Basic Maneuvering
Steering response is dependent upon three factors: rudder position, motion and throttle. While high speed
maneuvering is relatively easy and takes little practice, slow speed maneuvering is far more difficult and requires
much time and practice 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 close quarters maneuvers.
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 advantage.
Unequal thrust is a phenomenon shared by all single-engine, propeller-drive boats. A counterclockwise
rotation propeller tends to cause the boat to drive to port when going forward, and to starboard when going
backward, with the rudder in the straight-ahead position.
At high speed, there is compensation for this effect and it is virtually non-existent. But, at slow speed–and
especially during backing–the effect can be very pronounced. This is the main reason 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 traffic. Adequate practice
may make the difference between a pleasureable experience or a damaging–at the least, embarrassing–one.
High Speed Operation
Your MasterCraft boat was designed to be a high-performance ski boat. You may have seen
professional drivers with advanced operating skills perform high-speed maneuvers and on-a-dime
turns. DO NOT attempt to duplicate or simulate these feats. Paid, professional drivers log thou-
sands 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 that will not be covered under warranty.
For the best engine performance and longevity, the wide-open-throttle (WOT) engine operation must be near
the top of, but within, the specified WOT operating range. To adjust the WOT operating range, you must select a
propeller with the proper diameter and pitch. The propeller supplied with your boat was chosen for best all-
around performance under average operating conditions.
Load, weather, altitude and boat condition all affect WOT engine operation. If you use your boat for several
different applications such as wakeboarding, barefooting and cruising, it may be necessary to have two or more
propellers of different size and pitch to allow the engine to operate in the WOT range for each application.
Propping the boat should be done after the engine break-in and the initial 10-hour dealer check. The boat
should be loaded the way it would normally be for each application. For example, if you are propping the boat for
wakeboarding, fill the ballast tanks and add the people and gear you would normally expect to carry 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 engine’s WOT operating range, the boat is
under-propped. The engine operating ranges for en-
gines in MasterCraft boats are:
Predator engine:
4400-4800 RPM
MCX engine:
4800-5200 RPM
LQ9 Cadillac engine:
4800-5400 RPM
8.1 Liter engine:
4800-5400 RPM
OPERATIONAL HINTS
12-2
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