Axis Wake Research A20 - Break-In Period; Smart Operations; Stopping

BREAK-IN PERIOD
The rst hours of the boat operaon has crical requirements for engine break-in. This informaon is
contained in the engine owner’s manual. Be sure to review this informaon carefully. Failure to follow the
instrucons will void the engine warranty!
With regard to the boat, pay close aenon to the gauges, and monitor the readings. Pay parcular
aenon to the oil pressure and engine temperature informaon as these are the earliest warnings if
something is going wrong with the drive train. Alarms will sound if serious problems are encountered.
Also, check carefully for leaks. The break-in period is the most-likely me for leaks to appear, whether
fuel, oil, water or exhaust.
SMART OPERATIONS
Newcomers to boang, especially the size of the Axis models, are strongly encouraged to take a
U.S. Coast Guard boang class before using the boat. Reading about boang condions and operaons
from websites such as the Naonal Marine Manufacturers Associaon (NMMA) and the many yachng
associaon sites can be very helpful.
Pracce, pracce, pracce! Begin in opmum weather and water condions, avoiding ght quarters
unl you are comfortable. The boat actually steers more easily when the boat is on-plane. This is achieved
by speeding up briskly from idle. By throling and increasing the speed, the boat will ride up higher on the
body of water. With less fricon between boat hull and water, the boat will maneuver more easily. At slower
speeds, the boat is less responsive, so pracce is important to achieve the kind of maneuverability that is
desirable.
Remember that steering in a boat is from the rear (stern). The unseen rudder operates from the steering
wheel, but the actual steering through the rudder is dierent from a car. Note that stern control means that
the boat will push away from the direcon of the turn. The bow will follow a smaller turning circle than the
stern does.
Note that the propeller does not move the boat directly forward. Due to the rotaon (generally,
counterclockwise), the boat’s natural progress will have a slight port tracking (when in forward gear) and
to starboard when in reverse. At slower speeds, this phenomenon is more pronounced. Depending also on
the body of water depth and width, it may be necessary for the operator to compensate for this natural
movement.
STOPPING
The lack of brakes requires the operator to think more quickly and react accordingly to avoid damaging
contact with other boats, docks and the shore. When stopping the boat, it is acceptable to use reverse gear
(much as airplanes use reverse thrust). This is a technique that takes me and pracce to master. Slamming
from forward to reverse gear can damage the system. Allow sucient me to move the shier from forward
to neutral, briey pausing, and then ease into reverse. Always slow to a no-wake speed before aempng
these shis and do not shi into reverse if the boat is moving faster than 2 mph (3.2 km/h).
Do not disconnect the emergency safety switch as a method to
stop the boat. Doing so impairs the ability to restart the engine
quickly or it may create a hazardous swamping condition.
2016 Axis Wake Research Owner’s Manual . . . Page 3-5