Drive Unit Impact Protection; Operating With Low Water Inlets In Shallow Water - Mercury mercruiser User Manual

• Impact damage to the underwater drive components, rudder and/or boat.
Keep in mind, one of the most important things you can do to help reduce injury or impact
damage in these situations is control the boat speed. Boat speed should be kept to a
minimum planing speed when driving in waters known to have underwater obstacles.
After striking a submerged object, stop the engine as soon as possible and inspect the
drive system for any broken or loose parts. If damage is present or suspected, the power
package should be taken to an authorized Mercury MerCruiser dealer for a thorough
inspection and necessary repair.
The boat should be checked for hull fractures, transom fractures and water leaks.
Operating with damaged underwater drive components, rudder or boat bottom could cause
additional damage to other parts of the power package, or could affect control of the boat.
If continued operation is necessary, do so at greatly reduced speeds.
Avoid serious injury or death from loss of boat control. Continued boating with major
impact damage can result in sudden component failure with or without subsequent
impacts. Have the power package thoroughly inspected and any necessary repairs
made.

Drive Unit Impact Protection

The power trim hydraulic system is designed to provide impact protection for the sterndrive
unit. If a submerged object is struck while the boat is moving forward, the hydraulic system
will cushion the kickup of the sterndrive unit as it clears the object, reducing damage to the
unit. After the sterndrive unit has cleared the object, the hydraulic system allows the
sterndrive unit to return to its original operating position, preventing loss of steering control
and engine overspeed.
Use extreme caution when operating in shallow water or where underwater objects are
known to be present. No impact protection is provided in reverse; use extreme care to
prevent striking submerged objects while operating in reverse.
IMPORTANT: Impact protection system cannot be designed to ensure total protection from
impact damage under all conditions.

Operating With Low Water Inlets In Shallow Water

90-864839060 MAY 2006
a
a - Low Water Inlets
WARNING
!
mc75827-1
Section 3 - On The Water
Page 45