Wave And Wake Jumping; Safety Instructions For Hand-Tilled Outboards - Mercury 25 Jet FourStroke Operation, Maintenance And Installation Manual

Wave and Wake Jumping

Operating recreational boats over waves and wake 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 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.
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 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.
Safety Instructions for Hand‑Tilled Outboards
No person or cargo should occupy the area directly in front of the outboard
while the boat is in motion. If an underwater obstacle is struck, the outboard will
tilt up and could seriously injure anyone occupying this area.
MODELS WITH CLAMP SCREWS:
Some outboards come with transom bracket clamp screws. The use of clamp
bracket screws alone, is insufficient to properly and safely secure the outboard
to the transom. Proper installation of the outboard includes bolting the engine to
the boat through the transom. Refer to Installation ‑ Fastening the Outboard
for more complete installation information.
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GENERAL INFORMATION
WARNING
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