Product of the Week- Autotether, great

Product of the Week- Autotether, great - as long as worn!

by Lee Mylchreest on 21 May 2011

Autotether - easy to install and easy to buy online SW

This week's product, the very clever invention Autotether, can give fellow sailors, those at home and parents a great peace of mind to know that your sailor is still sailing and hasn't fallen overboard. However, it has one great drawback - how do you guarantee that your target sailor is wearing the necessary sensor?

With that in mind, it is nevertheless excellent, not only for the solo sailor whose family tends to worry, but also for dinghies on a longer journey, for teenagers allowed to take the tender for a run around the bay, or even for those going fishing from the boat.

It just replaces your old red lanyard © SW

Unlike traditional lanyards that require the operator to be tethered to the boat, the patented Autotether is an easy-to-install, unobtrusive wireless unit. No wiring or tools are required – the system clips to the boat ignition switch and is self-powered with AAA batteries.

A small personal sensor sends radio waves to a receiver connected to a boat’s engine and Autotether shuts off the engine if the boat operator falls into the water.

It also sets off an alarm if passengers on the boat (including children and pets) wearing Autotether sensors fall into the water. The passenger sensors can also shut off the boat’s engine when the red alert button is pushed in the event of a runaway boat.

Some insurance companies offer a discount on boat insurance for boats equipped with an Autotether Wireless Lanyard System, but you would need to discuss this with your own company.

For more information about the Autotether Wireless Lanyard System, visit www.autotether.com. If the product is not available in your local marine store it is certainly available online at www.westmarine.com.

It's easy to purchase online, as the Autotether installation is very simple, whether you're attaching it to a runabout or a dinghy

The equipment 'clips' right to your ignition kill switch, connected via a short, coiled wire to a receiver that is mounted using 3M dual lock strips allowing you to take the unit on and off the boat.

Then all you do - AND IT WON'T WORK WITHOUT THIS STEP - is attach the wireless personal sensor to your lifevest or pocket.
No wiring or tools are needed.
The system is 'self-powered' via inexpensive AAA batteries (supplied) that provide over 100 hours of service.
An indicator light on the receiver 'lights' when it’s time to change the batteries
That simple. That easy. That safe!

There's a variation too. The 'Screamer' Wireless Alarm System works using the same technology but instead of shutting down the engine it insteads triggers the 105 db pulsating alarm to sound. This system does not need a kill switch to work therefore making it portable and versatile for many different applications.