Everglades 2012 275 CC, Owner'S Manual

Page: 34 / 148

34
Operation
WARNING
WARNING
2.11 Crow’s Nest (Optional)
Your boat could be equipped with an optional
Crow’s Nest (observation tower). The Crow’s Nest
is a powder coated, welded aluminum frame that
is bolted to the hardtop and design for one person.
It is intended to be an observation station only,
there are no controls.
The following is a list of safety precautions
for the Crow’s Nest:
• Do not allow anyone in the Crow’s Nest during
rough sea conditions. The boat’s motions are
exaggerated in the Crow’s Nest and this motion
may become excessive in rough seas.
OPERATING THE bOAT AT HIGH SPEEDS WITH SOMEONE IN
THE CROW’S NEST CAN CAUSE SEVERE INJURY OR DEATH.
DO NOT OPERATE THE bOAT AT PLANNING SPEEDS WITH
SOMEONE IN THE CROW’S NEST. THE bOATS MOTIONS ARE
ExAGGERATED IN THE CROW’S NEST AND MAY bECOME
ExCESSIVE FOR SOMEONE IN THE CROW’S NEST, EVEN
THOUGH THE MOTION FEELS NORMAL AT THE HELM. ONLY
OPERATE THE bOAT AT SLOW SPEEDS WHILE SOMEONE IS
IN THE CROW’S NEST.
• Do not overload the Crow’s Nest. It is designed
to hold the weight of only one average-sized
person. Weight in the Crow’s Nest raises the
boat’s center of gravity. Too much weight could
make the boat unstable. This is particularly
important in small boats.
• Always pay close attention to your grip and
footing on the Crow’s Nest ladder. Your ability
to achieve a good grip and proper footing is
reduced in wet or rough weather. Therefore,
the Crow’s Nest should be avoided in these
conditions.
• Only operate the boat with someone in the
Crow’s Nest in familiar waters or where
running aground is not a possibility. Running
aground while someone is riding in the Crow’s
Nest could result in severe injury.
• Always be alert for waves and boat wakes when
someone is in the Crow’s Nest. Remember that
the boat’s motions are exaggerated in the
Crow’s Nest.
• Good common sense and judgment must be
exercised at all times while someone is riding
in the Crow’s Nest.
• Always put the boat in NEUTRAL while
someone is moving to and from the Crow’s
Nest and cockpit.
GOOD COMMON SENSE, JUDGMENT AND ExTREME CAUTION
MUST bE ExERCISED WHEN OPERATING A bOAT WITH
SOMEONE IN THE CROW’S NEST. DO NOT ALLOW ANYONE
IN THE CROW’S NEST WHEN THE WATER IS ROUGH OR WHEN
OPERATING IN UNFAMILIAR WATERS WHERE RUNNING
AGROUND IS A POSSIbILITY. REMEMbER, WEIGHT IN THE
CROW’S NEST RAISES THE bOAT’S CENTER OF GRAVITY
AND THE bOAT’S MOTION IS GREATLY ExAGGERATED FOR
SOMEONE RIDING IN THE CROW’S NEST.
2.12 Man Overboard
If someone falls overboard, you must be pre-
pared to react quickly, particularly when you are
offshore. The following procedures will help you
in recovering a person that has fallen overboard.
• Immediately stop the boat and sound a man
overboard alarm and have all passengers point
to the person in the water.
• Circle around quickly and throw a cushion
or life jacket to the person, if possible and
another to use as a marker.
• Keep the person on the driver side of the boat
so you can keep him in sight at all times.
• Make sure to approach the person from the
downwind side and maneuver the boat so the
propellers are well clear of the person in the
water.
• Turn off the engines when the person is
alongside and use a ring buoy with a line
attached, a paddle or boat hook to assist him
to the boat. Make sure you don’t hit him with
the ring buoy or the boat.
• Pull the person to the boat and assist him on
board.