1st MateMarine Product

I bought and installed the 1st mate wireless kill switch kit a few months ago. Initially it worked well, but eventually the Key fob battery needed to be replaced. The issue is that the battery cover is so tight that you can't get it off without destroying it. It is supposed to twist off with a coin but there is no way that will work. Try as you might, you can't get it off and the soft plastic just strips away. This seems like a minor issue, so I contacted the manufacturer (Jayson at product support) who promised to send me a new battery cover. Repeated follow up emails were ignored. I also tried to buy a new captains key fob for another $100. However, they are on backorder everywhere. So, I really needed to use the boat even with the low battery in the FOB. I found out that when the key fob battery gets below 10% the system occasionally loses Bluetooth connection, assumes you're overboard and shuts off the engine. This happened twice while I was in a busy shipping channel. I eventually made it back to the dock. So now if I want to use the boat, my only choice is to remove the system. The system is a good idea, but small manufacturing tolerances in the key fob cause problems, the customer support is no help, and failure of the system while underway will leave you stranded. I would look for a different solution.

As the previous user mentioned about the battery is exactly what happened to me while running. The engine instantly shut off while doing 18 knots. Not fun. And even though I change the battery often just to avoid this problem again, it still does it. Now more than ever. I had to disconnect it and will not use it again even though I fish alone. If this thing went belly when I was in a bad situation it would be life threatening. Will not take that chance again.