INFORMATIVE NEWS and HIGHLIGHTS

U.S. Coast Guard announces new law requiring use of engine cut-off switches 
by  CWO KURT FREDRICKSON  ON  MARCH 17, 2021    

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"Operators of recreational vessels less than 26 feet in length will be required to use an engine cut-off switch (ECOS) and associated ECOS link (ECOSL) as of April 1, 2021, as the U.S. Coast Guard implements a law passed by Congress.
 
The ECOS and ECOSL prevent runaway vessels and the threats they pose. The ECOSL attaches the vessel operator to a switch that shuts off the engine if the operator is displaced from the helm. The ECOSL is usually a lanyard-style cord that attaches to an ECOS either in close proximity to the helm or on the outboard motor itself if the vessel is operated by a tiller. When enough tension is applied, the ECOSL disengages from the ECOS and the motor is automatically shut down. Wireless ECOS have recently been developed and are also approved for use. These devices use an electronic “fob” that is carried by the operator and senses when it is submerged in water, activating the ECOS and turning the engine off. Wireless devices are available on the aftermarket and are beginning to become available as manufacturer-installed options.
 
Each year, the Coast Guard receives reports of recreational vessel operators who fall off or are suddenly and unexpectedly thrown out of their boat. These events have led to injuries and deaths. During these incidents the boat continues to operate with no one in control of the vessel, leaving the operator stranded in the water as the boat continues on course, or the boat begins to circle the person in the water eventually striking them, often with the propeller. These dangerous runaway vessel situations put the ejected operator, other users of the waterway, marine law enforcement officers, and other first responders in serious danger.
 
Section 503 of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018 required manufacturers of covered recreational vessels (less than 26 feet in length, with an engine capable of 115 lbs. or more of static thrust) to equip the vessel with an ECOS installed as of December 2019. Owners of recreational vessels produced after December 2019 are required to maintain the ECOS on their vessel in a serviceable condition. It is recommended that recreational vessel owners regularly check their existing ECOS system to ensure it works properly, following manufacturer’s instructions.
 
Section 8316 of the Elijah E. Cummings Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2020 requires individuals operating covered recreational vessels (less than 26 feet in length, with an engine capable of 115 lbs. or more of static thrust, which equates to about 3 horsepower or more) to use ECOS “links” while operating on plane or above displacement speed. Using the ECOSL is not required when the main helm is installed within an enclosed cabin. Common situations where ECOSL use would not be required include docking/trailering, trolling, and operating in no-wake zones.  
 
Seven states currently have ECOS use laws for recreational vessels, and 44 states have ECOS use laws for personal watercraft (PWC).
 
Boaters are encouraged to check the U.S. Coast Guard website for additional information on this new use requirement and other safety regulations and recommendations:  https://uscgboating.org/recreational-boaters/engine-cut-off-switch-faq.php"
 
This blog is not a replacement or substitute for the formal posting of regulations and updates or existing processes for receiving formal feedback of the same. Links provided on this blog will direct the reader to official publications, such as the Federal Register, Homeport and the Code of Federal Regulations. These publications remain the official source for regulatory information published by the Coast Guard.

Coast Guard Introduces Email Subscription Service for Mariner Notices
 
The U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Center (NAVCEN) has completed its Maritime Safety Information (MSI)
upgrade in the Pacific Northwest and now offer Broadcast Notice to Mariners (BNM) via email in addition
to radio broadcasts.
The online subscription service is a supplement to the standard BNM broadcasts over VHF-radio that previously were the only way to receive this vital navigational information. Mariners can now use this new service to plan for underway periods and receive updates to navigational hazards in near real-time without having to wait on scheduled VHF-radio broadcasts.
Mariners who operate in Oregon and Washington, including the Columbia and Snake River systems should visit the NAVCEN website and subscribe for email delivery of BNMs at: https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=feeds
BNMs are organized by Coast Guard Sector and mariners can subscribe to one, two, or all three Sectors within the 13th District area:
Sector North Bend – Southern and central Oregon coast and rivers
Sector Columbia River – Northern Oregon coast, southern and central Washington coast, Columbia, Snake, and Willamette Rivers
Sector Puget Sound – Northern Washington coast, Strait of Juan de Fuca, San Juan Islands and neighboring straits, Puget Sound, and Lake Washington

Additionally, NAVCEN has developed an online BNM archive that is searchable and available to the public. BNMs can be viewed and downloaded from this database on the NAVCEN website at: https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/bnmmessages/DistrictSearchV1.php?d=13&i=3.
For any questions regarding these new services in the 13th District, please contact the office of Waterways Management at (206) 220-7280 or D13-SMB-D13-LNM@uscg.mil

Safety Tips for Small Propane Bottles
Drew Frye Published: October 26, 2020
Putting a lid on portable propane bottles protects the threads and can help reduce the risk of accidental fire.
We’ve reported on the need for proper propane installation, including vented lockers and leak detectors (“Some Propane Dos and Don’ts,” PS February 2014), but we’ve not taken a close look at small bottles. All it takes is about two ounces on the average size boat to cause an explosion, so these bottles deserve careful attention.
Propane is about 50 percent heavier than air, so it tends to settle to the lowest reaches of the boat. If the leak is on the countertop and there is some ventilation, most of the gas will mix with ambient air and leave the cabin before it gets chance to settle. If you have bottles larger than 1 pound (typical barbecue bottles are 20 pounds) install a leak detection system with sensors at a low point in the cabin, linked to a fail-safe solenoid located at the tank. Continue reading here
Putting a lid on portable propane bottles protects the threads and can help reduce the risk of accidental fire.
We’ve reported on the need for proper propane installation, including vented lockers and leak detectors (“Some Propane Dos and Don’ts,” PS February 2014), but we’ve not taken a close look at small bottles. All it takes is about two ounces on the average size boat to cause an explosion, so these bottles deserve careful attention.
Propane is about 50 percent heavier than air, so it tends to settle to the lowest reaches of the boat. If the leak is on the countertop and there is some ventilation, most of the gas will mix with ambient air and leave the cabin before it gets chance to settle. If you have bottles larger than 1 pound (typical barbecue bottles are 20 pounds) install a leak detection system with sensors at a low point in the cabin, linked to a fail-safe solenoid located at the tank.
Do not store cylinders—even small bottles—below decks or in lockers that vent below decks. Do not store small bottles in the propane locker; that space is only for the bottles that are installed there and nothing else. If you’re lucky, the boat has a vented locker for portable gasoline tanks. Otherwise, keep the bottles on deck, typically in tubes (see “Pint-sized Propane Locker,” Practical Sailor, June, 2006). Do not store them attached the appliance below decks.
Do not store propane cylinders in your house or garage. The local fire code generally limits you to two 1-pound bottles in the house, attached garage, or detached garage. Larger bottles are not permitted, including the grill parked in the garage in front of your car. It should be outside, either under a cover or in an open-sided shed. Do not store over 120F; on-deck storage containers should be white. Don’t keep cylinders in your car. 
Do not refill disposable propane cylinders. Commercial refilling or transport across state lines carries a $500,000 fine and/five years in prison. If that doesn’t concern you, consider the consequences—burning to death, which sadly has happened.
There are refilling systems, but small bottles do not have an over-fill prevention device, making them vulnerable to over pressurization in the summer heat. You’ll find instructions online, but given that some fail on the first fill, it’s just a really bad idea to try refilling. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2_GhyAw3vM
Caps
We like protecting the threads with brass screw-on storage caps. Or rather, we learned this habit after our field failures. If lightly lubricated, they keep moisture out of the valve area, prevent corrosion of the cylinder threads and valve, and reduce the probability of a valve leak. Will they contain a leak? Probably. Securely tightened, with a good gasket, they will almost certainly slow the leak sufficiently that it will dissipate long before anything bad can happen. Many brands are available at some hardware stores, big box stores, and several online retail sites for about $2 a piece.
Drew Frye, Practical Sailor’s technical editor, has used his background in chemistry and engineering to help guide Practical Sailor toward some of the most important topics covered during the past 10 years. His in-depth reporting on everything from anchors to safety tethers to fuel additives have netted multiple awards from Boating Writers International. With more than three decades of experience as a refinery engineer and a sailor, he has a knack for discovering money-saving “home-brew” products or “hacks” that make boating affordable for almost anyone. He has conducted dozens of tests for Practical Sailor and published over 200 articles on sailing equipment. His rigorous testing has prompted the improvement and introduction of several marine products that might not exist without his input. His book “Rigging Modern Anchors” has won wide praise for introducing the use of modern materials and novel techniques to solve an array of anchoring challenges.  download PDF for future reference