Quote Originally Posted by sandm View Post
got inspected last weekend and they never looked for it, nor is it on the checklist the watercops here are using. I can't find any reference in any of the manuals here in idaho.

all I see it as is a lanyard hanging out of the way next to the drivers seat. I really can't imagine that there are many that attach it to themselves as the driver, but I may be wrong. if something happens, grabbing that thing would probably be the last thing I would ever think to use.
It looks like the only lanyard law that you have in Idaho is for PWCs. I did a search on my state and this is what I found:

"Vessels less than 24 feet with an open cockpit and powered by an engine greater than 50 horsepower, must be equipped with a lanyard-type ignition safety switch. This lanyard must be attached to the operator and the ignition switch while the boat is in operation."

If you do a google search for "Boat lanyard law Alabama" or "Boat Lanyard law Idaho" it takes you to a summary website for the laws of each state so just insert you state in the search and check you local laws.

you will see the following results returned:

http://www.boatus.org/onlinecourse/statelaws/Idaho.html

http://www.boatus.org/onlinecourse/s...s/Alabama.html