Leopard Catamarans 40 - Introduction

18 | 2-1 Introduction
2-1 INTRODUCTION
Thismanualhasbeencompiledtohelp
youtooperateyourcraftwithsafetyand
pleasure.Itcontainsdetailsofthecraft;
theequipmentsuppliedortted,its
systemsandinformationontheir
operation.
Pleasereaditcarefully,andfamiliarize
yourselfwiththecraftbeforeusingitand
refertoitfrequentlyduringyour
ownership.
Thisoperation’smanualisnotacourseon
boatingsafetyorseamanship.Ifthisis
yourrstcraft,orifyouarechangingtoa
typeofcraftyouarenotfamiliarwith,for
yourowncomfortandsafety,please
ensurethatyouobtainhandlingand
operatingexperiencebefore“assuming
command”ofthecraft.Yourdealeror
nationalsailingfederationorvesselclub
willbepleasedtoadviseyouoflocalsea
schools,orcompetentinstructors.
Ensurethattheanticipatedwindandsea
conditionswillcorrespondtothedesign
categoryofyourcraft,andthatyouand
yourcrewareabletohandlethecraftin
theseconditions.Evenwhenyourboatis
categorizedforthem,theseaandwind
conditionscorrespondingtothedesign
categoriesA,BandCrangefromsevere
stormconditionsforcategoryA,tostrong
conditionsforthetopofcategoryC,and
areopentothehazardsofafreakwaveor
gust.Thesearethereforedangerous
conditions,whereonlyacompetent,t
andtrainedcrewusingawellmaintained
craftcansatisfactorilyoperate.
Thisoperation’smanualisnotadetailed
maintenanceortrouble-shootingguide.In
thecaseofdifculty,refertoyourdealer,
brokerorsalesrepresentative.Ifan
equipmentmanualisprovided,refertoit
forrecommendedmaintenance&service
instructions.
Alwaysusetrainedandcompetentpeople
formaintenance,xingormodications.
Modicationsthatmayaffectthesafety
characteristicsofthecraftshallbe
assessed,executedanddocumentedby
competentpeople.Theboatbuilder
cannotbeheldresponsiblefor
modicationsthathehasnotapproved.
Insomecountriesalicenseor
authorizationisrequired,orspecic
regulationsareinforcegoverningwhat
qualicationsarerequiredtoconduct
certainmodicationsorrepairs.Always
maintainyourcraftproperlyandmake
allowanceforthedeteriorationthatwill
occurintimeandasaresultofheavyuse
ormisuseofthecraft.
Anycraft,nomatterhowstrongitmaybe,
canbeseverelydamagedifnotused
properly.Thisisnotcompatiblewithsafe
boating.Alwaysadjustthespeedand
directionofthecrafttoseaconditions.
Ifyourcraftisttedwithalife-raft,
carefullyreaditsoperatingmanual.The
craftshouldhaveonboardtheappropriate
safetyequipment(lifejackets,harness,
etc.)accordingtothetypeofcraft,
weatherconditions,etc.Thisequipment
ismandatoryinsomecountries.Thecrew
shouldbefamiliarwiththeuseofallsafety
equipmentandemergencymanoeuvring
(manoverboardrecovery,towing,etc.),
sailingschoolsandclubsregularly
organizedrillsessions.
All persons should wear a suitable
buoyancy aid (life jacket/personal
oatation device) when on deck. Note
that,insomecountries,itisalegal
requirementtowearabuoyancyaidthat
complieswiththeirnationalregulationsat
all times.