Protecting People In The Water; Passenger Safety Message - Pontoon Boats And Deck Boats; Wave And Wake Jumping - Mercury 6 Manual

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GENERAL INFORMATION
WARNING
Should the operator fall out of the boat, the possibility of serious injury
or death from being run over by the boat can be greatly reduced by stop-
ping the engine immediately. Always properly connect both ends of the
stop switch lanyard - to the stop switch and the operator.
Accidental or unintended activation of the switch during normal operation is also
a possibility. This could cause any, or all, of the following potentially hazardous
situations:
1. Occupants could be thrown forward due to unexpected loss of forward motion
- a particular concern for passengers in the front of the boat who could be
ejected over the bow and possibly struck by the gear case or propeller.
2. Loss of power and directional control in heavy seas, strong current or high
winds.
3. Loss of control when docking.
WARNING
Avoid serious injury or death from deceleration forces resulting from ac-
cidental or unintended stop switch activation. The boat operator should
never leave the operator's station without first disconnecting the stop
switch lanyard from the operator.
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PROTECTING PEOPLE IN THE WATER

While You are Cruising
It is very difficult for a person standing or floating in the water to take quick action
to avoid a boat heading in his/her direction even at slow speed.
Always slow down and exercise extreme caution any time you are boating in an
area where there might be people in the water.
Whenever a boat is moving (coasting) and the outboard gear shift is in neutral
position, there is sufficient force by the water on the propeller to cause the propeller
to rotate. This neutral propeller rotation can cause serious injury.
While Boat is Stationary
Shift outboard into neutral and shut off the engine before allowing people to swim
or be in the water near your boat.
WARNING
Stop your engine immediately whenever anyone in the water is near your
boat. Serious injury to the person in the water is likely if contacted by a
rotating propeller, a moving boat, a moving gear case, or any solid device
rigidly attached to a moving boat or gear case.
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PASSENGER SAFETY MESSAGE - PONTOON BOATS
AND DECK BOATS
Whenever the boat is in motion, observe the location of all the passengers. Do not
allow any passengers to stand or use seats other than those designated for
traveling faster than idle speed, because a sudden reduction in boat speed, such
as the result of plunging into a large wave or wake, a sudden throttle reduction, or
a sharp change of boat direction, could throw them over the front of boat. Falling
over the front of the boat between the two pontoons will position them to be run over
by the outboard.
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Boats having an open front deck:
No one should ever be on the deck in front of the fence while the boat is in motion.
Keep all passengers behind the front fence or enclosure.
Persons on the front deck could easily be thrown overboard or persons dangling
their feet over the front edge could get their legs caught by a wave and pulled into
the water.
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Boats with front-mounted, raised pedestal fishing seats:
These elevated fishing seats are not intended for use when the boat is traveling
faster than idle or trolling speed. Sit only in seats designated for traveling at faster
speeds.
Any unexpected sudden reduction in boat speed could result in the elevated
passenger falling over the front of the boat.
Avoid serious injury or death from falling over the front end of a pontoon
or deck boat and being run over by the outboard. Stay back from the front
end of the deck and remain seated while the boat is in motion.
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WAVE AND WAKE JUMPING

Operating recreational boats over waves and wakes is a natural part of boating.
However, when this activity is done with sufficient speed to force the boat hull
partially or completely out of the water, certain hazards arise, particularly when the
boat re-enters the water.
The primary concern is the boat changing direction while in the midst of the jump.
In such case the landing may cause the boat to veer violently in a new direction.
Such a sharp change in direction can cause occupants to be thrown out of their
seats, or out of the boat.
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.
Avoid serious injury or death from being thrown within or out of a boat
when it lands after jumping a wave or wake. Avoid wave or wake jumping
whenever possible. Instruct all occupants that if a wake or wave jump oc-
curs, get low and hang on to any boat hand hold.
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WARNING
WARNING
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