C. Running Aground - Four winns 248 Vista Owner's Manual

• Station a person forward on the boat as a lookout.
• Reduce your speed. From time to time, stop en-
gine and listen for fog signals.
• Sound the proper horn or fog bell at proper intervals
to warn other boaters.
• If there is any doubt in continuing boat movement,
anchor. Listen for other fog signals while continuing
to sound the proper fog horn or bell for a boat at
anchor.

C. Running Aground

To prevent boat damage, DO NOT use deck
hardware or water ski pylon for towing. Use a
commercial towing service.
Operating in shallow water can present a number of haz-
ards. Sand bars in narrow inlets are constantly shifting,
making it difficult to mark them with buoys. Sometimes
sand bars are indicated by waves as they form into break-
ers when passing over sand bars. In coastal areas, tides
can change water levels by as much as 30 feet. Check
with local marinas or Coast Guard stations for tide tables
and current charts.
If your boat runs aground, first check persons aboard for
injury. Then check for damage to the boat. If the drive
unit strikes an underwater hazard, check for boat and
drive unit damage. If the engine vibrates excessively
after striking an underwater obstruction, it may indicate
a damaged propeller. If vibration is noticeable, return to
port slowly to prevent further drive and engine damage
from an out-of-balance condition. Watch the tempera-
ture gauge to make sure you do not overheat the engine.
If the boat is not taking on any water, it may be possible
to rock the boat by shifting the weight of the passengers
and gear and by raising the drive unit while reversing the
engine.
If you ground your boat on a sand bar, shut down the
engine and seek help from another boater or radio for
help. See your dealer as soon as possible, as sand
ingested in the engine cooling system can cause major
engine damage.
Vista™ Owner's Manual
™
D. Warning Markers
It is a good idea to find out about hazardous areas and
how they are marked by asking your local authorities.
• Boaters must also recognize the flag designs which
indicate that scuba divers are present and keep well
clear of the area.
• Watch for swimmers. Swimming areas may not be
marked. Steer clear from the area and always re-
main alert.
• Distress flags indicate a fellow boater is in need of
assistance.
• Navigation markers serve as a means of identifying
navigable routes and indicate water hazards. Boat-
ers should become familiar with navigation markers
and stay within marked boundaries and clear of
hazards.
T - 10 REACTING TO EMERGENCIES
Be prepared to deal with emergencies before they hap-
pen. Try to formulate a plan for each type of emergency
in advance so that decisions can be made quickly and
without hesitation. Precious moments lost can mean
the difference between losing and saving a life.
A. Flooding
If your boat starts taking on water, activate the bilge
pump immediately. Make sure all passengers are wear-
ing their PFDs. Open the engine compartment, look for
the cause of the flooding. Check all hoses, through hull
fittings, seacocks and strainers. If flooding occurs as a
result of collision or grounding damage, call for assis-
tance and head for shore if possible.
B. Capsizing and Man Overboard
By far, the largest number of boating fatalities involve
capsizing and falling overboard accidents. By being
prepared ahead of time with an appropriate plan of ac-
tion, you can greatly lower your chances and your pas-
sengers' chances of becoming seriously injured.
Section T
Page 8