Boat Travel - Volvo Penta D3-130A Operator's Manual

Safety Information
Safety precautions to be taken when operating the boat
Your new boat
Read operator's manuals and other information sup-
plied with your new boat. Learn to operate the engine,
controls and other equipment safely and correctly.
If this is your first boat, or is a boat type with which
you are not familiar, we recommend that you practice
controlling the boat in peace and quiet. Learn how the
boat behaves at different speeds, weather conditions
and loads before casting off for your "real" maiden
voyage.
Remember that the person driving a boat is legally re-
quired to know and follow the current rules regarding
traffic and safety at sea. Make sure you know the
rules that apply to you and the waters you are sailing
in by contacting the relevant authorities or organiza-
tion.
A good piece of advice is to take a course in seaman-
ship. We recommend that you contact your local boat-
ing organization to find a suitable course.
Accidents
Statistics show that poor maintenance of boats and
engines and a lack of safety equipment are often the
cause of accidents at sea.
Ensure that your boat is maintained in accordance
with the relevant Instruction Manual and that the nec-
essary safety equipment is on-board and is service-
able.
Daily checklist
Make a habit of checking the engine and engine com-
partment visually before operating the boat (before
the engine is started) and after operating the boat
(after the engine has been stopped). This will help
you to quickly detect fuel, coolant or oil leaks and
spot anything else unusual that has or is about to hap-
pen.
Maneuvering
Avoid violent and unexpected changes in course and
gear engagement. This could cause someone on the
boat to lose their balance and fall over or overboard.
A rotating propeller can cause serious injury. Check
that nobody is in the water before engaging ahead or
astern. Never drive near bathers or in areas where
people could be in the water.
Avoid trimming an outboard drive too much, as steer-
ing will be severely reduced.
4
Refueling
When refueling there is always a danger of fire and ex-
plosion. Smoking is forbidden and the engine must be
switched off.
Never overfill the tank. Close the fuel tank filler cap
properly.
Only use the fuel recommended in the operator's man-
ual. The wrong grade of fuel can cause operating prob-
lems or cause the engine to stop. On a diesel engine
poor quality fuel can cause the control rod to seize
and the engine to overrev with a resultant risk of dam-
age to the engine and personal injury.
Do not start the engine
Do not start or run the engine with a suspected fuel or
LPG leak in the boat, nor when you are close to or in
a discharge of explosive media, etc. There is risk for
fire and/or explosion in explosive surroundings.
Safety breaker
We recommend that you install and use a safety
breaker (accessory), especially if you boat can travel
at high speeds. The safety breaker stops the engine if
the driver falls down and loses control over the boat.