into the ignition and work better and fobs can be added. I have heard mixed results on the ACR, better quality than the autotether; but not sure if it actually killed the motor.

laythewood

I do not have a chorded kill switch and I’m not even sure how it would wire into the Yanmar key switch. I’ve heard mixed reviews on the FELL which is why I was wondering what else was out there.

fishbadger

The autotether is wired to the battery for power, not to the yanmar to kill.
As I say, it has worked well for me for a few years (a corded kill switch replacement), was easy to install. I don't have a comparison to any others.
YMMV,
fb

C3D

Autotether is a mechanical interrupt.

The Fell Marine and ACR units are electronic and light years beyond Autotether in terms of technology.

I use the Fell system as do many here. The ACR unit is newer on the market but appears to be excellent.

vandlor

I have the ACR. I love it. Very clean installation

buxa

There is the Mercury 1st Mate system too (made by Fell Marine), what you will need to find out exactly how the engine is shutdown, i.e. push to open a circuit or push to close, the 1st Mate is only compatible with one kind, I want to say push to open and you may need the push to close. There are two types, a generic Quicksilver one for most engine types and a dedicated one for Mercury. I believe Fell is developing another unit for the other type of switch. Hope this helps.

rogermd

Any options that don't require drilling and screwing?

laythewood

So it looks like the Fell unit will not work with my Yanmar inboard.

mystery

i would read and research past tht threads

some of these products have been unreliable/dangerous

SpacerM

https://www.boatus.org/findings/42/


Not sure what you mean by "Best" (cheapest, ease of installation, reliability, support, etc.) but the above link should give you some objective measures in addition to the comments here. If you are looking for a solution when boating solo, note there is an inherent delay in the wireless systems that in an ocean/current/windy enviornment greatly decrease your chance of being able to catch up to the boat. Lanyards are the best for survivability, IF you wear them consistently.

C3D

\

You make an excellent point and I wear the lanyard offshore if it’s rough even while using the FELL system. The reason is I want the engines cut if I get thrown out of the control station, let alone off that boat.