PURSUIT DC / 265, Owner'S Manual

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General Information
11
DC235 / DC265
Insurance
In most states the boat owner is legally
responsible for damages or injuries the boat
causes. Responsible boaters carry ade-
quate liability and property damage insur-
ance for their boat. You should also protect
the boat against physical damage and theft.
Some states have laws requiring minimum
insurance coverage. Contact your dealer or
state boating authority for information on the
insurance requirements in your boating
area.
Reporting Boating Accidents
All boating accidents must be reported by
the owner or operator of the boat to the
proper marine law enforcement authority for
the state in which the accident occurred.
Immediate notification is required if a person
dies or disappears as a result of a recre-
ational boating accident.
If a person dies or there are injuries requir-
ing more than first aid, a formal report must
be filed within 48 hours.
A formal report must be made within 10 days
for accidents involving more than $500.00
damage or the complete loss of a boat.
A "Boating Accident Report" form is located
near the back of this manual to assist you in
reporting an accident. If you need additional
information regarding accident reporting,
please call the Boating Safety Hotline, 800-
368-5647 or uscgboating.org.
Education
If you are not an experienced boater, we rec-
ommend the boat operator and other people
that normally accompany the operator, enroll
in a boating safety course. Organizations
such as the U.S. Power Squadrons, United
States Coast Guard Auxiliary, State Boating
Authorities and the American Red Cross
offer excellent boating educational pro-
grams. These courses are worthwhile even
for experienced boaters to sharpen your
skills or bring you up to date on current rules
and regulations. They can also help in pro-
viding local navigational information when
moving to a new boating area. Contact your
dealer, State Boating Authority or the Boat-
ing Safety Hotline, 800-368-5647 or uscg-
boating.org for further information on boating
safety courses.
Required Equipment
U.S. Coast Guard regulations require certain
equipment on each boat. The Coast Guard
also sets minimum safety standards for ves-
sels and associated equipment. To meet
these standards some of the equipment
must be Coast Guard approved. “Coast
Guard Approved Equipment” has been
determined to be in compliance with USCG
specifications and regulations relating to
performance, construction or materials. The
equipment requirements vary according to
the length, type of boat, and the propulsion
system. Some of the Coast Guard equip-
ment is described in the Safety Equipment
Section of this manual. For a more detailed
description, obtain “Federal Requirements
and Safety Tips for Recreational Boats” by
contacting the Boating Safety Hotline 800-
368-5647, uscgboating.org or your local
marine dealer or retailer.
Some state and local agencies go beyond
USCG regulations or impose similar equip-
ment requirements on waters that do not fall
under Coast Guard jurisdiction. Contact your
dealer or local boating authority, they can
provide you with additional information for
the equipment requirements for that boating
area.
EPA Compliant Fuel System
EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) reg-
ulations have required additional emissions
related components for the fuel tank, fuel fill
and fuel vent systems. It is unlawful to
remove or intentionally defeat these emis-
sion related components.