MasterCraft urges all who will be operating the boat to seek
certied instruction from the local boating authorities. This section is
designed to present the most basic operational principles. It is NOT
intended to cover all conditions encountered during operation. There-
fore, the principles presented in this Owner’s Manual are limited to
the facts related directly to the operation of the boat, while the re-
sponsibility for the proper application of these principles belongs with
the boat owner and/or operator.
Adding additional ballast to a MasterCraft boat is not
recommended, and can result in impaired visibility, di-
minished handling characteristics and instability when
operating your boat, and may result in potential struc-
tural and/or engine damage to the boat, which damage
will not be covered by your warranty.
Loading
Never overload the boat. The maximum weight capacity as listed
on the certication plate includes all items added to the boat (includ-
ing persons and gear). Proper distribution of weight is critical to boat
performance. Allocate the load as evenly as possible.
The maximum weight capacity includes lled, factory-installed ballast
tanks and/or ballast bags, added by the customer.
Note that adding ballast bags reduces the number of
people and the amount of gear that can be added. Failure
to adhere to the total maximum capacity may result in too
much strain on the drive train or may sink the boat. This
is not covered under warranty! See the Common Sense Ap-
proach section of this Owner’s Manual regarding weight, in-
cluding calculations for ballast and gasoline.
ope r ati o na l h i n ts
Information regarding the maximum number of people
and/or additional weight to the boat is included in the
Guide to Individual Models section of this Manual. It is
the boat operator’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 injury or death.
Emergencies
Know how to use and spot distress signals, and to offer assistance
if possible. Remember, you may need assistance some day.
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.
First Time Operation
When taking to the water for the rst time, you must keep in
mind a few general guidelines:
• Practice makes perfect! Start in calm water with no wind or
current and plenty 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 veloc-
ity, 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 launch-
ing and loading.
• Remember that a boat is not an automobile! 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 high-speed maneuvering is rel-
atively easy and takes little practice, slow-speed maneuvering is far
more difcult and requires time and practice to master.
With both steering and propulsion at the rear of the boat, the initia-
tion 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, pro-
peller-driven boats. With the rudder in the straight-ahead position, a
counterclockwise rotation propeller tends to cause the boat to drive
to port when going forward, and to starboard when going backward.
mastercraft 2010 ow n e r ’s m anual • page 11-1
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