T - 5 Maneuvering; B. Stopping - Four winns 278 VISTA Owner's Manual

7. Inspect for fuel odors and visible leaks in the fuel,
oil, coolant, exhaust and power steering systems.
8. Make sure boat is securely moored to the dock and
engine is idling. Then move the throttle forward and
then aft and back to neutral to check for proper
operation of the shifting motion. Be careful. Leave
the engine in gear for only a second or two.
T - 5 MANEUVERING
Boat steering is not self-centering. Steering is
effected by engine and propeller torque, trim
tab setting, wave and current action and the
speed of the hull through the water. Constant
attention to steering is required for safe
operation.
When all your pre-departure checks have been com-
pleted and the engine has warmed up, you will be
ready to leave the dock. Take into account the amount
of wind, tide current, and other forces that may affect
your maneuvering as you leave the dock. Idle speeds
work best when maneuvering to and from the dock. Do
not forget to release the mooring lines.
A. Leaving the Dock
You are ready to leave the dock after the engine has
warmed up. Check all gauges for appropriate readings
before casting off. If oil pressure is abnormally low or
engine temperature is abnormally high, stop the engine
immediately. Check voltmeter to be sure the charging
system is working properly. Check for fuel, oil, and
exhaust leaks. Correct the cause of any abnormal
condition before getting underway.
To prevent personal injury, swim platform must
not be occupied and transom door must be
closed while engines are running.
After making sure your boat is ready, check wind, tide,
current and other forces that will affect the way you
maneuver your boat away from the dock. Throw
mooring lines off to your boat. Shift your boat's engine
into forward or reverse depending on whether you want
to move the bow or the stern away from the dock first.
Run your engine at a slow speed as you move away
from the dock.
Pre-Launch and Underway - Section T
If you move the bow out first, watch that the stern
of the boat does not swing into the dock or a piling.
Once away from the dock, devote some time to
learning how to maneuver. Practice docking using
an imaginary dock. Practice stopping and reversing.

B. Stopping

Boats have no brakes. Stopping is accomplished by
backing down on the throttle. Practice stopping
maneuvers and learn early how your boat reacts.
From forward motion, pull the throttle back towards
NEUTRAL. Depending on your speed, the distance
the boat travels until it comes to a complete stop will
vary. The ability to measure the distance will only be
acquired through experience.
Once the boat has slowed and motor is idling, place
the shift in REVERSE. Gradually increasing reverse
power with the throttle will allow you to stop the boat in
a very short distance.
NOTE: A boat will not respond to steering in reverse
nearly as well as it does when going forward, so do
not expect to accomplish tight turning maneuvers
when backing up.
Remember that all boats steer by the stern (the feeling
is much like steering your automobile in reverse). This
means that the stern of your boat will swing in the
direction opposite to your turn. For example, when you
turn the helm wheel to the left, the stern of your boat
will swing in the direction opposite to your turn. This is
especially important to keep in mind when docking,
operating in close quarters with other boats, or when
approaching a swimmer or downed skier in the water.
Always look behind you and to both sides of the boat
before slowing down. Tell your passengers your
intentions to allow them time to make adjustments to
their balance or positions.
Slowly pull back on throttles, glance back and see if a
large following wave is approaching the transom. If so
give the engines a little throttle as the wave arrives to
keep wave from rolling over the transom.
Once you have spent enough time practicing maneu-
vers and have a feel for how the boat handles, you will
be ready to run in open waters.
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