BOAT SAFETY
FOA Safety Bulletin January 2026
Safe operation of outboard driven boats – KILL-CORDS
By Steve White F34 Wight Mistress
FOA Commodore and Safety Boat Cox’n
This was posted nearly 2 years ago is worthy of another look now. I will re-issue it in the new year as well.
I thought it would be helpful to issue some safety recommendations associated with operating,
typically in our case, our power-driven tenders. This does not just apply to outboard engines;
ANY POWERED CRAFT - especially a fast ones - should be operated with a kill cord.
The aim is for this to start in Fisher LITE, go on the website, and then become part of your boat file. It is here
to help you make your own risk assessment as skipper/owner of your Fisher.
I make no apologies to those who might think I am stating the blindingly obvious. During my time instructing I
observed many people, including ‘professionals,’ who clearly thought this policy did not apply to them;
additionally a cursory glance at the MAIB Website and the RYA Website will endorse this policy.
The most useful and essential safety feature on any modern outboard is the kill cord.
This is what the RYA have to say…
Kill Cords.
Always, always, always use a kill cord and ensure that it is attached to the driver of the boat.
Small open power boats will normally be fitted with a kill cord which, if used correctly, will stop the engine if the
driver becomes dislodged from the helm position.
Attaching the kill cord.
The kill cord is a red lanyard which has a quick-release fitting at one end and a clip at the other end. When in
use, the quick-release fitting is attached to the engine and the end with the clip attaches to the driver. The kill
cord is normally attached around the driver’s knee and clipped back onto itself.
A kill cord is coiled in its design to allow the driver the natural movement required when helming a boat. Should
the driver move away from, or be thrown from, the helm position the kill cord will detach from the console and
the engine will stop. Detaching the kill cord also allows a crew or passenger to stop the engine if the driver were
to become incapacitated whilst at the helm e.g. they fainted.
In most instances the boat will not start without the kill cord in place therefore a second kill cord should be kept
on board to allow boat to be re-started if the driver and kill cord have gone overboard. The kill cord should be
worn by the driver whenever the engine is running.
Should you for any reason not wish to attach the kill cord around your leg, attach it securely to your personal
buoyancy. In either case it should not foul the steering or gear controls.
The kill cord should always be clipped back onto itself. It should not be clipped onto an item of clothing or
attached to any other location where the clip would release from the driver rather than detach from the console
as the console end must detach for the kill cord to stop the boat.
The kill cord prevents the driver moving away from the normal operating position either intentionally or by
accident. It might therefore be tempting to use a kill cord that is longer than the item provided by the
manufacturer of the engine, to allow you a little more movement, but this could result in the kill cord not doing
its job when you really need it to. If you need to leave the command position, or you are changing driver, you
should turn the engine off. The engine should only be re-started when the kill cord has been secured to the new
driver.
FOA Boat Safety Note
updated on31 January 2025 at 13:29FOA Boat Safety Note
Summary of RYA advice and recommendations:
• The RYA recommends that the kill cord be attached around your leg. It should not foul the steering or
gear controls.
• The RYA does not recommend extending the length of the kill cord provided by the manufacturer of the
engine.
• Always check your kill cord works at the start of each day or session and check it regularly for signs of
wear
• Keep a spare kill cord on board
Starting an outboard motor.
• Check the fuel tank is correctly attached to the engine, look for leaks or chafing of the fuel pipe.
• Open the breather on the fuel tank.
• Tilt the motor into the water – propeller completely submerged (this aids cooling and the supply of fuel).
• Attach the kill cord and test that it can be easily triggered when pulled.
• Squeeze the primer bulb several times but don’t flood the engine.
• Ensure that the engine gear shift is in the neutral position.
• Apply the choke if needed.
• Start the engine with the pull starter.
• When running let the engine idle then release the choke.
I hope this helps to keep us all a bit safer. If you would like to, please consider printing this off and keeping it
your Fisher’s Captain’s File.
Safe Fishering
Steve White
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Last updated 11:32 on 21 October 2026