OLAS Guardian wireless engine kill switch stops the boat in seconds

by Liz Rushall 21 Nov 2019 06:00 PST

OLAS Guardian on board © Exposure Lights

OLAS Guardian from Exposure OLAS is a new wireless engine kill switch. Acting as a virtual 'kill cord' it will stop the engine within two seconds of a person going overboard.

For RIB and powerboat drivers OLAS Guardian means their boat will stop in an instant should the skipper, or a crew member, get separated from the boat reducing the chances of a serious accident especially from an unmanned or uncontrolled powerboat.

OLAS Guardian works by wirelessly logging up to 15 crew members to your engines kill switch via small, wearable transmitters, the OLAS wrist Tags or OLAS Float-On light.

If the transmitter is submerged overboard, or is separated by distance, it instantly breaks the connection, cuts the engine and triggers an inbuilt 85 decibel alarm and, if connected, an alarm on your mobile phone too.

OLAS Guardian fitted inside a console - photo © Exposure Lights

The engine can be restarted after five seconds, and a rescue can be performed.

Whether boat drivers have stopped their boat to lay racing marks, take photos, go fishing or tow dinghies, they can move freely about the boat without constantly needing to remember to disconnect and reconnect the physical wire cord.

Jonny Boys, MD of Ballistic RIBs comments, "We see the OLAS Guardian as a significant step forwards in improving powerboating safety, in particular for commercial users. Used in the right circumstances it can remove the element of human error which can be so easily made."

Exposure Lights, Product Manager Tom Harrop explains, "For RIB and powerboat drivers worldwide, we all know we should attach our kill cord. Yet, despite the campaigns, people can be easily distracted and even the professionals occasionally forget to reattach it when they have left the helm. OLAS Guardian is a practical tool for everyone on board. As well as being free to move around onboard, if you and any of your passengers who are tagged go overboard the engine will stop in an instant."

OLAS Guardian fitted inside a console - photo © Exposure Lights

OLAS Guardian works using the latest wireless technology to log and track the personal OLAS transmitters. Each time the engine ignition is switched on, OLAS Guardian scans the nearby area for 30 seconds, and automatically connects all working tags within range. The App provides easy monitoring and tracking for each tag, which can be personalised, and displays which tags are connected to the boat.

Should a crew need to nip back ashore or swim in the ocean, the system can be paused using either the Guardian panel mounted button or the OLAS App screen. They are relogged automatically when the pause is released. When crew return to the boat after the engine has been switched off, the skipper can easily check everyone is scanned in within range of the Guardian by checking the App screens or using the built-in sound and visual indicators on the console switch.

If a solo RIB driver goes overboard, the OLAS App can automatically send an SMS message with the location and time of the incident to the driver's emergency number, working with onboard WIFI or a minimum 2G cell network.

OLAS Guardian has two pre-set options, enabling the skipper to choose whether all or some of the crew tags are connected to act as a kill cord, or just trigger the MOB alarm, should someone go overboard giving flexibility as to how the system is used. This means that if someone leaves the boat, whether they run ashore or fall out, depending on the pre-set option either the engine will cut out or just the alarm sounds.

The system is easy to set up simply connecting in parallel to the existing kill switch system, with waterproof connectors and cables. The panel mounted stainless steel control switch fits seamlessly into the steering console, creating a watertight seal through a small 21mm wiring hole. It can be connected to your vessels power supply ensuring it is always working when power is running.

OLAS Guardian switch with the green light showing tags attached - photo © Exposure Lights

OLAS Guardian has been designed to run alongside an existing kill cord and will always operate even if the physical kill cord is not attached to the driver.

OLAS Guardian is supplied with an OLAS Tag, power and kill cord connection wires, a stainless steel control button and a quick start guide.

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