allowing time to gather lines or pull in fenders. Then, in further 10 second intervals the alarm becomes increasingly louder to ensure the pilot is reminded to clip on. Lifecord also features orange flashing LEDs that operate simultaneously with the alarm.
A fundamental part of the initial design brief was to ensure Lifecord detected whether it was being worn. Solving this was critical to the success of the product. If it’s connected to the kill switch and left dangling from it, even if it’s looped back on itself rather than actually worn, it continues to alarm. There is a new type of tension sensor built in to the unique key and clasp connector, designed specifically for this product. Rather than using exposed metallic springs the designers employed repelling magnets and switches, discretely encapsulated within the plastic mould and hidden from exposure to the harsh elements of a marine environment. The magnets repel each other and the key is held in a position within the clasp that causes the audible and visual alarm to sound should it not be tensioned by wearing round the pilot’s leg. Clipping on is straightforward, its ergonomic design making it easy to handle even when wearing gloves. It’s extremely comfortable to use with the added advantage of being visible to helm and crew alike.
Lifecord is intended to be worn primarily round the pilot’s leg, however it also benefits from a secondary option for pilot connection using its separate lifejacket key, designed to be permanently attached to the pilot’s lifejacket should this be the pilot’s preferred method of clipping on, often seen when used by commercial operators. The lifejacket key has a shorter shaft and reversed magnets, there being no requirement to sense tension. The moment the key enters the clasp it’s attracted rather than repelled, holding it neatly at the end of the clasp where the magnetic fields provide a virtual hinge, optimising freedom of movement and silencing the alarm.
Lifecord has adaptable heads at the vessel end, designed to accommodate virtually every engine type, so whatever boat it’s being used with, as long as it has a kill switch, Lifecord should fit it without any modification whatsoever to the vessel itself, it simply replaces the existing kill cord. There are seven clip heads included in the packaging, once fitted the clip head is designed to remain permanently locked in however there is a clip head extraction tool provided should the boat user at some point change their engine. We recommend that a clip head is fitted only once and that should it be replaced then the used one be discarded and a replacement sought from our authorised distributor to keep the original set of seven complete.
Lifecord also offers other improvements over existing kill cords and helps to solve further issues raised recently in a survey of current kill cords and kill switches carried out by the RYA. The survey found that 30% of those polled left their kill cords permanently attached to the vessel’s kill switch. This can cause ultra violet damage and other deterioration to the cord itself as it remains exposed to the elements for long periods when the boat is not in use. Also, this habit can damage or weaken the spring in the vessel’s kill switch, making it unreliable. Lifecord assists in
52 | The Report • June 2018 • Issue 84
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