Safety Instructions For Hand-Tilled Outboards - Mercury 40 Jet Manual

There is another less common hazardous result from allowing your
boat to launch off a wave or wake. If the bow of your boat pitches
down far enough while airborne, upon water contact it may
penetrate under the water surface and submarine for an instant.
This will bring the boat to a nearly instantaneous stop and can send
the occupants flying forward. The boat may also steer sharply to
one side.
Safety Instructions for Hand‑Tilled Outboards
No person or cargo should occupy the area directly in front of the
outboard while the boat is in motion. If an underwater obstacle is
struck, the outboard will tilt up and could seriously injure anyone
occupying this area.
MODELS WITH CLAMP SCREWS:
Some outboards come with transom bracket clamp screws. The
use of clamp bracket screws alone, is insufficient to properly and
safely secure the outboard to the transom. Proper installation of
the outboard includes bolting the engine to the boat through the
transom. Refer to Installation - Installing Outboard for more
complete installation information.
Failure to correctly fasten the outboard could result in the
outboard propelling off the boat transom resulting in property
damage, serious injury, or death. Before operation, the outboard
must be correctly installed with the required mounting hardware.
Do not accelerate above idle speed in water that may contain
underwater obstacles if the outboard is not attached to the
transom correctly.
If an obstacle is struck at planing speed and the outboard is not
securely fastened to the transom, it is possible the outboard could
lift off the transom and land in the boat.
GENERAL INFORMATION
WARNING
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