Mooring The Boat; Water Intake Blockage - Mercury 25 Jet 4-Stroke Manual

Avoid injury, death or property damage resulting from collision
due to loss of directional control. Directional control is derived
from the water jet thrust. Caution should be exercised when
maneuvering at higher speeds in areas where debris (weeds,
logs, gravel, etc.) could be picked up into the jet drive. This can
cut off or reduce the water jet thrust, thereby directly affecting
boat directional control. Boat directional control can also be
substantially reduced or lost altogether by a sudden loss of power
such as running out of gas, quickly backing off throttle, turning
off ignition switch, or activating lanyard stop switch. Remember
you ability to take evasive action is dependent on sufficient water
jet thrust to control the boat.
While steering the boat at engine speeds above idle, the boat will
respond quickly; but due to the relatively flat‑bottom hulls and lack
of a gearcase in the water, the boat will tend to skid on turns. Turns
must be started early and use sufficient power to maintain steering
control.

Mooring The Boat

Be sure to tilt the jet drive out of the water when the boat is pulled
onto a beach or tied to a dock in shallow water. Failure to do this
may cause the water intake housing to fill with sand or debris and
could prevent the outboard from cranking over for starting.

Water Intake Blockage

Avoid injury resulting from contacting the rotating impeller.
Always shut off the engine before attempting to remove a
blockage from the water intake.
A large amount of debris being drawn into the water intake may
result in a loss of power. Intake suction holding debris against the
grate will result in restricted water flow. Shutting the engine off may
allow the debris to fall off the intake grate allowing full power to be
restored. If debris does not fall off the intake grate, the engine must
be shut off and debris physically removed from the grate.
OPERATION
WARNING
!
WARNING
!
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