Johnson Outdoors ESCAPE CALYPSO User manual

OWNER’S MANUAL
ESCAPE CALYPSO
ESCAPE GLIDE & ELECTRIC GLIDE
ESCAPE JAZZ
ALL ESCAPE WATERWHEELER MODELS
ALL ROGUE RIVER AQUATOY MODELS
Johnson Outdoors-Watercraft, Sport & Leisure Group
4855 Broadmoor SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49512-5360
1-800-552-6287
www.jowatercraft.com
November, 2003

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Thank you for purchasing this pedal boat from
Johnson Outdoors-Watercraft, Sport & Leisure Group.
Your pedal boat is the result of years of design,
manufacturing and material improvements. It clearly
represents the best value available and is designed to
provide you and your family with many years of fun.
This Owner’s Manual provides the key information on its
use and care. If you have additional questions, or would
like to learn about pedal boat accessories, fishing boats,
canoes, kayaks, dinghies, electric deck boats and the other
fine products we offer, please contact us:
Johnson Outdoors-Watercraft, Sport & Leisure Group
Customer Service
4855 Broadmoor S.E.
Grand Rapids, MI 49512-5360
1-800-552-6287, www.jowatercraft..com
At Johnson Outdoors-Watercraft, Sport & Leisure Group,
we hope you enjoy this pedal boat for many years to come,
and use it to make a lifetime of memories.
Happy boating,
Sandra L. Spielmaker
President, Johnson Outdoors-Watercraft, Sport & Leisure
Group
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Warranty
Johnson Outdoors-Watercraft, Sport & Leisure Group warrants its
manufactured products to be free of material defects subject to the
following time limitations and use exclusions.
Johnson Outdoors-Watercraft, Sport & Leisure Group warrants the hull
and deck of each new pedal boat to be free of material and
manufacturing defects for a period of (5) years from the date of retail
sale. All other component parts and accessories are warranted for a
period of one (1) year or are warranted for the period specified by their
original manufacturer, whichever is less.
Under this warranty, Johnson Outdoors-Watercraft, Sport & Leisure
Group is limited to the repair or replacement of the components as
defined above. Transportation to and from an authorized repair
facility is the responsibility of the purchaser. Johnson Outdoors-
Watercraft, Sport & Leisure Group shall not be held liable for
incidental, consequential costs such as registration fees, or other
damages resulting from defects in warranted components.
This warranty does not extend to or apply to Escape squirt gun
accessories or any product that is used for rental or other commercial
use, nor products that are damaged from abuse, neglect, accident,
normal wear or repairs made by unauthorized repair facilities or
individuals.
There are no warranties either expressed or implied which extend
beyond those defined in this statement.
This warranty only applies to the original purchaser and is
nontransferable.
To verify date of purchase, please return the product registration card
within 30 days. Also please retain your original purchase receipt.
Johnson Outdoors-Watercraft, Sport & Leisure Group
November, 2003
4571 Rev B

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Problem: Motor only operates on one or two speeds.
Probable Cause Corrective Action
Defective Control switch. See dealer for service.
Or Defective Motor
Loose connections at control Disconnect battery. Remove
switch. control panel. Disconnect,
clean and/or recrimp
connectors one at a time.
Reconnect leads to switch
terminals. Reconnect battery.
Defective Motor. See dealer for service.
Problem: Motor starts but soon stops.
Probable Cause Corrective Action
Prop partially obstructed with Remove boat from water.
fishing line, rope, weeds, etc. Carefully inspect and clean
prop. Remove prop. Remove
any weeds, line, rope that may
be wound around prop shaft.
Short in switches or wiring. Disconnect battery. Remove
control panel. Check wire
connections on rear of control
panel. If loose, recrimp
connectors. Clean all
corrosion from connections.
Circuit breaker tripped. Reset circuit breaker. If circuit
breaker trips again, see cause
1, 2 or 3.
Defective Motor. See dealer for service.
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Table of Contents
Material Checklist Page 3
Illustrations of Models Pages 4-9
Basic Materials Page 10
-Hull Material
-Capacity and Flotation
Transporting Your Pedal Boat Pages 11
Operating Your Pedal Boat Pages 11-14
-Checklist for Operation
-Boarding
-Steering
Operating Your Electric Pedal Boat Pages 14-17
-Mounting a Motor
-Electric Motor Operation
-Battery Charging
-Motor Operation and Control
-Electric Motor Prop
Safety Procedures Pages 18-19
-Loading safety
-Weather conditions
-Personal Flotation Gear
-Launching safety
oShore conditions
oRudder
oDrainage
Storage Pages 19-21
Care and Maintenance Pages 21
Trouble Shooting For Electric Pedal Boats Pages 22-24
Warranty Page 25

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Problem: Motor runs but will not move boat.
Probable Cause Corrective Action
Missing prop, broken shear pin. Replace prop and/or shear pin.
Tighten prop nut.
Problem: Motor Runs Slow
Probable Cause Corrective Action
Low battery charge.
Check battery water level
Charge battery
Prop partially obstructed by Raise motor. Remove boat
fishing line, weeds, etc. from water, carefully inspect
and clean prop. Remove prop
and any line, rope, weeds, etc.
that may be wound around it.
Water in motor due to Check for water in motor.
defective seals. Replace motor if water is
inside.
Problem: Prop strikes hull.
Probable Cause Corrective Action
Motor is in “up” position. Lower motor to “run” position.
Problem: Motor runs backwards.
Probable Cause Corrective Action
Battery leads reversed. Reverse battery

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Escape Electric Glide/WaterWheeler ASL Trouble
Shooting
Problem: Motor Won’t Run
Probably Cause Corrective Action
Dead battery or missing battery Recharge or replace
battery
Battery leads disconnected Remove battery leads,
or badly corroded. clean corrosion from
battery terminals and
connectors. Reconnect
battery leads and tighten
wing nuts.
Circuit breaker on control panel Check prop. Remove
tripped. weeds, fishing line, rope
that may be wound
around prop shaft. Reset
breaker.
Circuit breaker continues to trip. Remove control panel.
Clean all corrosion from
terminals. Make sure
connections are tight. If
motor still doesn’t run,
call dealer for service.
Prop jammed against obstruction. Check prop for
obstruction due to
weeds, fishing line, rope,
etc. Reset and try again.
If no obstruction is
found, see dealer for
service.
Defective control switch. See dealer for service.
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MATERIAL CHECKLIST
Upon delivery of your pedal boat you should receive:
1. Warranty registration card. Please read and
complete the registration card and mail it to
Johnson Outdoors-Watercraft, Sport & Leisure
Group.
2. Owner’s Manual and Statement of Warranty
(back page)
3. Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin. You will need
this certificate if you are required to register your
boat in your state.
4. Rudder Blade
-The rudder is used to steer the boat
5. Registration Decal
To apply registration decals, wipe down the surface
with a damp cloth and let dry. Then peel, and apply
the decals, taking care to smooth out any bubbles
and raised edges.
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Make a permanent record of the following information for
future reference. Know your serial number when contacting
Johnson Outdoors-Watercraft, Sport & Leisure Group or
your dealer with service questions.
Serial Number: ___________________
Date of Purchase: ___________________
Purchased From: ___________________

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Escape Jazz ™ Escape Glide
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Do not stack heavy articles on top of the boat or set it on
narrow supports, i.e. saw horses. Additional weight
and/or narrow supports may cause the hull or deck to
compress and dent over time. If this should happen, most
dents will gradually come out by removing the weight
that caused the dent and placing the boat on a flat surface
in the sun to be warmed. It may take several days of
warm weather, but the polyethylene material will
gradually return to its original shape.
CARE AND MAINTENANCE
Your pedal boat is designed to provide you with many
years of enjoyable service with a minimum of care. Here
are some suggestions for proper maintenance.
Cleaning
General cleaning can be done with soap, water and a
scrub brush. Standard household cleaners, dish soap or
car wash soap are adequate. Be sensitive to the
environment and don’t clean your boat in the lake. Clean
it away from the water.
In salt water, barnacles and other marine life will form on
the hull surface if the boat is left in the water over long
periods of time. Carefully scrape them off periodically
with a putty knife. They’ll be easier to remove if you
keep them wet. Painting the hull with an antifouling
bottom preservative can help minimize barnacle build up.
Contact Johnson Outdoors-Watercraft, Sport & Leisure
Group directly for repair procedures, parts or accessories
call 1-616-698-3000.

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leaking will occur between the hull and the deck.
Some leakage will occur during heavy or continuous
rain. THIS IS NOT A DEFECT! Remove the bow
drain plug located at the bow under the rub-rail and
stand the boat on its bow end to drain the water.
No damage will result from water accumulation, but the
boat should be periodically drained (once a month).
If excess water is left in the boat, the hull shape could
alter. If excess water freezes, hull/deck shape could alter
as well. Remember, you don’t leave your car windows
down during a rain. Don’t leave your pedal boat right
side up for prolonged periods without a cover. If you do,
you will have to drain the interior prior to use.
Running a cable or chain over the paddle wheel and
looping it around a stationary object can secure the boat
and locking the two cables ends together. Make sure the
electric motor is in the “UP” position to prevent water
from seeping down the motor mounting shaft and into
the motor.
Long Term Storage
Storage of your Escape or AquaToy in the off-season or
long periods of time requires a little extra care. If it is to
be stored outside, stand the boat on its bow or side and
lean it against a building, hull side out to prevent water,
snow, leaves etc. from accumulating in the unit.
Do not stand the boat on its stern as this could
damage the rudderpost and rudder. Secure the boat so
it cannot fall. Install the storage cover if you have one. If
you have room to store it inside, the boat can be set flat
on the floor or stood on its bow and leaned against the
wall.
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Escape Calypso WaterWheeler MKV/WaterWheeler 5

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Water Wheeler ASL
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aprons, etc. can chafe the hull if you drag or slide
the boat over these surfaces.
B. Rudder
Make sure the rudder is installed properly and
secured with the clevis pin and cotter ring. If the
ring is missing the pin may fall out, resulting in
the loss of your rudder and ability to steer.
C. Drainage
You may need to drain the area between the
deck and the hull of any accumulated
condensation or water seepage. Remove the
bow drain plug located at the bow under the rub-
rail and stand the boat up on its bow to thoroughly
drain the interior cavity. Reinstall the drain plug.
CAUTION: Make sure you remove the battery
on the electric model before you try to drain
the boat.
STORAGE
Short Term Storage
Pull the boat from the water to prevent a build up of algae
and marine growth on the hull surface. Cover the boat
with the storage cover (available from your dealer or
Johnson Outdoors-Watercraft, Sport & Leisure Group,
via the order form in the back of this manual), or turn it
on its side to prevent water from accumulating in the
boat. With the Escape Glide Electric, remove the battery
and store it in an area protected from freezing. Make sure
the battery is fully charged and remains so during
prolonged storage.
NOTE: If accumulated water in the boat’s foot-wells
reaches the level of the crank bushings, substantial

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SAFETY PROCEDURES
Loading Safety
Review the passenger and weight capacity limitation. Be
sure the loading is within these limits. Distribute weight
evenly for proper balance and performance.
Weather Conditions
Check the weather and water conditions before using
your pedal boat. High winds, waves, strong currents or
tides may seriously affect your ability to steer the unit or
travel the necessary distance to shore. Fatigue from rapid
and continuous pedaling to overcome these forces may
prevent you from returning to your point of embarkation.
Be sure to take these factors into consideration before
launching the boat.
Personal Flotation Gear
Make sure all passengers wear a certified Personal
Flotation Device (life jacket).
Launching Safety
When launching the boat from shore, face the front of the
boat toward the water. The rudder is designed to kick out
and away from the boat if it strikes an object when
moving forward. DO NOT push the boat backwards
into the water as the rudder may jam and bed the
rudder shaft.
To prevent excessive hull abrasion over time and protect
the rudder, use two people to carry the boat to the water.
Do not drag the boat across gravel, asphalt or
concrete.
A. Shore Conditions
Be especially conscious of shore conditions.
Sharp rocks, sharp edges on break-walls, concrete
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Water Wheeler JR /WaterWheeler 3 /Rogue River Aquatoy 3

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Rogue River Aquatoy 5Rogue Rive Aquatoy ASL
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becomes fouled with weeds or fishing line, or strikes an
object, the amp draw from the battery will “trip” (pop
out) and interrupt the flow of electricity to the motor
and circuitry. If the circuit breaker “trips” and is telling
you there is an electrical overload, turn the motor to
“off.” Pedal the boat to shore and raise the motor.
Examine the prop carefully and remove anything that
would impede the prop. Often fishing line gets
wrapped around the shaft and it’s not always visible.
Once the prop is clear, lower the motor and push in the
circuit breaker to reset it. If it trips again, don’t use the
motor. Refer to the trouble-shooting guide in this
manual or call your Johnson Outdoors-Watercraft,
Sport & Leisure Group dealer.
Electric Motor Prop
When operating the boat at the #5 speed setting with
only one person, some prop noise may be experienced.
This noise is created by minor ventilation of the prop
and will not have a significant detrimental affect on
performance nor will it harm the motor.
Boat speed can be further enhanced by pedaling the
boat in conjunction with the motor.
CAUTION: Do not use the electric motor when
contact with swimmers or bystanders could occur.
Severe injury could result from contact with the
spinning prop. Children operating the boat should
be closely supervised by an adult.

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Remember you are handling a 110 VAC power source.
If the charger is kicked into the water or exposed to
rain, or if the power cord falls into the water, a short or
severe electrical shock could result if the 110VAC
circuit is not protected by a GFCI. Follow the charging
procedures in the manual supplied with the charger.
Motor Operation and Control
Do not run the motor out of the water for more than
a few seconds. Water acts as a lubricant for the
motor shaft seal. Once the boat is in the water (make
sure the water is deep enough) lower the motor by
pressing the spring under the handle in the middle until
it folds in half and allows the motor to drop into
position. Do not operate the motor in the “UP”
position. This could damage the prop, motor or hull.
Set the direction switch to FORWARD or REVERSE
and set the speed control to the desired speed. The
motor will start immediately. Steer the boat by turning
the steering handle right or left. Do not immediately
shift from #3, 4 or 5 forward speed to #1, 2 or 3 reverse
speed. The sudden counter rotation of the motor could
damage some of its internal components and
significantly shorten motor life.
Prior to beaching the boat, be sure to raise the
motor and lock it in the “UP” position by extending
the spring until it is straight.
Battery life between charges is dependent upon hours of
operation and also at what speed the boat is operated.
Operation at less than top speed obviously will extend
the usable period between each battery charge.
The electric motor circuitry is protected by a 30 amp
circuit breaker located on the control panel. If the prop
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Rogue River Aquatoy

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BASIC MATERIALS
A. Hull and Deck
WaterWheeler, Calypso, Glide, and Aquatoy
The hull and deck are thermoformed from sheets of High
Density Polyethylene plastic. Polyethylene is many times
more impact resistant than fiberglass. It will remain
colorfast and durable through many years of exposure to
the elements and throughout wide ranges of temperature
fluctuation.
Polyethylene is very abrasion resistant, but not abrasion
proof. Some care in handling and operating your boat is
necessary to ensure its long life. Clean the hull and deck
with common household detergents, hot water and a scrub
brush.
Jazz
The hull is a one-piece rotomolded Polyethylene unit. As
stated above, Polyethylene is many times more impact
resistant than fiberglass. The one piece design provides a
simpler, stronger product.
B. Flotation
The weight capacity of your boat, in both passengers and
added cargo, is determined by the boat’s size and flotation.
Each boat has a capacity tag clearly displayed on the craft.
Flotation is provided by closed cell foam blocks located
between the deck and hull, with exception to Jazz. Because
polyethylene is lighter than water, the hull material also
contributes to the boat’s buoyancy.
The crankshaft is cold rolled steel that has been painted to
resist corrosion. Stainless steel cranks are available for salt
water. The newly designed crank bushings are oil
impregnated bronze for long life. The paddle wheel spokes
are molded from Super Tough nylon ™. The steering
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lift the handle up until the spring is straight. The spring is
stiff enough to hold the motor in this position. Move the
boat to the water as recommended previously.
CAUTION: When motor is in the “UP” position, the
motor skeg may extend up to ¼” below the pontoons.
Do not drag or push boat. This may cause irreparable
damage to the motor if jammed.
Battery Charging
Make sure the battery is fully charged. Charging should
be done in an area out of the weather. A 110 VAC/12
VDC automatic battery charger with at least 6 amps 12
VDC output capacity is recommended. An automatic
model will prevent overcharging and damaging of the
battery. Follow the guidelines below for charging the
Escape Glide Electric
1.Remove the battery from the boat and connect it to
the battery charger in a sheltered area out of the
weather.
2.If the charger has a dual voltage setting be sure it is
set at 12 VDC. (Make sure the 110 VDC power
connection is protected by a Ground Fault Circuit
Interrupter (GFCI).
3.Connect the battery charger to a 110 VAC outlet.
Be sure to carefully follow all instructions in the
charger operations manual.
Charging is best accomplished by leaving the charger
connected overnight. Charging time will vary from a
couple of hours to a couple of days depending up on the
capacity of the charger and the state of discharge of the
battery. CAUTION: Do not attempt to charge the
battery in the boat while the boat is in the water.

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boat. Make sure that you and all passengers are wearing
P.F.D.’s (life jackets).
Steering
Once seated, begin pedaling in the direction you intend to
travel and steer the craft by the steering handle.
Positioning the steering handle in the center will position
the rudder straight fore and aft and will steer the craft
generally in a straight line direction. For models with
rotary steering handles, turning the handle to the left turns
the boat to the left. Turning the handle to the right turns the
boat to the right. Models with push / pull steering require
the handle to be pushed forward to turn right and pulled
back to turn left.
OPERATING YOUR ELECTRIC PEDAL BOAT
Mounting a Motor
An electric trolling motor can power some models when
the optional accessory motor mounting bracket (see
accessory order form) is installed (Exception: Mounting
bracket is standard the Jazz model). CAUTION: The
bracket is designed for electric trolling motors with
less than 36 lbs. Thrust. It is not designed for gas-
powered outboards. The bracket comes with its own
mounting hardware and is installed on the starboard side
of the transom. Although the motor speed will have to be
manually controlled by reaching back to the control
handle, the boat can be steered by the steering handle
rudder with the electric motor locked in a straightforward
position.
Electric Motor Operation
Follow all safety precautions listed in the pre-launch and
launching procedures. When launching, be sure the
motor is in the “up” position. To put it in the up position,
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linkage is extremely durable and internal to the boat to
protect it from damage.
Transporting Your Pedal Boat
Your pedal boat has a covered cooler / storage
compartment in the rear. Always face the stern (rear) of
the boat towards the direction of travel to prevent the
wind from tearing the compartment lid off. If this happens
you can contact your dealer or Johnson Outdoors-
Watercraft, Sport & Leisure Group for replacement.
Do not transport the Escape Electric Glide or
WaterWheeler Electric ASL with battery installed.
Bouncing and jarring of the battery during transport could
crack the battery compartment. Do not transport the
adjustable seat models with the adjustable seat backs in
place. They may bounce out.
OPERATING YOUR PEDAL BOAT
Checklist for Operation
A. All Models
Before launching your Escape or Rogue River
AquaToy pedal boat, review the following checks
and procedures.
1. Install the rudder. Be sure to attach the cotter
ring through the end of the clevis pin to hold the pin
in place. The “flag” portion of the rudder points
away from the boat.

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2. Check to ensure the bow drain plug is properly
installed. It is located on the centerline at the bow
just under the rub rail.
3. Check to ensure the crankshaft and paddle
wheel assembly turn freely and the axle is free of
weeds, fishing line, etc.
4. Move the steering handle to ensure the rudder
moves freely. Some resistance is designed into the
mechanism so that the rudder does not require
constant control while underway. The rudder swing
should be 90 degrees (45 degrees to each side of
center). Take note of the steering limits and do
not force the handle beyond these limits.
5. Check any accessories that have been installed:
i.e. cushions snapped into place, canopy supports
attached to hinges, electric motor mount properly
attached to the boat and motor securely mounted to
the bracket.
B. Escape Glide Electric/WaterWheeler ASL Electric
Before launching an electric pedal boat, connect the
battery and electric motor as follows:
1. If the dealer has not already installed the motor,
locate the box containing the motor and other
accessories and carefully follow the installation
instructions. Be sure to attach the color-coded
wires to the proper terminals. Do not install the
motor with the boat in the water.
2. Install the battery. The battery should be either
an F24 or F27 RV/Marine Deep Cycle 12 VDC
battery. Position the battery so the terminals are
closest to the seat back. Be sure to attach the
battery leads to the proper poles. Red is positive (+)
and black is negative (-). Secure the battery with
the battery strap. DO NOT transport the boat on
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a trailer or pick up truck with the battery
installed. The walls of the battery compartment
may not withstand heavy bumping of the battery
while transporting.
3. Install the prop on the motor using the shear pin
and prop nut. Make sure the prop nut is snug.
4. The control panel has a forward/reverse and
speed control switch. It provides five forward
speeds and three reverse. Lower the motor to the
operating position by pressing the spring in the
middle to break the spring tension. Do not operate
the motor in the “UP” position. Stay clear of the
prop. The motor should rotate counter clockwise.
Set the direction control switch to REVERSE and
repeat the procedure. The motor should turn
clockwise. All five speeds in forward and three in
reverse should operate properly. If they don’t
review the wiring diagram carefully and make sure
all wires are connected to the proper terminals. If
the unit still fails to operate properly, call your
Johnson Outdoors-Watercraft, Sport & Leisure
Group dealer for assistance.
You should be able to operate your electric pedal boat 2-5
hours on a fully charged deep cycle marine battery.
Running the motor at less than top speed significantly
extends the time before the battery needs recharging. If
the battery should run down to the extent that progress is
unsatisfactory, you have the option of pedaling the boat
to supplement the thrust of the motor.
Boarding
Use caution when climbing aboard the boat. Step into the
foot-well or front seat using your arms for additional
support and balance so the boat remains stable. Do not step
on the rub rail or gunwale (side of the boat) to board the