Impact With Underwater Hazards - Mercury DINGHY 200 Manual

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 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.
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.
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 to a nearly instantaneous
stop and can send the occupants flying forward. The boat may also steer
sharply to one side.

Impact with Underwater Hazards

Reduce speed and proceed with caution whenever you drive a boat in shallow
water, or where you suspect underwater obstacles may exist that could be
struck by the outboard or the boat bottom. The most important thing you can
do to help reduce injury or impact damage from striking a floating or
underwater object is to control the boat speed. Under these conditions,
boat speed should be kept to a minimum planing speed of 24 to 40 km/h
(15 to 25 MPH).
Striking a floating or underwater object could result in the following:
• Part or all of the outboard could break loose and fly into the boat.
• The boat could move suddenly in a new direction, causing the occupants
to be thrown out of their seats or out of the boat.
• A rapid reduction in speed, causing the occupants to be thrown forward or
out of the boat.
• Impact damage to the outboard and boat.
Keep in mind that the most important thing you can do to help reduce injury or
impact damage during an impact is control the boat speed. Boat speed should
be kept to a minimum planing speed when driving in waters known to have
underwater obstacles.
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GENERAL INFORMATION
WARNING
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