Protecting People In The Water; Passenger Safety Message - Pontoon Boats And Deck Boats - Mercury 135 OptiMax Manual

GENERAL INFORMATION

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
A spinning propeller, a moving boat, or any solid device attached to the boat can cause serious injury
or death to swimmers. Stop the engine immediately whenever anyone in the water is near your boat.
Shift outboard into neutral and shut off the engine before allowing people to swim or be in the water near
your boat.

Passenger Safety Message - Pontoon Boats And Deck Boats

Whenever the boat is in motion, observe the location of all passengers. Do not allow any passengers to
stand or use seats other than those designated for traveling faster than idle speed. A sudden reduction
in boat speed, such as 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 the boat. Falling over the front of the boat between
the two pontoons will position them to be run over by the outboard.
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.
WARNING
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