buster X User guide

BUSTER X
www.buster.fi
OMISTAJAN KÄSIKIRJA
ÄGARENS HANDBOK
BOOTSEIGNER-HANDBUCH
OWNER’S HANDBOOK
MANUEL DU PROPRIÉTAIRE
HANDLEIDING voor de EIGENAAR
НАСТОЛЬНАЯ КНИГА ВЛАДЕЛЬЦА
FI
SE
DE
EN
FR
NL
RU

ENGLISH
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Inha Works Ltd.
Saarikyläntie 21
FI 63700 Ähtäri
Finland
tel. [phone]
Your Buster dealer:
OWNER’S HANDBOOK
BUSTER X
Version 1-2008

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PREFACE
Dear Buster owner!
We thank you for choosing a Finnish Buster®boat and hope you
will have many enjoyable experiences on board.
This handbook aims to help you use your boat safely and with
peace of mind. It includes details of the boat itself, the equipment
and systems installed in it, and information about how to operate
and maintain it. Before you start using your boat, we urge you
to first familiarise yourself with it by reading this handbook thor-
oughly.
Naturally, the Owner’s Handbook is not a prime source for sea-
manship skills or of information on boating safety. If the Buster is
your first boat, or you have changed to a type of boat with which
you are unfamiliar, for the sake of your comfort and safety please
acquire sufficient handling and operating experience before you
take on the responsibility of command. The seller of the boat, a
boat club, or national motorboat and yachting associations will
gladly tell you about local boating schools or recommend compe-
tent teachers.
Before taking out your boat, ensure that its design category is
appropriate for the prevailing wind and sea conditions and that
you and your crew are capable of handling it in the existing con-
ditions. The wind conditions and sea swells in which design cat-
egory C can be used include gales and heavy winds, with which
there is an exceptional risk of high waves and gusts. Only a com-
petent and fit crew can satisfactorily handle such dangerous con-
ditions, and can do so only in a well-maintained boat.
This Owner’s Handbook is not a detailed guide to maintenance or
fault diagnosis. If a problem occurs, please contact your nearest
Buster dealer. If repairs are needed, use only those enterprises

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recommended by a Buster dealership. Alterations that affect the
safety characteristics of a Buster boat can be carried out only
with the written approval of the manufacturer, who cannot be held
responsible for changes to the boat that it has not approved.
In some countries driving a boat requires a licence or some other
authorisation to drive a boat. Country-specific regulations may
also be in force.
Always maintain your boat in good condition and bear in mind the
consequences of wear resulting from ageing, rough treatment
and improper use. Any boat, no matter how strong, can be sig-
nificantly damaged by improper use. Inappropriate boating habits
are unsafe and are out of keeping with good seamanship. Always
adapt the speed and course of your boat in relation to the condi-
tions at sea.
If your boat is equipped with a life-raft, read its operating instruc-
tions thoroughly. The boat should have on-board safety equip-
ment (life-jackets, safety harnesses, etc.) appropriate to the boat
type, weather conditions, etc. In some countries such equipment
is mandatory. The crew must be familiar with the operation of all
safety equipment and emergency manoeuvres (rescuing a man
overboard, towing, etc.). Rescue exercises are regularly organ-
ised by boating schools and clubs.
Every person on board must use an appropriate flotation aid
(such as a life-jacket or vest) while on deck. Note that in some
countries the law requires flotation aids to be used at all times
while on board.
STORE THIS HANDBOOK IN A SAFE PLACE AND HAND IT
OVER TO THE NEXT OWNER WHEN YOU RELINQUISH THE
BOAT.

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Contents
1 General..................................................................................................8
2 Definitions..............................................................................................8
3 Warranty................................................................................................9
4 Before launching ...................................................................................9
4.1 Registration ..................................................................................9
4.2 Insurance .....................................................................................9
4.3 Training ......................................................................................10
5
Boat characteristics and operation...........................................................10
5.1 General ......................................................................................10
5.2 Basic information about the Buster X.........................................10
5.3 Recommended maximum number ofpeople on board ...............12
5.4 Loading ......................................................................................14
5.5 Engine and propeller ..................................................................14
5.6 Preventing water getting on board, and stability ........................15
5.6.1 Hull and deck openings...............................................15
5.6.2 Bilge pumps and drainage...........................................17
5.6.3 Stability and buoyancy ................................................18
5.7 Prevention of fire and explosions ...............................................18
5.7.1 Engines and fuel systems ...........................................18
5.7.2 Fire extinguishing and fire prevention .........................20
5.8 Electrical system ........................................................................21
5.9 Control characteristics................................................................25
5.9.1 Driving at high speeds.................................................25
5.9.2 Dead-man’s grip .........................................................27
5.9.3 Visibility from the steering position..............................27
5.10 Good seamanship – other recommendations and instructions... 28
5.10.1 How to avoid falling overboard and procedures for
getting back on board..................................................28
5.10.2 Securing loose equipment...........................................28
5.10.3 Respect for the environment .......................................28
5.10.4 Anchoring, mooring and towing...................................30
5.10.5 Trailer towing...............................................................32
5.10.6 Navigation ...................................................................33
6 Service, repairs and winter storage.....................................................34

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Boat model:
Hull identification number:
Engine make and model:
Engine serial number:
I Owner
First name:
Surname:
Residence:
Sypplying year:
II Owner
First name:
Surname:
Residence:
Sypplying year:
III Owner
First name:
Surname:
Residence:
Sypplying year:
IV Owner
First name:
Surname:
Residence:
Sypplying year:

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BEFORE DEPARTURE
Read this Owner’s Handbook thoroughly, and before departure
always check:
• Prevailing weather conditions and the weather forecast
Assess the wind conditions, the state of the sea, and visibility. Is
your boat’s design class, size, and on-board equipment, to-
gether with the skills of the helmsman and crew sufficient for
the waterways which you intend to use?
• Load capacity
Do not overload the boat. Distribute the load evenly, and place
heavy objects as low as possible because placing them too
high will reduce the boat’s stability.
• Passengers
Ensure life-jackets or vests are available for everyone on board.
Before departure, agree what duties each person will be re-
sponsible for during the trip.
• Fuel
Check there is enough fuel on board, including sufficient reserve
to cope with bad weather and any unforeseen circumstances.
• Engine and equipment
Check that the steering, electrical devices and battery all
function properly and are in good condition. Carry out the re-
quired daily engine inspection procedures in accordance with
the engine manufacturer’s instruction manual. Also, check the
seaworthiness of the boat: ensure there are no fuel or water
leaks, that there is adequate safety equipment on board, etc.
Check that the level of bilge water is minimal.

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• Ventilation
Ensure the fuel space is ventilated to minimise the risk of fire.
• On-board equipment is well secured
Make sure all articles are properly stowed to remain in place
in the event of heavy seas and high winds.
• Sea charts
If you are not fully acquainted with the route, be sure to take
charts that cover a sufficiently large area.
• Manoeuvring during departure
The crew should agree on who is to be responsible for cast-
ing off each rope, etc. During departure and arrival ensure
that mooring or other lines do not get entangled in the propel-
ler.
For further instructions concerning the engine, see the manufac-
turer’s instruction manual.

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1 General
This Owner’s Handbook will help to familiarise you with the char-
acteristics of your new boat. Instruction manuals for equipment
fitted to the boat are also included and are frequently referred to.
You can, of course, complement this handbook by acquiring the
instruction books for other equipment. Space for your own notes
has been provided at the back of this handbook.
2 Definitions
Warnings and specific remarks in this handbook are defined as
follows:
DANGER! Indicates grave danger highly likely to lead to death
or permanent injury if appropriate precautionary
measures are not taken.
WARNING! Indicates danger which may lead to injury or death if
appropriate precautionary measures are not taken.
ATTENTION! Is a reminder to operate in a safe manner or to bear
in mind dangerous methods of operation that may
lead to injury, or damage to the boat or some part of
it.
This handbook adopts units of measurement in accordance with
the SI system. In some cases other units have been included in
parenthesis. An exception to this is wind speed, which is desig-
nated in the Beaufort scale as in the EU Directive on recreational
craft.

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3 Warranty
In accordance with the enclosed warranty conditions, a guaran-
tee is provided for the boat and any equipment that has been
installed in the boatyard. For post-production installations con-
cerning the engine, trim tabs, compass, possible navigation
equipment and other devices, the manufacturer of the equipment
in question is directly responsible for any warranty concerns. For
the various equipment/devices, separate warranty cards together
with contact information for their suppliers are enclosed. For other
matters of warranty we request that you contact the Buster dealer
indicated on the cover of this handbook.
4 Before launching
4.1 Registration
In many countries, it is mandatory for even small boats to be
registered. Check with the local authorities in your country of resi-
dence for the statutory regulations concerning boat registration.
A minimum age and possibly a separate boating licence is nor-
mally required for driving a registered boat
4.2 Insurance
Boat insurance may compensate for damage which has occurred
on the water, during transportation or dry docking. Check sepa-
rately the insurer’s liability regarding hoisting the boat. Insurance
can also indirectly affect safety on the water, because in the event
of serious injuries it allows the essential focus to be on saving
lives. Insurance companies will provide more detailed information
on various insurance alternatives.

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4.3 Training
Ample literature is available about boating. A great deal of benefi-
cial and practical information can also be had from boating clubs
and from attending navigation courses. These provide a sound
basis for your boating skills, though sureness in handling, navi-
gating, mooring and anchoring a boat are best acquired through
long practice.
5 Boat characteristics and operation
5.1 General
This Owner’s Handbook is not a complete maintenance guide
or repair manual. The aim of the handbook is to help owners fa-
miliarise themselves with the characteristics of their new boat as
well as showing them how to use it properly.
5.2 Basic information about the Buster X
Manufacturer:
Inha Works Ltd., Saarikyläntie 21, FI-63700 Ähtäri, Finland,
tel. [phone]
Boat type: Buster X
Design category: C (coastal waters)
Maximum recommended load: 525 kg
See also paragraph 5.4 Loading.

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Design category C is defined as follows:
The Buster X boat is designed to operate in conditions of up to
a maximum wind velocity of 6 on the Beaufort scale (approx. 14
m/sec) and a corresponding swell (a significant wave height of up
to 2 m with occasional waves of 4 m maximum). Such conditions
can occur in open water on lakes, estuaries, and in coastal wa-
ters in moderate weather.
ATTENTION! The significant wave height is the average height
value of the upper third of the swell which roughly
corresponds to an experienced observer’s estimate
of the wave height. Some individual waves could be
twice this height.
Main dimensions and capacities:
The length, beam, draught, total weight, etc., and fuel tank vol-
ume of the boat is shown in Appendix 1: Technical specifications.
Manufacturer’s plate:
Part of the above information is recorded on the manufacturer’s
plate attached to the boat in the vicinity of the steering console.
More comprehensive information is given in appropriate sections
of this handbook.

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5.3 Recommended maximum number of
people on board
The recommended maximum number of people to have on board
the Buster X is seven.
Designated seating arrangements are as shown in Diagram 1.
WARNING! Never exceed the maximum recommended number of
people on board. Irrespective of the number of people
on board, the total weight of people and equipment
must never exceed the recommended maximum load
(see paragraph 5.4 Loading). Use only the seats in
the boat. If the boat is not equipped with seats for
seven people, they must nonetheless sit in the desig-
nated seating places as shown in the diagram.

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Diagram 1. Seating for the maximum number of people on board

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5.4 Loading
The recommended maximum load capacity for the Buster X is
525 kg.
An adult’s weight is taken to be 75 kg and a child’s 37.5 kg. In
addition to the abovementioned recommended maximum load,
the boat can be loaded with the following weights: 10 kg of basic
equipment and a total weight of 60 kg of fuel in the boat’s fixed
tank.
The recommended load includes only the abovementioned
weight components.
WARNING! When loading your boat never exceed the recom-
mended maximum load. Pack the boat carefully and
distribute the load evenly so as to maintain the design
trim (approx. even keel). Avoid storing heavy weights
at too high an elevation.
5.5 Engine and propeller
The largest recommended engine capacity for the Buster X is 58
kW (80 hp).
An outboard engine is designed to be installed so that the cavita-
tion plate above the propeller is on level with the keel line of the
boat.
When fitting the engine and choosing a propeller, comply with the
engine manufacturer’s instructions.

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5.6 Preventing water getting on board,
and stability
5.6.1 Hull and deck openings
The location of deck openings and their respective plugs are
shown in Diagram 2.
Buster X has two outlets for draining rain water from the cock-
pit. These outlets are meant to be plugged if you observe that
water flows back into the cockpit through the drain outlets when
the boat is loaded. In other situations, the drain outlets should
be kept open and regularly cleared to prevent them from getting
blocked by debris. The boat has a drain plug in the aft section
screwed to the lower corner of the transom, through which the
boat can be drained when docked or loaded on a trailer.
ATTENTION! The self draining open space is designed to en-
able emptying of the major amount of rain water
from the open space. A portion of rain water and
condensed water might find its way to the bilge
of the boat. DO NOT LEAVE THE BOAT IN WA-
TER FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME WITHOUT
GUARD. CHECK THE FLOATING POSITION OF
THE BOAT AND DRAIN THE BILGE WHEN RE-
QUIRED. Leaving the boat in water unguarded for
a long period of time might lead to damages.

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Diagram 2. Location of outlets, cut-off valves and bilge pump: 1. Automatic bilge pump; 2. Cockpit drain plug for draining rainwater.

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5.6.2 Bilge pumps and drainage
The location of the boat’s drainage device is shown in Diagram
2. Bilge pumps or the ends of suction hoses are positioned as
close to the bottom plate as is practicable. Even so, a small
amount of water inevitably remains in the bilge where it cannot be
discharged by the pump. However, this water can be drained off
through the drain outlet on the right-hand side of the boat’s tran-
som.
Buster X is equipped with an electrically-operated, automatic
bilge pump. It discharges water that has collected in the bilge
whenever the surface sensor detects its presence. The draining
capacity of the electrical bilge pump is approx. 38 l/min. The au-
tomatic pump is in a constant state of readiness independent of
the position of the main power switch, provided the accumulator
is connected. The bilge pump is activated when the sensor is fully
submerged for five seconds and is deactivated when the sensor
is dry. The pump can also be force-fed by activating the spring-
loaded switch on the switch panel.
The suction head of the electrically-operated bilge pump should
regularly be checked and cleared of debris that may have accu-
mulated there. Access to the pump is through the service hatch in
the engine well.
WARNING! The bilge pump system is not designed to deal with
leaks resulting from running aground or leaks that oc-
cur as a result of other damage.
ATTENTION! Check the amount of bilge water by emptying the
bilge manually by means of the spring loaded switch
on the switch panel, or possibly with a hand pump
before each using time.
ATTENTION! Check the operation of the bilge pump at regular in-
tervals. If you notice that the pump does not operate
properly, clean the suction opening of the pump from
litter and, if needed, contact a Buster dealer.

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5.6.3 Stability and buoyancy
The stability of a Buster boat is excellent thanks to the hull form
and weight distribution. Even so, beware of large breaking waves
which always represent a serious danger to stability.
Your boat’s stability will be compromised if any additional weight
is placed too high in the boat. All changes resulting from position-
ing bulky objects can significantly influence the stability, trim, and
performance of your boat. If you intend to make such changes,
please first contact the manufacturer of the boat.
The amount of water in the bilge should be kept at a minimum as
the free movement of water in the boat always decreases stabil-
ity.
Stability can also be diminished when towing or being towed.
The Buster X is equipped with pontoons to help the boat carry
loads, as defined in paragraph 5.4, even when the boat has filled
with water.
5.7 Prevention of fire and explosions
5.7.1 Engines and fuel systems
The Buster X has a fixed fuel tank which is fitted to the bilge un-
der the engine well and the stern part of the cockpit. Before re-
fuelling, switch off the engine. Do not smoke while refuelling and
otherwise avoid naked flames. Do not use any electrical devices.
The fuel inlet for the fixed fuel tank ( ) is located on the right-
hand side of the stern deck of the boat. To fill the slip tank, it must

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be lifted out of the boat to avoid any fuel getting into the bilge in
the event of the fuelling procedure resulting in an overflow.
When refuelling at a petrol station, do not use a plastic funnel,
which will prevent the discharge of static voltage between the
filler pistol and the bushing of the fuel inlet. After filling the tank
(see tank capacity in Appendix 1: Technical specifications), check
that no fuel has leaked into the bilge or into the engine well. Im-
mediately wipe off any fuel splashes.
Do not keep canisters of reserve fuel in any unventilated space
or loose in the boat, or any equipment containing petrol in a place
not designed for it.
At least once a year, check there has been no wear and tear in
the fuel feed pipes.