30
Operation
Operation of the Upper Station Controls
The engine should be started at the lower helm.
Monitor the gauges to make sure all systems are
normal and that the engine has been allowed to
warm up slightly before shutting it down and pro-
ceeding to the upper helm. Once in position at
the helm, use the start/stop switch on the upper
helm to restart the engine. The shift control must
be in neutral for the start switch to be functional.
Electronic engine controls are equipped with a
station transfer button that allows the operator to
transfer control from one station to another with
the push of a button. Always make sure that you
activate the control as soon as you reach the up-
per helm station.
Refer to the Control Systems chapter and the
electronic engine control owner’s manual for more
information on the control system operation and
selecting the controls on boats with dual stations.
The following is a list of safety precautions
for upper helm operation:
• Do not operate the boat from the upper helm
in rough sea conditions. The boat’s motions
are exaggerated in the upper helm and this
motion may become excessive in rough seas.
• Be careful when using the trim tabs from the
upper helm. The reaction of the trim tabs will
be exaggerated in the upper helm. Use small
tab corrections and wait ten (10) seconds for
the tabs to react. Keep making small correc-
tions until the hull is at the desired attitude.
• Do not overload the upper helm. The upper
helm is designed to hold the weight of one
average-sized person. Weight in the upper
helm raises the boat’s center of gravity. Too
much weight at the upper helm could make
the boat unstable.
• Do not operate the boat in tight quarters, such
as marinas, from the upper helm. The opera-
tor is isolated from the boat while at the upper
helm and will not be able to assist in docking
procedures.
• Always pay close attention to your grip and
footing while using the steps to the upper
helm. Your ability to achieve a good grip and
proper footing is reduced in wet weather or
rough seas. Therefore, the upper helm should
be avoided in these conditions.
• It is possible to accidently hit the engine con-
trol with your foot if you slip or lose your bal-
ance while accessing the upper helm. Make
sure the engine control is in neutral with the
engine shutdown before using the steps. Re-
start the engine once you are in position at
the upper helm.
• Only operate the boat from the upper helm
in familiar waters or where running aground
is not a possibility. Running aground while
operating the boat from the upper helm could
result in severe injury.
• Always be alert for waves and boat wakes
when operating the boat from the upper helm.
Remember that the boat’s motions are exag-
gerated in the upper helm.
• Good common sense and judgment must be
exercised at all times when operating a boat
from the upper helm.
• If an engine alarm sounds, immediately put
the boat in NEUTRAL and shut o the engine
(if safe to do so) until the problem is found
and corrected.
• Always put the boat in NEUTRAL before mov-
ing to and from the upper helm and cockpit.
SLIPPING ON THE CONSOLE STEPS CAN CAUSE SEVERE
INJURY AND/OR DAMAGE TO CONSOLE COMPONENTS. IT
IS ALSO POSSIBLE TO ACCIDENTALLY HIT THE ENGINE
CONTROL AND ADVANCE THE THROTTLE IN GEAR WHILE
ACCESSING THE UPPER HELM. THIS COULD RESULT IN LOSS
OF CONTROL, DAMAGE TO THE BOAT AND INJURY TO YOU
AND YOUR PASSENGERS.
YOU SHOULD NOT ATTEMPT TO USE THE STEPS WHILE THE
ENGINE IS RUNNING, WHILE IN ROUGH CONDITIONS OR
WHEN THE CONSOLE IS WET.
ALWAYS MAKE SURE THE ENGINE CONTROL IS IN THE
NEUTRAL POSITION WITH THE ENGINE SHUTDOWN BEFORE
USING THE STEPS TO ACCESS THE UPPER HELM. RESTART
THE ENGINE ONCE YOU ARE IN POSITION AT UPPER THE
HELM.
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