Centurion Fi21, Owner'S Manual

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Operating Your Boat
9-9
A boat does not have brakes. Controlling your boat to a stop and while stopped
are important skills that must be learned. Reverse thrust is commonly used to
slow and stop a boat. The continued momentum of a boat will vary according to
the boat design, load and speed. You must also consider and learn to compensate
for the effects of wind and current. Stopping in wind or water currents is difficult
and requires skill to be able to anticipate and compensate for these effects.
• To stop or slow forward motion, always gradually return the throttle(s) to the
slow IDLE position, pause and shift into NEUTRAL, then pause and shift into
REVERSE.
WARNING!
Always gradually return the throttle(s) to the slow
IDLE position. Failure to do so can cause loss of boat control, personal
injury or death, and engine or drive system damage.
• If the boat has been driven for a long period of time at high speed, allow the
engine a two-to three-minute cool-down period at low idle in NEUTRAL.
• Turn the ignition key to the OFF position. NOTICE: Never pull the lanyard from
the engine emergency stop switch for normal shutdown. Doing so may impair
your ability to restart the engine quickly.
• Avoid collisions; at high speeds your boat will require more time and distance to
stop or slow.
Steering
Steering a boat is very different from steering an automobile. Steering and
maneuvering a boat is far more difficult and requires time and practice to master.
When steering a boat, it is important to understand the causes and effects of
turning. Since both thrust and steering are at the stern of the boat, the stern will
push away from the direction the steering wheel (helm) is turned. The boat seems
to skid across the water while turning, which feels very different from an
automobile making a turn.
Steering in reverse has its own challenges. Practice forward and reverse steering
to gain comfort and to feel in control of your boat in any steering situation. Due to
the rotational thrust of the propeller, the boat may pull to starboard when backing
up at slow speeds. This is normal and can be compensated for when backing up.
Be prepared for wind and current while steering your boat. Steering in wind or
water currents is difficult and requires skill to be able to anticipate and
compensate for these effects.
Rotational thrust of the propeller is an aspect most propeller-driven boats share
and needs to be compensated for at slow speeds. During rotational thrust, torque
is transmitted to the helm and may cause the boat to drift either port or starboard
when moving forward at a slow speed. Rotational thrust usually goes unnoticed at
high speeds. While moving forward at a slow speed, constant helm corrections
may be necessary to maintain a straight course.