Sea-doo 2001 GTS, Operator'S Manual, Page: 13 / 180

SPECIAL SAFETY MESSAGES
Before Getting Underway
For safety reasons and proper care, al-
ways perform the pre-ride inspection
as specified in your Operator's Guide
before operating your watercraft.
Do not exceed the payload or pas-
senger capacities for your watercraft.
Overloading can affect maneuverabil-
ity, stability and performance. Also,
heavy seas reduce capacity. A payload
or person capacity plate is not an ex-
cuse for failure to use common sense
or good judgment.
Regularly inspect the PWC, hull, en-
gine, safety equipment, and all other
boating gear and keep them in safe op-
erating condition.
Be sure you have the minimum re-
quired safety equipment, PFDs and
any additional gear needed for your
cruise.
Ensure that all lifesaving equipment,
including fire extinguisher, are in safe
operating condition and easily acces-
sible. Show all passengers where this
equipment is stored on the PWC, and
make sure they know how to use it.
Keep an eye on the weather. Check lo-
cal weather broadcasts before depar-
ture. Be alert to changing conditions.
Keep accurate and up-to-date charts of
the boating area on board. Before get-
ting underway, check water conditions
in the planned boating area.
Ensure there is enough fuel on board
for the planned trip. Always verify fuel
level before use and during the ride.
Apply the principle of 1/3 of the fuel
to reach your destination, 1/3 to re-
turn, and keep 1/3 in reserve. Allow
for changes due to adverse weather or
other delays.
Operator and Passenger Awareness
Read and understand all safety labels
on the Sea-Doo PWC, the Operator's
Guide, all other safety documents, and
watch the
SAFETY DVD
video before
operating the PWC.
Respect applicable laws. Check local
and federal boating laws applicable
to the waterways where you intend
to use your watercraft. Learn the lo-
cal navigation rules. Know and under-
stand the applicable navigation system
(such as buoys and signs).
Remember that sun, wind, fatigue or
illness may impair your judgement and
reaction time.
Operation of this PWC by a person un-
der 16 years of age, or a person with a
disability that impairs vision, reaction
time, judgment, or operation of the
controls is NOT recommended.
Always properly use the tether cord
when operating the watercraft and en-
sure that all passengers are familiar
with its use.
Ensure that any operator and all pas-
sengers know how to swim and how
to reboard the PWC from the water.
Boarding in deep water can be stren-
uous. Practice in chest-deep water
before operating or embarking your
watercraft in deep water. Ensure that
any operator and all passengers wear a
PFD at all times and take extra precau-
tions when boating.
Never turn handlebar while someone
is near the rear of watercraft. Keep
away from steering moving parts (noz-
zle, iBR gate, linkages, etc.).
Do not start the engine or operate the
watercraft if anyone is in the water
nearby, or near the rear of the water-
craft
Be aware of the iBR gate movement
when starting the engine, shutting
down the engine or using the iBR lever.
Automatic movement of the gate may
squeeze fingers or toes of people tak-
ing a hold on the back or your PWC.
The operator and passenger(s) should
be properly seated and have a firm grip
on a handhold before starting the wa-
tercraft, and at all times when the wa-
tercraft is in motion. All passenger(s)
should be instructed to use the hand-
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SAFETY INFORMATION
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