Powerboating

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- Iraq said it has decided to sell Saddam Hussein's luxury yacht after winning a legal dispute over its ownership. The former dictator's 269-foot superyacht is fitted with swimming pools, salons, a secret passage and a rocket launching system. READ MORE

The New York Times--To prevent a boat from careening out of control when its operator becomes incapacitated or falls overboard, many power vessels have engine kill switches connected to a lanyard. The lanyard is supposed to be worn by the operator, but because the line can be a nuisance, it is often not worn.

That provided a market opportunity for Anthony Viggiano, a Connecticut boating enthusiast, who created the first wireless lanyard and kill switch combination.

Autotether (www.autotether.com) uses two units: one connected to the kill switch by its own lanyard and a smaller one worn by the boat’s operator. When a person falls overboard, the water prevents the two units from communicating, and the lanyard is pulled, shutting down the motor. Passengers can wear similar units that sound an alarm to alert the operator that someone has fallen into the water.

The Autotether ($295, including two sensors; $69 for each additional sensor) can be worn even by dogs on shore; if the animal strays beyond the device’s 50-foot operating range, the alarm will sound. ERIC A. TAUB

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