Protecting People In The Water - Mercury 225 User Manual

While activation of the lanyard stop switch will stop the engine immediately, a boat will continue to coast for some
distance depending upon the velocity and degree of any turn at shut down. However, the boat will not complete a
full circle. While the boat is coasting, it can cause injury to anyone in the boat's path as seriously as the boat would
when under power.
We strongly recommend that other occupants be instructed on proper starting and operating procedures should
they be required to operate the engine in an emergency (e.g. if the operator is accidentally ejected).
Should the operator fall out of the boat, the possibility of serious injury or death from being run over by the boat
can be greatly reduced by stopping the engine immediately. Always properly connect both ends of the stop
switch lanyard to the stop switch and the operator.
Avoid serious injury or death from deceleration forces resulting from accidental or unintended stop switch
activation. The boat operator should never leave the operator's station without first disconnecting the stop switch
lanyard from the operator.
Accidental or unintended activation of the switch during normal operation is also a possibility. This could cause
any, or all, of the following potentially hazardous situations:
• Occupants could be thrown forward due to unexpected loss of forward motion - a particular concern for
passengers in the front of the boat who could be ejected over the bow and possibly struck by the gearcase
or propeller.
• Loss of power and directional control in heavy seas, strong current or high winds.
• Loss of control when docking.

Protecting People In The Water

WHILE YOU ARE CRUISING
It is very difficult for a person standing or floating in the water to take quick action to avoid a boat heading in his/
her direction, even at slow speed.
Always slow down and exercise extreme caution any time you are boating in an area where there might be people
in the water.
Whenever a boat is moving (coasting) and the outboard gear shift is in neutral position, there is sufficient force by
the water on the propeller to cause the propeller to rotate. This neutral propeller rotation can cause serious injury.
WHILE BOAT IS STATIONARY
Stop your engine immediately whenever anyone in the water is near your boat. Serious injury to the person in
the water is likely if contacted by a rotating propeller, a moving boat, a moving gearcase, or any solid device
rigidly attached to a moving boat or gearcase.
Shift outboard into neutral and shut off the engine before allowing people to swim or be in the water near your boat.
GENERAL INFORMATION
WARNING
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WARNING
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WARNING
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