Malibu Boats 21 VLX, Owner'S Manual

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2020 Malibu Boats LLC • Owner’s Manual • Page 258
shoreline or due to the methods of extracting boats from specific bodies of water, must lift the boat to suspend
the boat or use a boat cradle.
When the boat must be lifted, use the correct sling system or the lifting eyes only. Never allow a lifting device
to wrap around the underwater gear as the weight of the boat could cause the sling to damage the gear. The
boat may not be able to withstand the gravitational forces if the boat is not properly supported.
Never use the ski pylon or tower as part of the lifting process. These
components are not designed to be utilized at any time or any point in the
lifting process. Never use the cleats for lifting either. Never lift the boat with
any water in the ballast or bilge systems of the boat. The additional weight
could cause failure also.
When using the lifting eyes on the boat, an overhead hoist should be used to lift the boat, coupled with
appropriately rated capacity straps. Each strap has to be rated for the boat weight or higher. (See the Quick
Reference Guide in this Owner’s Manual to determine the boat’s base weight, without any added gear.) Spreader
bars should also be used to prevent side loading of the stern eyes as well as damage to the rub rail on the bow.
When lifting the boat, keep the bow slightly higher than the stern to avoid having any water run into the engine
exhaust system.
When using slings, an appropriately rated capacity overhead hoist is required. Multiple slings at least six (6)
inches by twenty (20) feet should be used. As with the lifting eye straps above, check the
Quick Reference Guide in
this Owner’s Manual to determine the boat’s base weight, without any added gear. An eight-foot spreader bar on
each sling will prevent side pressure to the deck or gunwale molding that can cause damage. Such damage is not
covered under warranty.
A storage cradle has to provide proper support to the boat, meaning the boat cannot be supported by
resting the hull on the keel. There can be no gaps between the hull and the cradle supports. Support of at least
500 square inches is required on boats of less than twenty-five (25) feet, and at least 600 square inches on boats
greater than twenty-five (25) feet.
Protect all underwater gear protruding from the boat hull from damage. None of these components is rated to
support any of the boat’s weight.
Winterizing Boats Equipped with Optional Flush Kit
Begin by performing a normal flushing of the engine.
With the boat out of the water:
• Locate the flush kit connector on the port side
of the transom, above the swim platform.
• Connect a gardening-type hose as shown
in the accompanying photo to the flush kit
system at the connector, and turn on the
fresh water at the source.
• With the boat shifter in neutral, start the
engine and allow it to idle. During the entire
process,
DO NOT EXCEED 1100 RPM on the
engine. (The freshwater hose cannot provide
sufficient water supply to adequately cool the
engine at higher RPMs.) Also, never take the