At high speed, there is compensation for this effect, and it is vir-
tually non-existent. But, at slow speed—and especially during back-
ing—the effect can be very pronounced. This is the main reason that
most experienced drivers approach with the dock to the starboard of
the boat.
Stopping—or checking headway—is a technique that must be
mastered. With no brakes, reverse must be used to stop the boat.
The momentum of the boat will vary according to the load. Make it a
practice to slow to no-wake speed before shifting into reverse.
When practicing maneuvering techniques, always do so in open
water that is free of trafc. Adequate practice may make the difference
between a pleasurable boating experience or a potentially damaging
(at the very least, embarrassing) one.
High Speed Operation
MasterCraft boats are designed to be a high-performance boat.
Professional drivers with advanced operating skills perform high-speed
maneuvers and turns on-a-dime. DO NOT attempt to duplicate or
simulate these feats. Paid, professional drivers log thousands of hours
on the water and carefully choreograph every move. Plans are made in
advance in the event the routine must be aborted. Maneuvers of this
nature could cause serious injury or death, as well as damage to your
MasterCraft boat that will not be covered under warranty.
Boat operators should never attempt to duplicate opera-
tional skills of professional drivers. When such maneu-
vers fail, it can result in serious injury or death.
For the best engine performance and longevity, the wide-open-
throttle (WOT) engine operation must be near the top of, but within,
the specied WOT operating range. To adjust the WOT operating
range, select a propeller with the proper diameter and pitch. The pro-
peller supplied on the boat was chosen for best all-around perfor-
mance under average operating conditions.
Load, weather, altitude and boat condition all affect WOT engine
operation. If the boat is used for several different applications such as
wakeboarding, barefooting and cruising, it may be necessary to have two
(2) or more propellers of differing size and pitch to allow the engine to
operate in the WOT range for each application.
Propping the boat should be done after the boat is loaded in the
manner in which it would normally be loaded for each application.
For example, in propping the boat for wakeboarding, ll the ballast
tanks and add the people and gear that normally would be expected
in the boat. Take the boat out and after warm-up, run it at wide-open-
throttle and note the maximum RPM. EFI engines are equipped with
RPM limiters to prevent over-revving. Take note if the RPM limiter is
activated.
If the WOT RPM is higher than the maximum RPM in your en-
gine’s WOT operating range, the boat is under-propped. Installing a
higher-pitched propeller will reduce the WOT RPMs. An engine that is
over-revving may quickly experience catastrophic damage, which will
not be covered under warranty.
If the WOT RPM is lower than the minimum RPM in your engine’s
WOT operating range, the boat is over-propped. Installing a lower-
pitched propeller will increase WOT RPMs.
An engine that is under-revving is “lugging.” This places a tre-
mendous load on the pistons, crankshaft and bearings and can cause
detonation, piston seizure and other engine damage, which will not be
covered under warranty.
Engines should always be operated within engine manu-
facturer guidelines. Failure to do so may cause significant
damage to the engine and drive train and is not covered
under warranty!
Elevation and weather also have a very noticeable effect on the
wide-open-throttle power of an engine. Since oxygen gets thinner as
elevation increases, the engine begins to starve for air. Humidity, baro-
metric pressure and temperature have a noticeable effect on the density
of air since heat and humidity thin the air.
This phenomenon can become particularly apparent when an en-
gine is propped for use on a cool, dry day in spring and then is operat-
ed on a hot, humid day in summer, and does not have the same perfor-
mance. Although some performance can be regained by dropping to a
lower-pitch propeller, the basic condition still exists. The propeller is
too large in diameter for the reduced power output. An experienced
marine dealer can determine how much diameter to remove from a
lower-pitch propeller for specic high-elevation locations.
MasterCraft’s engine manufacturers suggest that consumers con-
sult with the dealer from whom the boat was purchased regarding the
best propeller for the application in which the boat will primarily be
run. However, be aware that changing the propeller may void the war-
ranty. Again, working with an authorized MasterCraft dealer is your
best bet to ensure excellent performance.
Unusual Operating Conditions
If the body of water is unknown, talk to local boaters about the
type of obstacles that may be encountered beneath the water’s sur-
face. Rocks, tree stumps and sandbars are all dangerous and damag-
ing. Be especially wary of rivers and man-made lakes. Rapidly chang-
ing conditions can cause daily changes in underwater hazards.
Stay well clear of oating debris. What looks to be a small branch
in the water may well turn out to be an entire tree.
When traveling through weedy areas, keep an eye on the en-
gine temperature gauge. Weeds caught up and blocking the water
ow through the raw water intake or transmission cooler will cause
trouble. Also, after leaving the weedy area, shift to neutral for a few
seconds and then to reverse for a few seconds to unwind any weeds
that may have wrapped around the propeller.
mastercraft 2010 ow n e r ’s m anual • page 11-2
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