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Post by hookedup on Jan 11, 2020 16:52:40 GMT -5
Decided to install my Christmas present today. It was 72 degrees, partly sunny, but with a 20knot wind and 4 foot steep waves so I didn't get out on the water, except to test the MOB. Let me tell you it's never as simple as it seems it should be.
I tried to figure out where to place the MOB. After trying to find a place that would allow the antenna to remain fairly straight I ended up placing it near the console storage door opening. No where else seemed to address the antenna issue and the ability to remove the connector going to the MOB to allow for bypassing the MOB if necessary. Normal gosh awful problem in wiring up the 12vdc and ground wires with buss bars way too small. On a 245DC getting to the shut off wire requires removing the speaker and reaching up to the find the wire going to the the shut off. I got that okay, but I never figured out where the wires actually went. After much frustration trying to find the destination, it appears (I couldn't see it, just could feel it) that it goes to a 12-16 wire connector. Not sure where after that. Gave up, cut the wire near the speaker opening and pulled it into the console storage area and wired it into the MOB. Good news is it works! Put the sensor in a couple of inches of water right behind the boat and the engine cut off almost immediately. Now I can walk around the boat while it's running on autopilot and if for some reason I end up in the water the engine will cut off. No more having to be tethered to the kill switch to be safe.
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Post by finatic on Jan 12, 2020 19:06:30 GMT -5
I guess you do a lot of fishing alone. For that reason it seems like a great item.
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Post by hookedup on Jan 12, 2020 19:17:39 GMT -5
Being retired and most of my friends and neighbors still work - so yes. I get them out on weekends, but weekdays seems I'm limited to grandkids. Since they wouldn't know what to do if I left the boat, the MOB is for them too.
I'm teaching them, but right now I know they'd panic before they remembered what to do, and by then I'd be a speck in the distance.
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Post by finatic on Jan 13, 2020 8:35:03 GMT -5
Never can be safe enough while on the water. Good deal.
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Post by abouttime2fish on Jan 13, 2020 13:41:28 GMT -5
This is on my to do list also. Got distracted by trim tab repairs. But my auto tether is dead and not going that direction again. ACR has a new similar product but seems to be significantly more expensive.
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Post by hookedup on Jan 13, 2020 19:03:42 GMT -5
From what I can find, neither of the two systems they have cut off the engine. One will alarm a phone if you get too far away alerting other people on the boat. The other is like a PLB, but alerts nearby boats via AIS when you go overboard. The "ACR OLAS GUARDIAN (Coming in September) - 12V Engine Kill Switch and Alarm" isn't available yet.
Maybe I missed it, but I couldn't find an ACR system similar to Fell Marine's MOB.
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Post by abouttime2fish on Jan 13, 2020 20:16:43 GMT -5
The guardian is it, and you are right it is not yet available. Was supposed to come out last fall, now this month, who knows.
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Post by abouttime2fish on Jan 20, 2020 18:16:48 GMT -5
Looks like it’s released now, at least there is a price on their website. $250 for base unit, another $280 for a 4 pack of the wrist bands. A little more expensive than the Fells unit but not ridiculously so.
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Post by mikey111k on Feb 5, 2020 10:37:21 GMT -5
Nice job. I have been threatening to get one of these for a while. Going to have to look into the ACR one and see which one i like better.
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Post by abouttime2fish on Feb 5, 2020 11:54:10 GMT -5
Looking at the ACR, but it has not solved the problem of twin Yamahas. Fell has a multi engine harness. ACR just tells you that you need some sort of diode splitter, good luck, talk to your engine guy. I’ve emailed ACR 2-3 times but have not gotten a response.
The design of the ACR I think will make installation easier as far as room in the console. But without a wiring solution I’m not bold enough to try to figure it out.
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Post by popeye on Feb 20, 2020 15:03:29 GMT -5
I still have to hook mine up. But I'm curious, how long does the fob need to be dunked? I often reach over the rail to tail a fish. I don't want the boat stopping on me just for that.
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Post by hookedup on Feb 20, 2020 21:41:43 GMT -5
It was just seconds before it shut the motor off. I usually only put my hand in the water to release fish and then just a little. I didn't test it, but it says 4 inches deep. Getting it wet isn't supposed to trigger the shut off, but immersion of several inches (enough to block the signal).
You could also put it on a lanyard. They sell one with a lanyard.
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Post by abouttime2fish on Apr 27, 2021 19:42:19 GMT -5
Reviving this thread.....
How is the Fell Marine MOB working for you?
I just received the ACR version today, they finally put out a multi engine connector. Looks like a total is 8 electrical connections to make and a box to mount. I think I can remove the unused 12v power outlet, drop the control button right in that hole, and use the power that was already there and is even on a breaker.
Going to be a couple weeks before I can get to it, I’ll try to remember to take pics as I go.
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Post by hookedup on Apr 27, 2021 20:03:43 GMT -5
I'm fairly happy with it. It has cut off the motor a couple of times when I accidentally hit the 'xband' against something while driving or fishing. Otherwise it's worked great. It does give me some piece of mind when I hang off the back of the boat bringing in a fish.
Let me know how the ACR works out.
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Post by abouttime2fish on May 6, 2021 19:40:44 GMT -5
Got it all installed today. I’d say it took me about 3 hours at a ‘I have nothing else to do today’ pace.
so I purchased the guardian, plus another 4 pack of fob’s, and a multi engine connector.
Had to buy a few extra bits and pieces.
And a pic of tools used.
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