Protecting People In The Water; Passenger Safety Message - Pontoon Boats And Deck Boats; Wave And Wake Jumping - Mercury 40 Manual

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GENERAL INFORMATION
LANYARD STOP SWITCH
Read the following Safety Information before proceeding.
Important Safety Information: The purpose of a lanyard stop switch is to stop
the engine when the operator moves far enough away from the operator's position
to activate the switch. This would occur if the operator accidentally falls overboard
or moves within the boat a sufficient distance from the operator's position.
Accidental ejections and falls overboard are more likely to occur in certain types
of boats such as low sided inflatables or bass boats, high-performance boats and
light, sensitive-handling fishing boats operated by hand-tiller. Accidental ejections
and falls overboard are also likely to occur as a result of poor operating practices
such as sitting on the back of the seat or gunwale at planing speeds, standing at
planing speeds, sitting on elevated fishing boat decks, operating at planing speeds
in shallow or obstacle-infested waters, releasing your grip on a steering wheel or
tiller handle that is pulling in one direction, drinking alcohol or consuming drugs,
or daring, high-speed boat maneuvers.
While activation of the lanyard stop switch will stop the engine immediately, a boat
will continue to coast for some distance depending upon the velocity and degree
of any turn at shut-down. However, the boat will not complete a full circle. While
the boat is coasting, it can cause injury to anyone in the boat's path as seriously
as the boat would when under power.
We strongly recommend that other occupants be instructed on proper starting and
operating procedures should they be required to operate the engine in an
emergency (e.g. if the operator is accidentally ejected).
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.
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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.
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
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WARNING
WARNING
90–10170R40