Mercury 350 MAG MPI Horizon, Service Manual

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13
CC942
General Information
CA619
Lanyard Stop Switch
74608
2
1
The purpose of a lanyard stop switch (1) is to turn off the engine when the operator moves far enough away from
the operator’s position (as in accidental ejection from the operator’s position) to activate the switch. Some remote
control units are equipped with a lanyard stop switch. A lanyard stop switch can be installed on the dashboard
or side adjacent to the operator’s position.
The lanyard is a cord usually between 4 and 5 ft (1220 and 1524 mm) in length when stretched out with an
element on one end made to be inserted into the switch and a snap (2) on the other end for attaching to the
operator. The lanyard is coiled to make its at-rest condition as short as possible so as to minimize the likelihood
of lanyard entanglement with nearby objects. It is made as long as it is in its stretched condition to minimize the
likelihood of accidental activation should the operator choose to move around in an area close to the normal
operator’s position. If it is desired to have a shorter lanyard, wrap the lanyard around the operator’s wrist or leg,
or tie a knot in the lanyard.
IMPORTANT: The purpose of a lanyard stop switch is to stop the engine when the operator moves far
enough away from the operator’s position to activate the switch. This would occur if the operator
accidentally falls overboard or moves within the boat a sufficient distance from the operator’s position.
Accidental ejections and falls overboard are more likely to occur in certain types of boats such as low
sided sport boats or bass boats, and high-performance boats. Accidental ejections and falls overboard
are also likely to occur as a result of poor operating practices such as sitting on the back of the seat or
gunwale at planing speeds, standing at planing speeds, sitting on elevated fishing boat decks, operating
at planing speeds in shallow or obstacle-infested waters, releasing your grip on a steering wheel that
is pulling in one direction, drinking alcohol or consuming drugs, or daring, high-speed boat maneuvers.
While activation of the lanyard stop switch will stop the engine immediately, a boat will continue to coast for some
distance depending upon the velocity and degree of any turn at shut-down. However, the boat will not complete
a full circle. While the boat is coasting, it can cause injury to anyone in the boat’s path as seriously as the boat
would when under power.
We strongly recommend that other occupants be instructed on proper starting and operating procedures should
they be required to operate the engine in an emergency (e.g. if the operator is accidentally ejected).
WARNING
Should the operator fall out of the boat, the possibility of serious injury or death from being run over
by the boat can be greatly reduced by stopping the engine immediately. Always properly connect both
ends of the stop switch lanyard to the stop switch and the operator.
Accidental or unintended activation of the switch during normal operation is also a possibility. This could cause
any, or all, of the following potentially hazardous situations:
1
Occupants could be thrown forward due to unexpected loss of forward motion - a particular concern for
passengers in the front of the boat who could be ejected over the bow and possibly struck by the gear case
or propeller.
2
Loss of power and directional control in heavy seas, strong current or high winds.
3
Loss of control when docking.
WARNING
Avoid serious injury or death from deceleration forces resulting from accidental or unintended stop
switch activation. The boat operator should never leave the operator’s station without first
disconnecting the stop switch lanyard from the operator.