Formula 2008 5-20 Fastech, Service Manual

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2-5
FORMULA
BOATING SAFETY
FASTECH
RECOMMENDED
EQUIPMENT
In spite of all efforts to the contrary, problems or
mishaps sometime occur while boating. Stock
these items listed below on your boat to help
make unexpected events more manageable.
●
Sea anchor and anchor line
●
Life raft
●
Tow line
●
Mooring lines and fenders
●
Compass
●
First aid kit and manual
●
Day/night distress signals
●
Radar reflector
●
Flashlight and spare batteries
●
Cellular phone
●
Binoculars
●
Portable AM/FM radio with weather band
●
Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon
(EPIRB)
●
Engine, drive unit and trim tab lubricant
●
Tool kit
●
Spare propeller and mounting hardware
●
Spare fuses and bulbs
●
Boat hook
●
Spare keys
●
Sun glasses and sun block lotion
●
Bottled water
Sea Anchors
You should have a separate sea anchor
onboard to slow drifting. In heavy seas, a sea
anchor is set from the bow to control the boat’s
behavior. The sea anchor holds the bow to the
sea and a slow drift. Please consult your
Formula dealer for sea anchor
recommendations.
Life Raft
If operating offshore, you should consider
carrying an inflatable life raft. A USCG approved
life raft meets a number of stringent
specifications. The life raft must be large enough
to hold all the boat’s occupants and have its own
equipment pack including a paddle.
EMERGENCY
CONSIDERATIONS
Be prepared to deal with emergencies before
they happen. Try to formulate a plan for each
type in advance so that decisions can be made
quickly and without hesitation. Precious
moments lost can mean the difference between
losing and saving a life.
Fire/Explosion
You must be prepared and act quickly when
dealing with a fire. It is not recommended to
battle a fire for an extended period of time. Turn
engines off and abandon the boat if the fire
cannot be extinguished quickly. Swim at least 25
yards (23 meters) upwind from the boat and use
the visual distress signals to get assistance.
Gasoline will float on top of water and can
burn. If the boat is abandoned, swim up
wind, far enough to avoid fuel that may
spread over the surface of the water.
Onboard fires involving the fuel system usually
result in either an explosion that completely
destroys the boat, or the boat burning to the
waterline and self-extinguishing. Deciding on
abandoning the boat or staying to fight the fire is
difficult and depends on many factors. Try to
formulate a fire plan in advance to make that
decision quickly and without hesitation.
Be sure to:
●
Use caution and do not smoke when
refueling.
●
Verify that fuel does not leak.
●
Use only marine approved equipment on
your boat.
! WARNING