Why do boats have "dead mans throttle"?
 

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On Jun 25, 11:28 am, "Jim" wrote:
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On Jun 25, 10:57 am, "Jim" wrote:





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On Jun 25, 10:32 am, "Jim" wrote:

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On Jun 25, 12:56 am, wrote:

On Fri, 20 Jun 2008 08:38:04 -0700 (PDT),
wrote:
Because trains don't jounce up and down like boats. On anything
other
that a calm lake, the overworked accelerator pump would double
the
amount of gas used per mile.

--

Grady-White Gulfstream, out of Oak Island, NC.

Homepagehttp://pamandgene.idleplay.net/

Rec.boats at Lee Yeaton's
Bayguidehttp://www.thebayguide.com/rec.boats

I never thought about it, but whenever I've had the chance to use a
hotfoot setup, it was indeed just like that.

All the guys I know with the hot foot throttle (bass boats) will
never
have a bounce problem because it is either idling or smashed hard on
the deck.

I was not suggesting a foot pedal, what I am suggesting is a return
spring so if you turn or walk away, fall, etc, the boat stops.... I
know you open ocean guys might have issues with it, but the normal
lake or river boater might be better to get used to looking forward
and actually driving the boat.

The kill lanyard serves that purpose but if you absolutely want the
throttle
to return to idle, loosen the friction adjustment on the throttle and,
if
necessary install a heavier throttle return spring. The boat will
continue
to move at idle speed. Either option could result in unintended
consequences.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Sure, the lanyard is great but it should be a last ditch safety
feature in case the driver gets thrown out of the boat or onto the
deck. Rmember, once the lanyard is pulled, you have in most cases no
control of the boat at all. What I mean, and we have all done it, is
tying off a rig, or turning around to talk while at the helm, for a
much longer period than you would in a car. I would almost bet that
most boat collisions, one or more of the captains had the dead mans
throttle set at speed and never saw the other boat coming.. My point
is, it is easier to "not drive" with a dead mans throttle, especially
in a boat...

I guess I'm losing something in translation. How would you define "dead
man's throttle"?- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

You can take your hand off of the throttle and it does not return to
idle. No return spring.

That is the way every one I've seen works. It is not a dead man's
throttle.
There is a return spring on the throttle plate but it overpowered by the
friction device in the helm throttle control. A true dead man's throttle
as
used in a locomotive will stop the train if the engineer lets go of it.-
Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Well, where I come from a dead mans throttle is one that will keep the
scooter going even if you are dead!? No return what so ever, you can
take your hand off the throttle at 90, adjust your girlfriends, um,
whatever, and when you come back to the throttle, you are still doing
90. With most boats, you can take your hand off the throttle, and the
boat won't slow down. Even with my lanyard, I can move almost 5 feet
from the helm before it kicks... Maybe that is not so cool??

That's handy on a sailboat outboard.
You just set your throttle and sit back with the tiller in your hand.
This holding onto a tiller arm might get tiresome. I have already bought an
extender so I don't have to sit sideways.
Trouble is...my body may be in the way when I have to pull hard to starboard
when taking a sharp tack to port.
You said you didn't especially like your side console....why?

Why do boats have "dead mans throttle"?
 

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On Wed, 25 Jun 2008 11:28:41 -0400, "Jim" wrote:

A true dead man's throttle as
used in a locomotive will stop the train if the engineer lets go of it.

I had the opportunity to drive a diesel electric and there was no dead
man's throttle on it, only a handle that you moved to change speed,
with no return spring. I suspect that feature went away with the end
of steam ... or the decline of the union

This one
http://www.semgulf.com/578.JPG



Yikes... so now if the engineer dies, gets drunk & falls asleep etc, the
train just rockets along until the end of the line.

Why do boats have "dead mans throttle"?
 

wrote in message
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On Wed, 25 Jun 2008 11:28:41 -0400, "Jim" wrote:

A true dead man's throttle as
used in a locomotive will stop the train if the engineer lets go of it.

I had the opportunity to drive a diesel electric and there was no dead
man's throttle on it, only a handle that you moved to change speed,
with no return spring. I suspect that feature went away with the end
of steam ... or the decline of the union

This one
http://www.semgulf.com/578.JPG

Boy! That's every kid's dream. Was there any way to stop the train, in an
emergency, if the engineer couldn't?

Why do boats have "dead mans throttle"?
 

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snip..
We had a very close family friend who was the
conductor on the train and he got my 8 year old daughter and me in the
engine. We both got to "drive" although we were always under direct
supervision of the engineer.



Cool. That's something I'd love to do.

Why do boats have "dead mans throttle"?
 

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On Thu, 26 Jun 2008 14:30:41 -0300, "Don White"
wrote:


wrote in message
. ..
On Wed, 25 Jun 2008 11:28:41 -0400, "Jim" wrote:

A true dead man's throttle as
used in a locomotive will stop the train if the engineer lets go of it.

I had the opportunity to drive a diesel electric and there was no dead
man's throttle on it, only a handle that you moved to change speed,
with no return spring. I suspect that feature went away with the end
of steam ... or the decline of the union

This one
http://www.semgulf.com/578.JPG



Yikes... so now if the engineer dies, gets drunk & falls asleep etc, the
train just rockets along until the end of the line.


This thing might creep back to "stop" but it sure wasn't a snap back
like you have in a car. The pressure to hold it at speed was
negligable. BTW "rocketing" may be too strong a term. The speed limit
on this line is 8-15 MPH depending on where you are (Ft Myers to
Bonita Springs). We had a very close family friend who was the
conductor on the train and he got my 8 year old daughter and me in the
engine. We both got to "drive" although we were always under direct
supervision of the engineer.

The modern large locomotives all have deadmen switches. You have to move
the thottle once in a while or a buzzer goes off that you have to reset. If
you do not reset the buzzer the train slows down. Checks to make sure the
engineer has not fallen asleep. Friends former husband is a train driver.