Mark Edward Balcom

I was previously the owner operator of a 23 foot sail boat with auxiliary outboard power. The motor was mounted on an extended motor mount and ways fixed in position so that it did not turn. Steering was done with the rudder. An engine shut off lanyard needing to be connected to the operator while steering with the tiller would have created rather than eliminated a safety hazard as the disconnect could easily be activated during close quarters operation or any time that there was personal movement in the cockpit either by himself, other crew members or guests. I believe such a thing may be of value in something like an open dinghy or in a high speed ski boat where the operator is in a fixed location and there is no other activity between him and the engine controls. Perhaps even in an open fishing boat, but I wonder about what if the operator is fishing with a pole while under way. I question the value in