Safety Precautions To Be Taken When Operating The Boat - Volvo Penta 4.3GL Instruction Book

Safety precautions to be taken when operating the boat

Your new boat
Read Instruction Manuals and other information
supplied with your new boat. Learn to operate the
engine, controls and other equipment safely and cor-
rectly.
If this is your first boat, or is a boat type with which
you are not familiar, we recommend that you practice
controlling the boat in peace and quiet. Learn how
the boat behaves at different speeds, weather condi-
tions and loads before casting off for your "real" mai-
den voyage.
Remember that the person driving a boat is legally
required to know and follow the current rules regar-
ding traffic and safety at sea. Make sure you know
the rules that apply to you and the waters you are
sailing in by contacting the relevant authorities or or-
ganization.
A good piece of advice is to take a course in sea-
manship. We recommend that you contact your local
boating organization to find a suitable course.
Accidents
Statistics show that poor maintenance of boats and
engines and a lack of safety equipment are often the
cause of accidents at sea.
Ensure that your boat is maintained in accordance
with the relevant Instruction Manual and that the ne-
cessary safety equipment is on-board and is service-
able.
Daily checklist
Make a habit of checking the engine and engine
compartment visually before operating the boat (be-
fore the engine is started) and after operating the
boat (after the engine has been stopped). This will
help you to quickly detect fuel, coolant and oil leaks
and spot anything else unusual that has or is about
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to happen.
Maneuvering
Avoid violent and unexpected changes in course and
gear engagement. There is a risk that someone
aboard will fall down or overboard.
A rotating propeller can cause serious injury. Check
that nobody is in the water before engaging ahead or
astern. Never drive near bathers or in areas where
people could be in the water.
Avoid trimming an outboard drive too much, as steer-
ing will be severely reduced.
Refueling
When refueling there is always a danger of fire and
explosion. Smoking is forbidden and the engine must
be switched off.
Never overfill the tank. Close the fuel tank filler cap
properly.
Only use the fuel recommended in the Instruction
Manual. The wrong grade of fuel can cause opera-
ting problems or cause the engine to stop. On a die-
sel engine poor quality fuel can cause the control rod
to seize and the engine to overrev with a resultant
risk of damage to the engine and personal injury.
Safety breaker
We recommend that you install and use a safety
breaker (accessory), especially if you boat can travel
at high speeds. The safety breaker stops the engine
if the driver falls down and loses control over the
boat.