One of the hot new products this year is the Autotether, a wireless lanyard that keeps track of up to four people on board – including children and pets. The way it works is that the Autotether clips into the ignition switch and is connected via a short wire to a receiving unit mounted on your boat's dashboard with removable adhesive strips. The Autotether transmits radio signals between the receiver and the sensors worn by you and your passengers. If someone falls overboard, the signal between the receiver and the transmitter is terminated, the engine shuts down and an alarm is sounded.

What the Autotether offers is a greater freedom of movement than the old wired kill switches with fewer hassles. There are no wires to worry about. Better yet, the Autotether protects multiple people, not just the operator. The system is powered by AAA batteries, which provide up to 100 hours of operation. For added safety, an indicator light on the transmitter alerts you when the batteries are getting low.

An Autotether kit includes an ignition switch clip, a transmitter, two personal sensors and AAA batteries. You have the option of purchasing two additional sensors.

- Linda Hoff