Mercury Racing HP565, Manual, Page: 41 / 151

GENERAL INFORMATION
eng
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Impact With Underwater Hazards
IMPORTANT: Operating in shallow waters can severely damage
the boat or power package. Maintain a minimum safe speed
when operating the vessel in shallow waters or in areas with
underwater obstacles.
Reduce speed and proceed with caution whenever you drive a
boat in shallow water areas, or in areas where you suspect
underwater obstacles may exist which could be struck by the
sterndrive or the boat bottom. The most important thing you can
do to help reduce injury or impact damage from striking a floating
or underwater object is to control the boat speed. Under these
conditions, boat speed should be kept to a minimum planing
speed 24 to 40 km/h (15 to 25 MPH)
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Striking a floating or underwater object could result in an infinite
number of situations. Some of these situations could result in the
following:
• Part of the sterndrive or the entire sterndrive could break
loose and cause serious injury or damage to the boat.
• The boat could move suddenly in a new direction. Such a
sharp change in direction can cause occupants to be thrown
out of their seats or out of the boat.
• A rapid reduction in speed. This will cause occupants to be
thrown forward, or even out of the boat.
• Impact damage to the sterndrive and/or boat.
Keep in mind, the most important thing you can do to help
reduce injury or impact damage during an impact is control the
boat speed. Boat speed should be kept to a minimum planing
speed when driving in waters known to have underwater
obstacles.