Page 5-14 2014 MasterCraft Owners Manual • Preparation
P R E P A R A T I O N
• Practice makes perfect! Start in calm
water with no wind or current and plen-
ty of room until you get the feel for the
boat and its controls.
• Proceed slowly! Give yourself time to
think, react and maneuver.
• Recognize outside forces! Check the
wind direction and velocity, as well as
water currents and waves.
• Have a crew on hand! Have friends or
family ready with fenders, lines and a
boat hook to assist you when docking,
as well as launching and loading.
• Remember that a boat is not an au-
tomobile! Boats cannot be maneuvered
and stopped like a car. Boats steer from
the stern (rear) and have no brakes.
Basic Maneuvering
Steering response is dependent upon
three (3) factors: rudder position, motion
and throttle. While cruising speed maneu-
vering is relatively easy and takes little
practice, slow-speed maneuvering is far
more difcult and requires time and prac-
tice to master.
With both steering and propulsion at
the rear of the boat, the initiation of a turn
pushes the stern of the boat away from the
direction of the turn. The stern follows a
larger turning circle than the bow. This is
especially important to remember when
making maneuvers within close quarters.
While the effects of unequal propeller
thrust (torque steering), wind, and current
may not always be present, a practiced
driver will use them to his/her advantage.
Unequal thrust is a phenomenon shared
by all single-engine, propeller-driven
boats. With the rudder in the straight-ahead
position, a counterclockwise rotation pro-
peller tends to cause the boat to drive to
port when going forward, and to starboard
when going backward.
operator’s position. It is the boat opera-
tor’s responsibility to ensure that the boat
is never overloaded. Too much additional
weight may cause the boat to overturn or
sink, which can result in serious bodily in-
jury or death.
Emergencies
Know how to use and spot distress sig-
nals, and to offer assistance if possible.
Remember, you may need assistance some
day. Review the Safety section of this Own-
er’s Manual.
Courtesy
Always respect the rights of others on
the water. Keep wide when passing, slow
down in crowded areas, be alert and be
aware of your wake and wash. See the
Rules of the Open Water information in the
Safety section of this Owner’s Manual.
First Time Operation
When taking to the water for the rst
time, you must keep in mind a few general
guidelines:
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