Important Safety Messages - BRP Evinrude E-TEC Operator's Manual

IMPORTANT SAFETY MESSAGES

This Operator's Guide contains essential information to
help prevent personal injury and damage to equipment.
Safety messages appear throughout this Guide in the ap-
plicable section.
Be careful! Human error is caused by many factors: care-
lessness, fatigue, overload, preoccupation, unfamiliarity of
operator with the product, drugs and alcohol to name a few.
Damage to your boat and outboard can be fixed in a short
period of time, but injury or death, has a lasting effect.
WARNING
For your safety and the safety of others, follow all
safety warnings and recommendations. Do not disre-
gard any of the safety precautions and instructions.
Anyone operating your boat should first read and
understand this guide before they operate your boat
and outboard.
SAFETY MEASURES — General
To fully appreciate the pleasures, enjoyment and ex-
citement of boating there are some basic rules that
should be observed and followed by any boater.
Some rules may be new to you and others may be
common sense or obvious... irrespective, take them
seriously!
Be sure at least one of your passengers knows how
to handle your boat in case of an emergency.
All passengers should know the location of emergen-
cy equipment and how to use it.
Know the marine traffic laws and obey them.
All safety equipment and personal floatation devices
must be in good condition and suitable for your type
of boat. Always comply with the regulations that ap-
ply to your boat.
Remember, gasoline fumes are flammable and ex-
plosive. Always adhere to the fueling procedure con-
tained in this Operator's Guide and those given to
you by the fueling station. Always verify fuel level be-
fore use and during the ride. Apply the principle of 1/
3 fuel to destination, 1/3 back and 1/3 reserve fuel
supply. Do not carry spare fuel or flammable liquids
in any storage or engine compartments.
Whenever running the engine, assure there is proper
ventilation to avoid the accumulation of carbon mon-
oxide (CO), which is odorless, colorless, and taste-
less, and can lead to unconsciousness, brain
damage, or death if inhaled in sufficient concentra-
tions. CO accumulation can occur while docked, an-
chored, or underway, and in many confined areas
such as the boat cabin, cockpit, swim platform, and
heads. It can be worsened or caused by weather,
mooring and operating conditions, and other boats.
Avoid exhaust fumes from your engine or other
boats, provide proper ventilation, shut off your en-
gine when not needed, and be aware of the risk of
backdrafting and conditions that create CO accumu-
lation. In high concentrations, CO can be fatal within
minutes. Lower concentrations are just as lethal over
long periods of time.
Avoid standing up or shifting weight suddenly in light
weight boats.
Keep your passengers seated in seats. The boat's
bow, gunwale, transom and seat backs are not in-
tended for use as seats.
Insist on the use of personal floatation devices, ap-
proved by the U.S. Coast Guard, by all passengers
when boating conditions are hazardous, and by chil-
dren and nonswimmers at all times.
Proceed with caution and at very low speed in shal-
low water. Grounding or abrupt stops may result in
personal injury or property damage. Also be alert for
debris and objects in the water.
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