E EMU00917 SAFETY INFORMATION 8 This product emits exhaust gases which contain carbon monoxide, a colorless, odorless gas which may cause brain damage or death when inhaled. Symp- toms include nausea, dizziness, and drowsiness. Keep cockpit and cabin areas well ventilated. Avoid blocking exhaust outlets. 8 Check throttle, shift, and steering for proper operation before starting the engine. 8 Attach the engine stop switch lanyard to a secure place on your clothing, or your arm or leg while operating. If you accidentally leave the helm, the lanyard will pull from the switch, stopping the engine. 8 Know the marine laws and regulations where you will be boating - and obey them.
Refer to “RULES OF THE ROAD” section for basic boating rules. 8 Stay informed about the weather. Check weather forecasts before boating. Avoid boating in hazardous weather. 8 Tell someone where you are going: leave a Float Plan with a responsible person. Be sure to cancel the Float Plan when you return. 8 Use common sense and good judgment when boating. Know your abilities, and be sure you understand how your boat handles under the different boating conditions you may encounter. Operate within your limits, and the limits of your boat. Always operate at safe speeds, and keep a careful watch for obstacles and other traffic. 8 Always watch carefully for swimmers during the engine operation.
8 Stay away from swimming areas. Q 8 Before mounting or operating the out- board motor, read this entire manual. Reading it should give you an under- standing of the motor and its operation. 8 Before operating the boat, read any owner’s or operator’s manuals supplied with it and all labels. Be sure you under- stand each item before operating. 8 Do not overpower the boat with this outboard motor. Overpowering the boat could result in loss of control. The rated power of the outboard should be equal to or less than the rated horse- power capacity of the boat. If the rated horsepower capacity of the boat is unknown, consult the dealer or boat manufacturer. 8 Do not modify the outboard.
Modifica- tions could make the motor unfit or unsafe to use. 8 Never operate after drinking alcohol or taking drugs. About 50% of all boating fatalities involve intoxication. 8 Have an approved personal flotation device (PFD) on board for every occu- pant. It is a good idea to wear a PFD whenever boating. At a minimum, chil- dren and non-swimmers should always wear PFDs, and everyone should wear PFDs when there are potentially haz- ardous boating conditions. 8 Gasoline is highly flammable, and its vapors are flammable and explosive. Handle and store gasoline carefully. Make sure there are no gas fumes or leaking fuel before starting the engine. 1-3