1975 70hp Evinrude Outboard Scary Moment

[mav6759]

I was wondering if anyone knew who I would contact at Evinrude Outboards concerning what I would believe to be a recall. Today was a very scary day for me and my 7year old son. We were out fishing and I have a 1975 Evinrude 70hp on my boat. The problem is I don't have a kill switch on the controls. But while we were going to our spot as we call it, I was running about 38 to 42 mph and I hit a huge log that was in the water. I tried to avoid the log by turning the boat to the right. Well to make a long story short, I ended up hitting the log, I was throwing from the boat, but my son was thrown to the floor board of the boat and the boat was still running out of control with him in it. Thanks to the heavens I let him to drive the boat a little while sitting in my lap and when he seen me in the water he tried to turned the boat around to come back and get me and ran the boat into some woods. Well at that point the motor was still running and some other fisherman came to help out. I never knew how valuable a kill switch really was until today. Luckily, no was hurt and the boat only had a ding where I hit the log. When another fisherman pick me up out of the water and took me to where my son was, the motor was still going. I was asked about a kill switch by the police and I told them I didn't have one and they told me I should have one. One gamewarden told me it was against the law in Virginia not to have a kill switch. I don?t know, all I know is, I could have been killed and so could my son. Can a kill switch be added or should I pound on Evinrude door for a recall. Because if the state of Virginia is going to ticket me everytime I take the boat out, because of no kill switch, I think Evinrude should pay for it.

 

[DJ]

Re: 1975 70hp Evinrude Outboard Scary Moment

1. That outboard was built by OMC. They went out of business in 2001.

2. Kill switches were not required on ANY boat in 1975.

3. No makers had them, on production engines, in 1975.

4. It is up to you to install one and pay for it.
-You stated that a kill switch may be required by law, in your state. If so, you were negligent in not having one and using it.

I have owed many boats that did not have them. I have installed them in some-not all.

If you had one, would you have been wearing it????? I would venture to say that 95% of the boating population does not.

You learned something and are fortunate enough to talk about it.

I just spent a week boating (three different boats) with family and friends. More than one of them noted my taking a second to clip the lanyard on my shorts. It is second nature to me, just like wearing a seat belt.

 

[HollaGeo]

Re: 1975 70hp Evinrude Outboard Scary Moment

A recall on a 1975 outboard engine...Are you aware that this is 2010???

 

[H20Rat]

Re: 1975 70hp Evinrude Outboard Scary Moment

the other two posters pretty much summed it up... no recall, and no, it is not law either. It IS fairly easy to retrofit one though, but the problem is that 99% of boaters never actually USE the killswitch anyway. It either lays on the floor, or is looped around the shifter.

 

[DJ]

Re: 1975 70hp Evinrude Outboard Scary Moment

the other two posters pretty much summed it up... no recall, and no, it is not law either. It IS fairly easy to retrofit one though, but the problem is that 99% of boaters never actually USE the killswitch anyway. It either lays on the floor, or is looped around the shifter.

Or, it's left on the kitchen table ruining a days plans.

 

[Cannondale]

Re: 1975 70hp Evinrude Outboard Scary Moment

I'm very glad you and your son survived completely intact.

That said, the notion of a recall on that outboard, or any outboard of that era, makes as much sense as demanding a recall on a 1964 Plymouth because it didn't come with 4 wheel disc brakes with ABS.

 

[Bob's Garage]

Re: 1975 70hp Evinrude Outboard Scary Moment

The responses have been a little rough, but unfortunately correct. In both facts and assumption.

Kill switch lanyards are seldom worn but are an invaluable safety devise. The reason they are seldom worn is because they limit the driver's ability to move around the boat (that is the intent after all) so they must be removed whenever the driver must change location, as when anchoring or tying up.

A wonderful new (sic) devise is one that permits the driver to move around, and if the driver falls overboard, shuts off the engine(s).

This same devise is designed to protect the passenger(s) by warning of their having fallen overboard by sounding an alarm.

There are a number of these devises on the market at this time. However, the one I have, and use, is the "Autotether". This is a quality product with very good customer service.

I believe so strongly in this type product that I recommend this safety item in all my Safe Boating Classes.

You now have the proven reason why the kill switch, and it's added safety devise are so important to have and use.

I am happy the outcome was not tragic, and you now have a 2nd chance to make the needed improvements to your boat.

And if you haven't done so already, please take a Safe Boating class and encourage your son to go with you.

 

[convergent]

Re: 1975 70hp Evinrude Outboard Scary Moment

Wow... pretty scary. No one asked about the speed you were going or what kind of boat you were in. If you hit a log that threw you out of the boat, I'd think that your boat was on the smaller side. Were you going too fast for the boat and conditions?

As for the kill switch, I don't usually wear mine either because I always have other adults or teens in the boat that know how to drive it. They also know what the kill switch is and could yank it if needed in an accident. If I were boating with only a small child in the boat with me, I would definitely be wearing the kill switch every time the boat was in motion, without question. What a horrifying experience for the kid. You are very lucky that he didn't run you over while trying to come back to get you. Can you imagine what he would have gone through if he hit you with the boat while trying to come back and help you? What a scary experience it must have been for you to be in the water watching the boat go away with your kid in it!

I'm just glad that this ended with only a couple of bumps... could have been so much worse. Get a kill switch installed.

 

[roncoop75]

Re: 1975 70hp Evinrude Outboard Scary Moment

Even if I had other people in the boat that knew how to drive it, I'd still wear the lanyard at speed. If everybody gets ejected and the torque steer pulls the boat all the way to one side or the other you'll have bunch of people in the water with a boat circling them at WOT.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: 1975 70hp Evinrude Outboard Scary Moment

and its simple to cut that switch in or have it added
its a normally open sitch that when its triggered by the lanyard removal its closed, one side goes to the blk/yellow the other to the black.
and yes, with most feed back cable steering systems eventually the boat is coming hunting for you.
most non-feed back systems or hydraulic will tend to stay where the helm position was last set.
I think it was about 1980 that federal law required a safty lanyard.
my 78 cajun with a merc 1500 had a crude one on the control box that if you left the helm it rotated a bracket that rotated the key to the off position.
one day Ill post in stupid human tricks how I know it worked at about 48MPH.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: 1975 70hp Evinrude Outboard Scary Moment

in addition to the other good points already made: it's a good thing your young son knew a little about the boat. EVERYONE on the boat needs to know some basics, and what you teach them should be age-appropriate. The littlest ones can be told how to turn off a key or yank the kill lanyard that you forgot to hook up.
And don't forget that non-boating adults are remarkably clueless. Some can't even work a microphone on a radio. teach them about the kill switch lanyard you forgot to hook up, as well as forward/neutral/reverse.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1975 70hp Evinrude Outboard Scary Moment

or should I pound on Evinrude door for a recall. Because if the state of Virginia is going to ticket me everytime I take the boat out, because of no kill switch, I think Evinrude should pay for it.

I shouldn't be saying this but this is the kind of attitude that is what's wrong with America.

EDIT: nevermind, DJ and Cannondale already covered what I was going to say.

 

[mav6759]

Re: 1975 70hp Evinrude Outboard Scary Moment

I thank each and everyone of you for your concerns, but I will tell you this, I tried to have 3 different Evenrude shops and one dealership to put a kill switch on that boat, all said the contrlols were not designed to have a kill switch. and they could not put one on. So i left the situation alone. I had a kill switch on other motors that I had. The state of Virginia is trying to pass a law now that all motor on the water must have a kill switch. With that said, that is the reason I ask for a recall on these motors. I read little of the Bill this morning. What they are asking outboard makers to do is pay 50/50 cost. If this Bill passes, it's going to be hard to fix all of these motors.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: 1975 70hp Evinrude Outboard Scary Moment

no, you are going to end up with a lot of illegal motors. There is no one to fix (for free) the old OMC motors because that company doesn't exist any more.
Any reference so I can read the pending legislation?

 

[sublauxation]

Re: 1975 70hp Evinrude Outboard Scary Moment

I was just going to say what Home Cookin' said, so I double that. Unfortunately sometimes you have to pay to play, boating seems to fit that saying quite well.

You can buy a new set of controls on Ebay pretty cheap, or on iboats for that matter. That autotether looks pretty cool, may buy that for next season, thanks Bobs' Garage!

 

[DJ]

Re: 1975 70hp Evinrude Outboard Scary Moment

I thank each and everyone of you for your concerns, but I will tell you this, I tried to have 3 different Evenrude shops and one dealership to put a kill switch on that boat, all said the contrlols were not designed to have a kill switch. and they could not put one on. So i left the situation alone. I had a kill switch on other motors that I had. The state of Virginia is trying to pass a law now that all motor on the water must have a kill switch. With that said, that is the reason I ask for a recall on these motors. I read little of the Bill this morning. What they are asking outboard makers to do is pay 50/50 cost. If this Bill passes, it's going to be hard to fix all of these motors.

Pardon my blunt but realistic view. Some points.

1. 38-42 MPH is FAR TOO fast for any area that may have obstructions. Since there was a woods nearby, logic tells me that there may be submerged, or not, obstructions. I would never run that fast in an area unless I knew exactly what I could expect to see.

2. If you turned to miss the obstruction and still hit it, that tells me something.

a. You were not paying attention.

b. You were going too fast for conditions.

c. All of the above.

3. Again, I hate to be blunt but the number one rule in Boating Safety is avoiding a mishap to begin with. The kill switch scenario is aftermath of an avoidable collision, IMHO.

4. The real reason the dealers said they couldn't install a switch is because they did not want to mess with a 35 year old engine.

5. There comes a time when the owner OWNS the product and is 100% responsible for it.

6. With a manual and this site, you could install a switch in minutes.

7. Just because you had other engines with kill switches DOES NOT mean you were using them.

8. Let's get realistic. Can we force automakers to install ABS and air bags in a 1975 car? There comes a point of absurdness. Just because there is a "Bill" floating around does not mean it is not absurd.

I am glad that everyone is OK, that is the most important thing. Learn from the experience and move on.

 

[109jb]

Re: 1975 70hp Evinrude Outboard Scary Moment

I thank each and everyone of you for your concerns, but I will tell you this, I tried to have 3 different Evenrude shops and one dealership to put a kill switch on that boat, all said the contrlols were not designed to have a kill switch. and they could not put one on.

That's a bunch of bull. You can put a lanyard kill switch on anything. They just didn't want to do it and fed you a line of bull to get rid of you. Not enough money in it for them since the switch is less than $10 (see below)

http://www.iboats.com/Universal-Kil...9748260--**********.688969778--view_id.167979

So i left the situation alone. I had a kill switch on other motors that I had. The state of Virginia is trying to pass a law now that all motor on the water must have a kill switch. With that said, that is the reason I ask for a recall on these motors. I read little of the Bill this morning. What they are asking outboard makers to do is pay 50/50 cost. If this Bill passes, it's going to be hard to fix all of these motors.

See the key word above? Asking and mandating are 2 different things. They would NEVER be able to mandate it. The manufacturers would fight that in court and it would never hold up.

Also, as stated before, even though the motor says "Evinrude" on the side it was manufactured by OMC. Besides that I personally think it is a bunch of bull to hold any manufacturer responsible for adding a safety device to a 35 year old anything. I have a 1970 Ford Mustang. I think I'll send a letter to Ford saying that I think they should pay 1/2 the cost of putting air bags in it. What response do you think I'll get with that.

It won't be hard to fix any of those motors, just takes a little time. I bet I could put one on in about 20 minutes or so and i don't work on them every day.

You said you saw the log and tried to avoid it and couldn't. I am sorry to be blunt, but you were going too fast for the conditions. 38 miles an hour in a boat is pretty darn fast. You tried to turn but no mention was made of pulling the throttle back. Full speed ahead and just turn to avoid???

 

[sublauxation]

Re: 1975 70hp Evinrude Outboard Scary Moment

Pardon my blunt but realistic view. Some points.

1. 38-42 MPH is FAR TOO fast for any area that may have obstructions. Since there was a woods nearby, logic tells me that there may be submerged, or not, obstructions. I would never run that fast in an area unless I knew exactly what I could expect to see.

2. If you turned to miss the obstruction and still hit it, that tells me something.

a. You were not paying attention.

b. You were going too fast for conditions.

c. All of the above.

3. Again, I hate to be blunt but the number one rule in Boating Safety is avoiding a mishap to begin with. The kill switch scenario is aftermath of an avoidable collision, IMHO.

I am glad that everyone is OK, that is the most important thing. Learn from the experience and move on.

I think without further details it's a little harsh and a little quick to accuse him of driving recklessly (aside from possible questions of not using a safety lanyard). Things happen quickly, we don't always react the way we should, nobody does. Glad everybody is OK!

I don't mean to get off topic but it's already started, so I have a couple questions/statements:

1) If driving 38 is to fast, then why on the prop section is everybody helping people get 50 or 55 mph.

2) Floating debris can show up anywhere, unexpectedly, at any time. Should we always keep it under 20, or under 10, or at idle speed?

3) Ever bang up a prop? By these standards wouldn't that mean you were driving to fast for conditions?

I have no intention of starting an argument, especially with a moderator, so I wont post on this one again, but under these accusations, I think we are all guilty of driving to fast most of the time, because you never know for absolute certain what lies ahead.

To get on topic, wish I had invented the Auto Tether, it can even keep Fido safe. I think safety lanyards are good, sounds like it should be easy to install, and the friendly people of Iboats are always willing to help!

 

[DJ]

Re: 1975 70hp Evinrude Outboard Scary Moment

No accusations, just opinions.

Moderators can have opinions too! It's the Moderators job to keep it civil and clean. That's it.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: 1975 70hp Evinrude Outboard Scary Moment

I also disagree with Moderator DJ. Unless you were there, you can't say 40 was too fast for conditions or he should have seen the object. Many float just below the surface, the color of the water, and are hidden by even the slightest wind chop.

Accident, pure and simple. If it hasn't happened to you, it just hasn't happened yet.