3-16
343 Owner’s Manual
Section 3
Performance Yacht
When operating any boat at high speed, exercise a
great deal of caution. This is particularly true during
turns. Gradual turns can be completed at high
speed by a competent driver, but it must be
emphasized that sudden turns at any speed, and
particularly at high speed, can be especially
dangerous. It is possible to throw passengers from
their seats and even from the boat if caution is not
exercised. Remember, common sense is the rule
for safe boating.
We recommend that you have 10 hours of
experience with the boat before any full throttle
operation. Do not operate your boat until you are
completely experienced with its handling
characteristics. The following are some guidelines
for performance operation.
• Keep bottom of the hull clean and free of
barnacles and other growth. Growth on the hull
can slow the boat down considerably.
• Prepare the boat. Be sure all gear is properly
stowed and compartments are latched.
• Weight distribution affects performance. Keep
weight in the boat to a minimum and evenly
distributed.
• The propellers should be of the proper pitch to
turn the recommended rpm rating for the
engine with an average boat load. Refer to your
propulsion unit operator’s manual for additional
information.
• Watch the tachometer. Keep the engines within
the full throttle operating range. Refer to the
propulsion unit operator’s manual for full
throttle operating range.
High-speed operation on smooth water is very
stable, but quick reactions and adjustments are
needed to maintain control. Know your limits and
stay within them. Keep one hand on the steering
wheel and the other on the throttles; constant
adjustments are necessary for rapidly changing
conditions. Small inputs of throttle, steering and
trim movement are exaggerated at high speeds.
Keep watch well ahead so that you have enough
time to react.
Anchoring
Be sure the anchor is adequate for your boat. Use
caution when anchoring. Look for signs of
underwater pipes or cables. With the engines off,
you have no control of the boat. Water and wind
conditions will affect an anchored boat. Be sure the
anchor will hold, before leaving the boat.
There are many types of anchors available on the
market. The choice of one anchor over another
depends on many factors. An anchor will usually
hold best in a mixture of mud and clay or in hard
sand. A Danforth anchor is recommended for
general boating. For more information on anchors,
contact your authorized Cobalt dealer.
A
DANGER
Avoid injury, death or loss of control.
Keep one hand on the steering wheel
and the other on the throttle controls at
all times. If the boat begins to operate in
an unsafe way, pull back on the throttles.
Trim the drive units in at the same time
and maintain control.
A
WARNING
Avoid injury, death or swamping. Anchor
from the bow, not from the stern. A
strong current can pull a boat
underwater, anchored by the stern, and
keep it there.
DANFORTH
ANCHOR
KC-1571
COB_343_OM_forWeb.book Page 16 Monday, June 12, 2006 10:20 AM
