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Cottage Life

Transport Canada proposes making engine cut-off switches mandatory in recreational boats

Photo by BORIS LUKIANOV/Shutterstock

Transport Canada is asking the public to weigh in on whether it should make the installation and use of an engine cut-off switch mandatory on personal watercraft. The proposed changes would require manufacturers to install engine cut-off switches in boats that are less than eight metres in length, have a 3-hp motor or more, and have an open helm station (rather than an enclosed cabin). Through the feedback process, the government agency will also be looking at making it mandatory for boat operators to link themselves to the engine cut-off switch when using their vessel.

An engine cut-off switch links the boat’s operator to the vessel via a c-shaped clip and bungee cable. The clip attaches to a button near the boat’s controls, usually close to the ignition switch. The other end of the cable attaches to the operator through a hook-clip or wristband. If the operator is dislodged from the boat and the clip detaches, the motor will shut off.

“This is a safety feature that protects operators from the spinning propeller. The switch also stops the vessel from moving through the water without an operator controlling it,” Transport Canada said in a statement.

Engine cut-off switches have been required in the U.S. for the last few years. In 2019, the U.S. government mandated manufacturers to install engine cut-off switches in all recreational vessels. And in 2021, the U.S. Coast Guard introduced a new law requiring operators of boats less than eight metres in length to link themselves to the engine cut-off switch when the boat’s in use.

“It’s a no-brainer,” says Jim Wielgosz, executive director of the National Marine Manufacturers Association Canada (NMMA). “It harmonizes North American regulations that are already in place in the States, and it instantly improves boater safety.”

The NMMA along with several other marine industry associations has been advocating for engine cut-off switches since 2017.  While Wielgosz still plans to get input from Canadian boat manufacturers on the potential change, he doubts there will be much resistance.

“Canadian manufacturers will follow the lead of the States. It’s the same supply chain in terms of components and the same standards that we have to follow in terms of boat certification,” he says.

There’s also the fact that approximately 85 per cent of the boats sold in Canada are manufactured in the U.S., meaning they already have the engine cut-off switch installed.

You can submit your feedback on engine cut-off switches here until May 19.

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Cottage Life

Changes may be coming to address noise emissions across Canada

Photo by freevideophotoagency.

We love boating—but we know noisy boats can be disruptive to both cottagers and aquatic life. While current legislation mandates all power-driven boats to have a muffler, noise emissions have no specific performance limits. Transport Canada is proposing five policy options to avoid unnecessary noise disturbances. 

What is Transport Canada proposing?

The first policy option will make no changes to existing regulations, and the second will modernize existing regulations. The third option introduces performance measures for manufacturers, while another introduces performance measures for boaters. 

The last option is the most comprehensive, introducing new regulations for both manufacturers and boaters. According to Transport Canada, this policy option would ensure that new and existing boats don’t exceed noise emission limits, will allow police to use a tool to measure decibel limits, and will require operators to modify their boats to meet new standards.

So many options. What do the people want? 

Rob Bosomworth, chair of the Decibel Coalition, is passionate about keeping Canada’s lakes quiet and safe. He supports policy option five. “We need to put decibel limits on both manufacturers and operators to regulate manufacturing importers and to ensure all boats are compliant,” says Bosomworth. “This would not be an overly difficult job for Transport Canada because they already have safety standards and environmental measures for boat manufacturers.” 

Bosomworth also believes that option five would address the larger part of noise emission issues: boaters who do not comply with current regulations. “By increasing performance measures for operators, we manage the largest portion of the problem,” he says. “This would address the outliers whose boats have no mufflers and make an extreme amount of noise.”

The fifth policy proposal would make waves in the movement, not accomplished by previous strategies. For example, municipalities have tried passing by-laws but have been unsuccessful because they do not have jurisdiction. There has also been an increase in public support. Safe Quiet Lakes’ 2021 survey, consisting of almost 6,000 participants, indicated a strong correlation between enjoyment on the lake and noise limits. 

The Decibel Coalition is in frequent talks with Transport Canada and are encouraging supporters to write to their MPs. 

Is option five best for everyone? Let’s dive in further. 

Sara Anghel, president of National Marine Manufacturers Association of Canada (NMMA), supports policy option four. According to Anghel, it would support “building to the standard that would meet the limits that Transport Canada may wish to impose,” while meeting the best interests of all stakeholders. 

The association is concerned that introducing stricter performance measures for manufacturers will make it more difficult for people to enjoy boating. “As an industry, we support people getting into boating and believe that of all the critical priorities that the government should be addressing, boat noise is not at the top of the list,” she says. ”There are more pressing issues, such as improving boating safety, modernizing the pleasure craft licensing system, and supporting the boating community through opportunities to expand recreational boating.” 

While the NMMA doesn’t believe that noise is of top priority, Anghel acknowledges that, “there’s a small number of boaters that pose a nuisance on the Canadian waterways, and we don’t want to promote that kind of boating.” Anghel says the larger issue resides with boaters who use outdated engines or add aftermarket modifications. 

How about the ones who have to enforce the policy? What do they have to say?

The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) support option four and five, with concerns rooted in officer and boater safety. According to Sergeant Dave Moffatt, the provincial marine coordinator of the Highway Safety Division under the OPP, these options would allow police to use an instrument to determine decibel limits, similar to the one used when assessing impaired driving. 

Currently, it can be difficult for officers to determine decibel noises or check if there is a muffler present. “This instrument would give us a quantitative result like a pass or fail,” says Sergeant Moffatt. “This will also assess noise emissions for boats that have a muffler and comply with current regulation, but are still loud.” 

Sergeant Moffatt says that noise emission issues are limited to small pockets of the country, yet the OPP receives many complaints about loud boats. “Everyone deserves the right to enjoy the water,” says Sergeant Moffatt. 

Transport Canada is currently analyzing the comments received through public consultation. They will provide updates during the next meeting of the Canadian Marine Advisory Council in fall 2022. 

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Cottage Life

What can the colour of your outboard engine smoke tell you?

Photo by Lillian Tveit / Shutterstock

If your outboard engine smoke is not its usual colour, it may signal a problem. Reach out to your local mechanic to diagnose the issue.

White smoke may mean water or vapor. “Usually, white smoke is a sign that the engine is running hot,” says Kevin Dault, of Maple Leaf Marinas. If the engine isn’t getting enough water for cooling, the remaining water will evaporate, producing a white colour. It could also indicate a water leak in the cylinder head or gasket.

Blue smoke is a result of burning oil. This is normal in older two-stroke engines that run on a fuel-oil mixture, but in newer engines “this could be a sign that the engine was overfilled with oil or that the engine is just getting worn out,” says Dault.

Black smoke can be a sign of overfuelling or a “rich” fuel-air ratio. The engine is designed to burn a specific mix of fuel and air and too much fuel can cause the engine to run rough and produce black smoke. According to Dault, there are many possible causes, including a stuck-open fuel injector, a malfunctioning fuel pressure regulator, or a defective carburetor float.

This was originally published part of the article, “Secrets of the Outboard Whisperers,” in the Mar/Apr 2022 issue of Cottage Life.

Read more: Outboard engine trouble? Advice from the experts

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Cottage Life

Cottage Q&A: Best paint for an aluminum boat

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I want to paint the bottom of my aluminum boat. The original paint is chipping off. I was going to use a spray-paint primer, but I’m concerned about the environment. Is there another approach? And after the colour, do I need a clear topcoat?—Mel David, via email

While nobody’s going to argue that spray paint is good for the environment—it does release volatile organic compounds—it’s at least not as bad as it used to be. Today’s spray paints no longer contain chlorofluorocarbon propellants. (Countries began banning those in 1978.)

A spray-paint primer is convenient, but if you don’t want to use one, don’t. Brad Schmidt, a specialist with the Yacht Division of AkzoNobel, suggests a thinned-down epoxy primer instead. You can apply it with a brush or a roller; a thinner formula “will allow the primer to get into all the nooks and crannies” of the boat. Follow with a multi-purpose epoxy primer before you put on your colour; use a marine-grade polyurethane paint.

None of our experts thought that you’ll need a clear coat overtop. But everyone emphasized—repeatedly—how important prep is going to be. “Painting aluminum is always tricky,” says Schmidt. “It’s a different beast.”

Five painting tips that our experts swear by

Sanding properly is key—you need to remove every bit of that old, chipping paint. “Everything needs to be sanded down,” says Ryan Mack, the owner of Northern Lakes Boat Works in Gravenhurst, Ont. “You can’t bond to bad paint.” 

Shop around for the right products first. Plenty of companies have coatings for marine applications, says Gary Wedemeyer, a product specialist with the Automotive/Marine Aftermarket Division of 3M. It’s easy to find info on application procedures on their websites, so you can investigate before you buy. “I have personally applied a high-quality marine-grade exterior enamel to the bottom of a 12-foot aluminum boat using a brush and roller,” says Wedemeyer. “I cleaned and scuffed the surface according to the paint company’s recommendations, and I didn’t topcoat it.” A few years later? His tinny is still looking great.

Happy painting! Or, uh, cleaning, cleaning again; sanding, more sanding; priming a bunch…then painting. 

This article was originally published in the October 2021 issue of Cottage Life magazine.

Got a question for Cottage Q&A? Send it to answers@cottagelife.com.

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Cottage Life

Cottage Q&A: Buying boat insurance

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I need to insure my powerboat, and my current company will not insure craft over 55 hp. Are there companies that will do this?—Mark Wakefield, Apsley, Ont.

Yes. Some seasonal-home insurers offer boat policies as a separate product. And some companies are marine specialists and insure nothing but boats and PWCs. 

It’s normal for home or seasonal dwelling policies to have limitations with respect to watercraft, says Bev Mitchell, a special risks underwriter with Johnston Meier Insurance Agencies Group in Maple Ridge, B.C. Length and horsepower restrictions are very common. “It makes sense if you think about it,” says Mitchell. “You’re more likely to injure a third party if you run into them in the water with a motorized boat than if you run into them with a kayak.”   

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“A lot of companies will say, ‘No, we’re not going to touch that,’ ” says Jared Chartrand of Northstar Marine Insurance in Barrie, Ont. “They’ll say, ‘We’d be doing you a disservice.’ ” But for a company that deals in boats, it should be no problem. Fifty-five horsepower “is not a lot of horsepower,” says Chartrand. “We’ve insured boats that are 1,000 hp.” 

  Even if you have only small, motorized boats that fall under your cottage policy, it may be worth paying for a stand-alone marine policy—you’ll get more robust coverage. “The primary reason that you take out a policy to cover your cottage is to cover the building and its contents,” says Mitchell. “Not to insure your boat.”

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This article was originally published in the October 2018 issue of Cottage Life magazine.

Got a question for Cottage Q&A? Send it to answers@cottagelife.com.