Boat Safety System

Abstract

A safety system for a boat, watercraft or other vehicle includes a kill switch connected to the motor for preventing the motor from running under dangerous circumstances. The system includes at least one proximity sensor operatively connected to the kill switch, so that the motor only runs when the proximity sensor detects a person properly positioned at the captain's console. Other sensors may form an array to communicate with the kill switch, either hard-wired together or wirelessly, upon detection of dangerous situations, including proximity sensors to detect if a swimmer is near the propeller or if the captain is not in position at the helm, gate sensors to detect when gates on the boat are in an open position, and ladder sensors to detect when a ladder is in a down position. The system may also include a plurality of cameras around the periphery of the watercraft for monitoring purposes.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A watercraft safety system comprising:
 a watercraft having a ladder, wherein said ladder may be disposed in an extended position downwardly for ingress and egress, or said ladder may be disposed in a retracted, stowed position;   a sensor for determining whether said ladder is disposed in said extended position or said retracted position;   an alarm device operatively connected to said sensor, wherein said alarm provides a notification that said ladder is disposed in said extended position.   
     
     
         2 . The watercraft safety system set forth in  claim 1 , wherein watercraft includes a kill switch, and wherein said ladder sensor is operatively connected to said kill switch so that upon detection of said ladder being in said retracted position, said kill switch moves to said off position. 
     
     
         3 . The watercraft safety system set forth in  claim 2 , wherein said ladder sensor communicates with said kill switch wirelessly. 
     
     
         4 . The watercraft safety system set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said alarm device emits an audio warning. 
     
     
         5 . The watercraft safety system set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said alarm device displays a visual warning. 
     
     
         6 . The watercraft safety system set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said watercraft further includes a GPS unit and a video display screen; and
 wherein said alarm device is operatively connected to said GPS unit, so that said alarm device is programmed to provide said notification on said video display screen indicating that said ladder is in said extended position when said GPS unit detects that the watercraft is traveling at a predetermined speed.   
     
     
         7 . A watercraft safety system comprising:
 a watercraft having a helm and a video screen;   a plurality of cameras disposed about a periphery of said watercraft, so that at least one said camera is positioned on a bow of said watercraft, at least one said camera is positioned on a port side of said watercraft, at least one said camera is positioned on a starboard side of said watercraft, and at least one said camera is positioned on a stern of said watercraft;   wherein said plurality of cameras are operatively connected to said video screen, so that said video screen displays video feeds from said plurality of said cameras.   
     
     
         8 . The watercraft safety system set forth in  claim 7 , further including a plurality of proximity sensors operatively connected to said plurality of cameras. 
     
     
         9 . The watercraft safety system set forth in  claim 7 , further including a plurality of lights that are operatively connected to said plurality of cameras. 
     
     
         10 . The watercraft safety system set forth in  claim 7 , wherein said plurality of cameras are angularly adjustable. 
     
     
         11 . The watercraft safety system set forth in  claim 7 , wherein said plurality of cameras are attached to a rub rail that extends about a periphery of said watercraft. 
     
     
         12 . The watercraft safety system set forth in  claim 7 , wherein said plurality of cameras are operatively connected to a remote control device, so that said remote control device operates said plurality of cameras remotely. 
     
     
         13 . The watercraft safety system set forth in  claim 12 , wherein said remote control device is selected from the group consisting of a smartphone, a video screen, a tablet or a remote computing device.