Wave And Wake Jumping - Mercury 1.7 MI Manual

ON THE WATER
0034.01

Wave And Wake Jumping

Avoid serious injury or death from being thrown within or out of a boat when it lands
after jumping a wave or wake. Avoid wave or wake jumping whenever possible.
Instruct all occupants that if a wake or wave jump occurs, get low and hang on to
a boat hand hold.
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.
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INDEX
WARNING
CMD-3967823 / 90-865237030 OCTOBER 2003
SECTION 3
mc79675