Wave And Wake Jumping; Impact With Underwater Hazards - MerCruiser 4.3L TKS Sterndrive Owner's Manual

Any unexpected, sudden reduction in boat speed could result in the elevated passenger falling over the front of the boat.

Wave and Wake Jumping

Wave or wake jumping can cause serious injury or death from occupants being thrown within or out of the boat. Avoid wave or
wake jumping whenever possible.
Operating recreational boats over waves and wakes is a natural part of boating. However, when this activity is done with enough
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 cases the landing may cause the boat
to violently veer in a new direction. Such a sharp change in direction or turn 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 of 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 nearly to a stop in an instant and can send the occupants flying forward. The boat may also veer sharply
to one side.

Impact with Underwater Hazards

Reduce speed and proceed with caution whenever you're driving a boat in shallow water or in areas where the waters are
suspected of having underwater obstacles that could be struck by the underwater drive components, rudder or the boat bottom.
IMPORTANT: The most important thing you can do to help reduce injury or impact damage from striking a floating or underwater
object is control the boat speed. Under these conditions, boat speed should be kept to a maximum speed of 24 to 40 km/h
(15 to 25 mph).
Striking a floating/underwater object may result in an infinite number of situations. Some of these situations could result in the
following:
• The boat could move suddenly in a new direction. Such a sharp change in direction or turn can cause occupants to be thrown
out of their seats or out of the boat.
• A rapid reduction in speed. This will cause occupants to be thrown forward, even out of the boat.
• Impact damage to the underwater drive components, rudder and/or boat.
90-8M0053265 NOVEMBER 2010
WARNING
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Section 3 - On The Water
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