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person being pulled. Always have a second person on
board to observe the person in the water so the driver
can concentrate on operating the boat.
A. Water Sport Guidelines
Everyone participating in a water sport should observe
these guidelines:
1. Allow only capable swimmers to take part in any
water sport.
2. Always wear a personal flotation device (PFD)
approved by the US Coast Guard. Wearing a
properly designed PFD helps a stunned or uncon-
scious person stay afloat.
3. Be considerate of others with whom you share
the water.
4. Give immediate attention to a person who has
fallen. He or she is vulnerable in the water alone
and may not be seen by other boaters.
5. Approach a person in the water from the lee side
(opposite the direction of the wind). Turn off the
motor at least a boat length from the person.
6. Turn engine off and anchor before swimming.
7. Always participate in water sports in safe areas.
Stay away from other boats, beaches, restricted
areas, swimmers and heavily traveled waterways.
8. Swim only in areas designated as safe for swim-
ming. These are usually marked with a swim area
buoy (see Figure A15). Do not swim alone or at
night.
Figure A15: Swim Area Buoy
Boating Safety & Information - Section A
AVOID SEVERE INJURY OR DEATH
Contact with water and/or debris from the jet
nozzle causing serious injury or death will oc-
cur. Shut engine off and remove ignition key
when anyone is swimming nearby.
9. Do not allow anyone near the jet nozzle, water
and/or debris from the jet nozzle causing serious
injury or death will occur. Stay at least 150 feet
away from areas marked by diver down float. See
Figure A16.
Figure A16: Diver Down Float
10. Do not drive the boat directly behind a water skier.
At 25 miles per hour, the boat will overtake a
fallen skier who was 200 feet in front in about
5 seconds.
B. Water Skiing/Wakeboarding/Kneeboarding
The popular sport of water skiing has brought a
special set of safety precautions to observe in boating.
The following guides help prevent accidents while
water skiing.
1. Water ski only in safe areas, away from other
boats and swimmers, out of channels, and in
water free of underwater obstructions.
2. Allow no one who can not swim to water ski. Ski-
ers must wear a USCG approved flotation device.
A Type III water-ski vest is an approved and practi-
cal PFD.
3. Have a second person aboard to observe the skier
and inform the driver about the skier's hand sig-
nals (Figure A17). The driver must give full atten-
tion to operating the boat and the waters ahead.
4. Give immediate attention to a fallen skier. Be care-
ful not to swamp the boat while taking the skier on
board.
Owner's Manual Page 30
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