35
Operation
• Always pay close attention to your grip and
footing on tower ladders. Your ability to
achieve a good grip and proper footing is re-
duced in wet or rough weather. Therefore, the
tower should be avoided in these conditions.
• Only operate the boat from the tower in famil-
iar waters or where running aground is not a
possibility. Running aground while operating
the boat from the tower could result in severe
injury.
• Always be alert for waves and boat wakes
when operating the boat from the tower. Re-
member that the boat’s motions are exagger-
ated in the tower.
• Good common sense and judgment must be
exercised at all times when operating a boat
from the tower.
• If an engine alarm sounds, immediately put the
boat in NEUTRAL and shut OFF the engine(s),
if safe to do so, until the problem is found and
corrected.
• Always put the boat in NEUTRAL before moving
to and from the tower helm and cockpit.
GOOD COMMON SENSE, JUDGMENT AND EXTREME CAUTION
MUST BE EXERCISED WHEN OPERATING A BOAT WITH
SOMEONE IN THE TOWER. DO NOT ALLOW ANYONE IN THE
TOWER WHEN THE WATER IS ROUGH OR WHEN OPERATING
IN UNFAMILIAR WATERS WHERE RUNNING AGROUND IS A
POSSIBILITY. REMEMBER, WEIGHT IN THE TOWER RAISES
THE BOAT’S CENTER OF GRAVITY AND THE BOAT’S MOTION
IS GREATLY EXAGGERATED FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE TOWER.
2.12 Man Overboard
If someone falls overboard, you must be pre-
pared to react quickly, particularly when you are
offshore. The following procedures will help you
in recovering a person that has fallen overboard.
• Immediately stop the boat and sound a man
overboard alarm and have all passengers point
to the person in the water.
• Circle around quickly and throw a cushion or
life jacket to the person, if possible and an-
other to use as a marker.
• Keep the person on the driver side of the boat
so you can keep him in sight at all times.
• Make sure to approach the person from the
downwind side and maneuver the boat so the
propellers are well clear of the person in the
water.
• Turn off the engines when the person is along-
side and use a ring buoy with a line attached, a
paddle or boat hook to assist him to the boat.
Make sure you don’t hit him with the ring buoy
or the boat.
• Pull the person to the boat and assist him on
board.
• Check the person for injuries and administer
rst aid if necessary. If the injuries are seri-
ous, call for help. Refer to the Safety chapter
for more information on rst aid and request-
ing emergency medical assistance.
MOVING PROPELLERS ARE DANGEROUS. THEY CAN CAUSE
DEATH, LOSS OF LIMBS OR OTHER SEVERE INJURY. DO NOT
USE THE SWIM PLATFORM OR SWIM LADDER WHILE THE
ENGINES ARE RUNNING. STOP THE ENGINES IF DIVERS OR
SWIMMERS ARE ATTEMPTING TO BOARD. ALWAYS PROPERLY
STORE THE LADDER BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINES.
2.13 Trash Disposal
The discharge of plastic trash or trash mixed with
plastic is illegal anywhere in the marine environ-
ment. U.S. Coast Guard regulations also restrict
the dumping of other forms of garbage. Regional,
state and local restrictions on garbage discharges
also may apply.
Responsible boaters store refuse in bags and
dispose of it properly on shore. You should make
sure your passengers are aware of the local waste
laws and the trash management procedure on
your boat. Refer to the placard mounted on your
boat for more specic information regarding solid
waste disposal.
Federal law requires that vessels of 26 feet or
longer must display in a prominent location, a
durable placard at least 4 by 9 inches notifying
the crew and passengers of the discharge restric-
tions (Marpol Treaty). A label for this purpose
has been shipped with the boat and is attached to
the port side of the cockpit. It is the boat owner’s
responsibility to make sure this placard remains
mounted and legible in accordance with the law.
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