Basic Safety Rules Of Boating; High Performance Boat Operation - Volvo 5.0OSiE-J Operator's Manual

Safety Information

Basic Safety Rules of Boating

We recommend that you contact your local boating or-
ganization for more detailed information on safety
afloat.
• Shut off the engine when people who are in the
water come near the boat.
• Propellers are inherently dangerous and, as such,
are potential safety hazards. Make sure that the
propeller is not operating when people who are in
the water come near the boat.
• Avoid standing up or shifting weight suddenly in
small, lightweight boats.
• Keep your passengers seated in seats. The boat's
bow, gunwale, transom, and seat backs are not
intended for use as seats.
• Insist on the use of personal flotation devices by
all passengers at all times.
• Know the "rules of the road" and obey them. If you
are not familiar with the "rules of the road," take
the U.S. Coast Guard's boater safety course. You
may find information about boating safety at
WWW.USCGBOATING.ORG and
WWW.CGAUX.ORG.
• Prevent explosion and fire by maintaining your fuel
delivery system in top condition. Fuel vapor is vol-
atile; handle fuel with care.
• Keep your boat and equipment neat and in top
operating condition. Carry a selection of spare
parts for the engine. (Volvo Penta's on-board kit
contains a selection of essential items that a boat
owner should carry at all times. See your Volvo
Penta dealer.)
• NEVER OPERATE THE BOAT IF YOU ARE
UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DRUGS OR
ALCOHOL.
• If boating in waters that are unfamiliar, obtain
appropriate charts to avoid damage from under-
water objects.
12

High Performance Boat Operation

High performance is not only defined by engine size,
but by a combination of engine power (horsepower),
hull design, and the size of the boat. Your new en-
gine(s) produce a high power output. Depending on
the boat type, the top speed may be much higher than
what you are accustomed to.
High speed operation requires an experienced opera-
tor who has mastered handling of high performance
boats. It is advisable that you learn the boat's behavior
before you take passengers on board. Inform your
passengers about your boat's characteristics and the
maneuvers you intend to do. Use the boat's perform-
ance with due consideration and care!
When operating at high speeds, remember that other
boaters may not realize the speed at which you are
travelling, especially when you close in on another
boat from astern or from ahead. Always keep a good
distance to allow for the unexpected! Always be pre-
pared for what other boaters may do unexpectedly.
High speed driving requires the driver to give a high
degree of attention to boat operation and surrounding
conditions.
A boat travelling at a speed of approximately 70
M.P.H. (60 knots) covers about 101 feet (30 meters) in
1 second. The faster you go the quicker things will
happen. High speed driving requires a lot of water and
a good distance from possible hazards! Always allow
for adequate reaction time. Always reduce speed
when visibility is reduced for whatever reason.
When driving, make sure that all passengers are safe-
ly seated. Emphasize this especially if you have a larg-
er, high performance cabin cruiser where one
normally moves about during operation. Reduce
speed considerably, or stop completely if someone
needs to move about the boat.
The driver should always use the emergency stop
switch! The emergency stop switch lanyard which is
securely connected to the driver, immediately shuts
off the engine(s) should the driver be thrown from the
driving position. Even if the risk of being thrown over-
board is practically nonexistent in your type of boat,
the risk of the driver falling and being dazed in rough
seas can be even greater.
Remember, even when the engine(s) is stopped in a
high performance boat that is planing, it will travel ap-
proximately 325 feet (100 meters) before dropping
through the planing threshold and stopping!
VPA 7748131 English 09-2007