Good Ventilation; Poor Ventilation; Basic Boat Operation; Launching And Boat Operation - MerCruiser Sterndrive 4.3L TKS Owner's Manual

Section 3 - On The Water

Good Ventilation

Ventilate the passenger area, open the side curtains or forward hatches to remove fumes.
1. Example of desired air flow through the boat.

Poor Ventilation

Under certain conditions, permanently enclosed or canvas enclosed cabins or cockpits with
insufficient ventilation may draw in carbon monoxide. Install one or more carbon monoxide
detectors in your boat.
Although the occurrence is rare, on a very calm day, swimmers and passengers in an open
area of a stationary boat that contains or is near an operating engine may be exposed to
a hazardous level of carbon monoxide.
1. Examples of poor ventilation while a boat is stationary:
2. Examples of poor ventilation while a boat is moving:

Basic Boat Operation

Launching and Boat Operation

IMPORTANT: Install bilge drain plug prior to launching boat.

OPERATION CHART

BEFORE STARTING
Install bilge drain plug.
Open engine hatch.
Turn battery switch on.
Page 34
a
a - Operating the engine when the
boat is moored in a confined space
a
a - Operating the boat with the trim
angle of the bow too high
AFTER STARTING
Observe all gauges to
check condition of
engine. If not normal, stop
engine.
Check for fuel, oil, water,
fluid and exhaust leaks.
Check shift and throttle
control operation.
mc79553-1
b
b - Mooring close to another boat with
its engine operating
b
b - Operating the boat with no forward
hatches open (station wagon effect)

Operation Chart

WHILE UNDERWAY
Observe all gauges to
check condition of engine. If
not normal, stop engine.
Listen for the audio alarm.
90-860171061 DECEMBER 2006
mc79554-1
mc79556-1
AFTER STOPPING
Turn ignition key to the
"OFF" position.
Turn battery switch to the
"OFF" position.
Close fuel shut off valve.