Steering The Boat; Mooring The Boat; Water Intake Blockage - Mercury Jet 65 Manual

Using the emergency stopping capability of the jet drive will slow down the boat in an emergency. However,
sudden stopping may cause the occupants in the boat to be thrown forward or even out of the boat. This action
may result in serious injury or death.
In an emergency, putting the jet outboard into reverse and applying reverse throttle can rapidly slow down the boat
and reduce stopping distance. However, such a maneuver may cause occupants in the boat to be thrown forward
or possibly out of the boat.

Steering The Boat

The jet drive is dependent on water jet thrust for steering the boat. If the water jet thrust should ever stop, (water
blockage, engine stops, etc.) the boat to slow to a stop. However, while slowing there will be a reduced ability to
steer the boat.
Avoid serious injury or death. Do not attempt to steer the boat into a tight turn. At high speeds, the boat could
spin-out or even roll over, resulting in occupants being thrown within the boat or out of the boat.
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.
OPERATIONS
WARNING
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WARNING
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WARNING
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WARNING
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