FellMarine MOB kill switch

H

hardee

New member
I saw a note about this device in a splash in the Dec Boat US magazine. Since, I have seen it in a couple of other adds. Seems like a great safety device, especially for those of us who singlehand, although it can be used with more than one sensor (per person device) for either a single engine or multiple engines. It has a 50 foot range, and kills the engines in 1-3 seconds, and can be restarted in 6 seconds if someone is still on board to return to the MOB.

Made by Fell Marine, a Norwegian company, and there are a few dealers in US and Canada, and it appears to be not too hard to set up.

Here is the link:

https://www.fellmarine.com/

Looks like around $200 for the device.

I’m curious if anyone has seen it or has experience with it. Although I am very careful about where I am on the boat when it is running, there are times when I am in the cockpit photographing and have to be letting George, (my AutoPilot), do the driving. Admittedly those are for very short periods, but sometimes it is the nature of the beast. (Can’t stop the boat and expect the dolphins to keep playing in the wake.)

Harvey
SleepyC:moon

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I do not know anything about the device, but it is a catchy name for the company that makes it!
 
Bill, that sounds like it serves the same function as the Fell Marine unit. How does yours install and have you tested it for function?

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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Harvey,
All you do is exchange the kill lanyard for the Autotether kill lanyard that is connected to the receiver box ( 2" x 3" x 1/2" ) which is powered with AAA batteries as are the sensors. There is double sided tape on the back of the receiver.

When it is activated a pin in the kill switch connector pushes out and it disconnects from the kill switch.

Each person wears a sensor.

Yes I have tested it both for distance ( 75-150 ft ) and in the water.

I feel much safer.

Bill Kelleher


hardee":2be5abg7 said:
Bill, that sounds like it serves the same function as the Fell Marine unit. How does yours install and have you tested it for function?

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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Hi Bill, Thanks for the reply. Their web site was a little vague on actually how it worked. I can see it working if you are running a single engine, but what if you are running twins, or in your case, have the main shut down and are trolling?

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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fHarvey,
I am pretty sure that I saw somewhere about using it with twins.
Update from web page

"What if I have 2 kill switches?
We can sell you a kill switch and you just need to have the 2 engines wired into the single kill switch. Call Technical Support for assistance."


In my case I just switch Autotether connector to the kill switch on the little engine remote control.

Here is a link to the manual.


www.autotether.com/uploads/3/8/4/6/.../ ... y_2011.pdf

Bill Kelleher

hardee":3n18gvnb said:
Hi Bill, Thanks for the reply. Their web site was a little vague on actually how it worked. I can see it working if you are running a single engine, but what if you are running twins, or in your case, have the main shut down and are trolling?

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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Hi Bill,

Not sure why, but that link wen t to a "Error 404" page so I went back to the AutoTether site and recopied the link. we'll see if this one works any better.

http://www.autotether.com/uploads/3/8/4 ... y_2011.pdf

I just checked and this one worked, this time. (On Edit)

I didn't find anything in the manual that addresses twin engine application other than what you noted.

I know there is at least one C-BRAT that is using some sort of wireless MOB warning system. I believe it is Tim Flanagan on Two Lucky Fish, but my memory is a bit hazy.

Harvey
SleepyC:moon

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My quick impression is that the Autotether is a somewhat simpler system (KISS)! I know of two guys locally who have set up the Autotether and like it-neither has actually had to test it in a real life episode--but that's good too! Soon as I can I plan on getting an Autotether or the Fell system myself. Need a little more research to decide which.
 
I just talked to "AutoTether" and for twins, the OEM kill switch on the Throttle/Gear controls have to be wired together. They do not have a host device that is designed with two actuators (a "Y" from the main plug) to power two actuators. (Seems easy enough to do, but he said the actuator requires a 100 volt pulse from a capacitor to do the deed.)

He also said that having 2 separate systems, requiring to wear 2 MOB monitors wouldn't work because they would not shut down simultaneously.

This might be the KISS system for a single outboard, but it would require manually switching the actuator if/when you change to kicker power.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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Just wondering if anybody saw anything at the boat show, (or anywhere else), that would be comparable to either of these devices. It still seems like the Fell Marine one would be the easiest to use but the more complicated to hook up.

Seems like a a good device for a single hander.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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I can't speak for others but my Tomcat with twin Honda's uses two keys for starting but one tether for stopping both motors.

Kind of a waste though as the tether is in the pilot house where it would be practically impossible to fall out of, but no tether at the cockpit dual control system where I could easily fall over the side?

I'm thinking of ordering the USA version for ease of installation and simplicity
 
BTDT":1jsxnn9z said:
I can't speak for others but my Tomcat with twin Honda's uses two keys for starting but one tether for stopping both motors.

Kind of a waste though as the tether is in the pilot house where it would be practically impossible to fall out of, but no tether at the cockpit dual control system where I could easily fall over the side?

I'm thinking of ordering the USA version for ease of installation and simplicity
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It would be easy and cheap to put a second tether switch somewhere in the cockpit. The switch and lanyard are about $18 for the marine version. There are motorcycle, and Snowmobile switches which are cheaper.
 
"I'm thinking of ordering the USA version for ease of installation and simplicity"
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John & Vicki Clark
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John, are you speaking of the USA version of the Fell Marine?

My Yamaha twins have 2 keys at the helm station and each control has a kill tether there, useless inside the cabin. I think that the Fell Marine, set up to kill both engines with one device would be the most practical for me.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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hardee":363mxx7y said:
"I'm thinking of ordering the USA version for ease of installation and simplicity"
_________________
John & Vicki Clark
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John, are you speaking of the USA version of the Fell Marine?
I was considering the autotether

My Yamaha twins have 2 keys at the helm station and each control has a kill tether there, useless inside the cabin. I think that the Fell Marine, set up to kill both engines with one device would be the most practical for me.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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My Honda twin outboard control is one piece with two ignition keys and one safety tether in the middle. I was thinking of using the Autotether, but like Bob said it would not be that hard to run an ignition wire to the rear station and add a watercraft type safety tether.

Albeit I'm from Oklahoma so a quick 'Okie' fix could be a 20 foot long safety tether to the front control station? :roll:
 
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