When all your pre-departure checks have been
completed and the engine has warmed up, you will be
Once the boat has slowed and motor is idling, place
the shift in REVERSE. Gradually increasing reverse
ready to leave the dock. Take into account the amount power with the throttle will allow you to stop the boat in
of wind, tide current, and other forces that may affect
your maneuvering as you leave the dock. Idle speeds
work best when maneuvering to and from the dock.
Do not forget to release the mooring lines.
a very short distance.
NOTE: A boat will not respond to steering in reverse
nearly as well as it does when going forward, so do
not expect to accomplish tight turning maneuvers
when backing up.
A. Leaving the Dock
You are ready to leave the dock after the engine has
warmed up. Check all gauges for appropriate read-
ings before casting off. If oil pressure is abnormally
low or engine temperature is abnormally high, stop
the engine immediately. Check voltmeter to be sure
the charging system is working properly. Check for
fuel, oil, and exhaust leaks. Correct the cause of any
abnormal condition before getting underway.
Remember that all boats steer by the stern (the feel-
ing is much like steering your automobile in reverse).
This means that the stern of your boat will swing in the
direction opposite to your turn. For example, when you
turn the helm wheel to the left, the stern of your boat
will swing in the direction opposite to your turn. This
is especially important to keep in mind when docking,
operating in close quarters with other boats, or when
approaching a swimmer or downed skier in the water.
Always look behind you and to both sides of the boat
before slowing down. Tell your passengers your inten-
tions to allow them time to make adjustments to their
balance or positions.
Make sure passengers sitting in the bow area
do not obstruct the operator’s vision when
casting off or while underway.
Slowly pull back on throttles, glance back and see if a
large following wave is approaching the transom. If so
give the engines a little throttle as the wave arrives to
keep wave from rolling over the transom.
After making sure your boat is ready, check wind, tide,
current and other forces that will affect the way you
maneuver your boat away from the dock. Throw moor-
ing lines off to your boat. Shift your boat’s engine into
forward or reverse depending on whether you want to
move the bow or the stern away from the dock first.
Run your engine at a slow speed as you move away
from the dock. If you move the bow out first, watch
that the stern of the boat does not swing into the dock
or a piling.
Once you have spent enough time practicing maneu-
vers and have a feel for how the boat handles, you will
be ready to run in open waters.
T - 6
ACCELERATION
Once away from the dock, devote some time to
learning how to maneuver. Practice docking using an
imaginary dock. Practice stopping and reversing.
Before accelerating to bring you boat on plane,
be sure that the area in front of your boat is
clear. The bow will rise out of the water mo-
mentarily before you plane and may temporar-
ily obstruct your vision.
B. Stopping
Boats have no brakes. Stopping is accomplished
by backing down on the throttle. Practice stopping
maneuvers and learn early how your boat reacts.
From forward motion, pull the throttle back towards
NEUTRAL. Depending on your speed, the distance
the boat travels until it comes to a complete stop will
vary. The ability to measure the distance will only be
acquired through experience.
If you have never had your boat on plane before,
choose a calm day for your first on plane experience.
Never boat beyond your ability and experience.
Before bringing your boat “on plane”, check the entire
area to make sure you have a clear, safe path. As
you throttle up to accelerate, your boat will increase
its angle of trim, causing the bow to ride high. From a
maximum angle, the boat will level out to its planing
Pre-launch & Underway - Section T
Owner’s Manual Page 148
| Categories | Four Winns Manuals, Four Winns SL-Series Manuals |
|---|---|
| Tags | Four Winns SL |
| Model Year | 2011 |
| Download File |
|
| Document Type | Owner's Manual |
| Language | English |
| Product Brand | Boats and Cruisers, Four Winns. For support contact your dealer at http://www.fourwinns.com/locate-dealer.aspx |
| Document File Type | |
| Publisher | fourwinns.com |
| Wikipedia's Page | Outboard Marine Corporation |
| Copyright | Attribution Non-commercial |
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