Yamaha GP1200R WaveRunner 2001 Owner's manual

READ THIS MANUAL
CAREFULLY BEFORE OPERATION!
OWNER’S/OPERATOR’S
MANUAL
LIT-18626-04-04
GP1200R
U.S.A. Edition
2001
WaveRunner

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EJU00270
To the owner/operator
Thank you for choosing a Yamaha water-
craft.
This Owner’s/Operator’s Manual contains
information you will need for proper opera-
tion, maintenance, and care. A thorough
understanding of these simple instructions
will help you to obtain maximum enjoyment
from your new Yamaha. If you have any
questions about the operation or mainte-
nance of your watercraft, please consult a
Yamaha dealer.
Because Yamaha has a policy of continu-
ing product improvement, this product may
not be exactly as described in this Owner’s/
Operator’s Manual. Specifications are sub-
ject to change without notice.
This manual should be considered a per-
manent part of this watercraft and should
remain with it even if the watercraft is subse-
quently sold.
Important manual information:
In this manual, information of particular
importance is distinguished in the following
ways:
The Safety Alert Symbol means
ATTENTION! BECOME ALERT!
YOUR SAFETY IS INVOLVED!
WARNING
Failure to follow WARNING instructions
could result in severe injury or death to
the machine operator, passenger(s), a
bystander, or a person inspecting or
repairing the watercraft.
CAUTION:
A CAUTION indicates special precau-
tions that must be taken to avoid damage
to the watercraft.
N
O
TE:
A NOTE provides key information to make
procedures easier or clearer.
EJU00271
WaveRunner GP1200R
OWNER’S/OPERATOR’S MANUAL
©2000 by Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA
1st Edition, August 2000
All rights reserved.
Any reprinting or unauthorized use
without the written permission of
Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA
is expressly prohibited.
Printed in USA
P/N LIT-18626-04-04

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EJU00273
CONTENTS
READ THIS OWNER’S/OPERATOR’S MANUAL CAREFULLY
BEFORE OPERATING YOUR WATERCRAFT.
GENERAL AND SAFETY
INFORMATION 1
FEATURES AND FUNCTIONS 2
OPERATION 3
MAINTENANCE AND CARE 4
TROUBLESHOOTING AND
EMERGENCY PROCEDURES 5
APPENDIX 6

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1
EJU00274
GENERAL AND
SAFETY
INFORMATION
Identification numbers.............................1-1
Primary Identification (PRI-ID) number ..1-1
Hull Identification Number (HIN).............1-1
Engine serial number..............................1-1
Emission control information.................1-2
Approval label of Emission control
certificate.................................................1-2
Manufactured date label.........................1-2
Important labels........................................1-3
Label location..........................................1-3
Warning labels ........................................1-4
Caution labels .........................................1-6
Other labels.............................................1-7
Safety information..............................1-8
Limitations on who may operate the
watercraft.................................................1-8
Cruising limitations..................................1-9
Operation requirements........................1-10
Hazard information ...............................1-13
Watercraft characteristics .....................1-13
Rules of the Road...................................1-15
Steering and sailing rules .....................1-15
Rules when encountering vessels .......1-16
Other special situations ........................1-17
Reading buoys and other markers.......1-17
To get more boating safety
information..............................................1-19
United States Coast Guard ..................1-19
Other sources .......................................1-19
Watercraft Education and Training.......1-19
Enjoy your watercraft responsibly.......1-20

1-1
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Identification numbers
Record your Primary Identification (PRI-
ID) number, Hull Identification Number (HIN)
and engine serial number in the spaces pro-
vided, to assist you in ordering spare parts
from a Yamaha dealer. Also record and keep
these ID numbers in a separate place in
case your watercraft is stolen.
EJU00700
Primary Identification (PRI-ID)
number
The PRI-ID number is stamped on a label 1
attached to the inside of the engine compart-
ment.
EJU00701
Hull Identification Number
(HIN)
The HIN is stamped on a plate 2 attached
to the hull on the aft, starboard side.
EJU00288a
Engine serial number
The engine serial number is stamped on
a label 3attached to the engine unit.

1-2
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Emission control
information
This engine conforms to the U.S. Environ-
mental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations
for marine SI engines for the year 2001.
Approval label of Emission
control certificate
This label is attached to the electrical box
and the silencer of the carburetor.
1Emission control information label
Manufactured date label
This label is attached to the electrical box
and the silencer of the carburetor.
2Manufactured date label

1-3
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Important labels
Label location

1-4
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Warning labels
1
23
4
5

1-5
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6
78
90
A

1-6
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Caution labels
B
C
DE
FG
H

1-7
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Other labels
I
J
K
L

1-8
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Safety information
The safe use and operation of this
watercraft is dependent upon the use of
proper riding techniques, as well as upon
the common sense, good judgment, and
expertise of the operator. Every operator
should know the following requirements
before riding the watercraft.
●Before operating the watercraft, read the
Owner’s/Operator’s Manual, the Riding
Practice Guide, the Riding Instruction
card and all warning and caution labels
on the watercraft. Also, watch the Basic
Orientation Video provided with your
watercraft. These materials should give
you an understanding of the watercraft
and its operation.
●Never allow anyone to operate this water-
craft until they too have read the Owner’s/
Operator’s Manual, the Riding Practice
Guide, the Riding Instruction card and all
warning and caution labels, and if possi-
ble watched the Basic Orientation Video.
Showing them the video may help rein-
force the information contained in these
materials.
EJU00667a
Limitations on who may
operate the watercraft
●Yamaha recommends a minimum opera-
tor age of 16 years old.
Adults must supervise use by minors.
Know the operator age and training
requirements for your state. A boating
safety course is recommended and may
be required in your state. You can find
local rules by contacting the United
States Coast Guard (USCG), the National
Association of State Boating Law Admin-
istrators, or your local Power Squadron.
●This watercraft is designed to carry the
operator and one passenger. Never
exceed the maximum load limit or allow
more than 2 persons to ride the watercraft
at one time.
●Do not operate the watercraft with a pas-
senger on board until you have consider-
able practice and experience riding alone.
Operating the watercraft with a passenger
requires more skill. Take the time to
become accustomed to the handling
characteristics of the watercraft before
trying any difficult maneuvers.
Maximum load: 160 kg (353 lb)
Load is the total weight of cargo, opera-
tor and passengers.

1-9
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Cruising limitations
●Scan constantly for people, objects, and
other watercraft. Be alert for conditions
that limit your visibility or block your vision
of others.
●Operate defensively at safe speeds and
keep a safe distance away from people,
objects, and other watercraft.
●Do not follow directly behind watercraft or
other boats.
●Do not go near others to spray or splash
them with water.
●Avoid sharp turns or other maneuvers
that make it hard for others to avoid you or
understand where you are going.
●Avoid areas with submerged objects or
shallow water.
●Ride within your limits and avoid aggres-
sive maneuvers to reduce the risk of loss
of control, ejection, and collision.
●This is a high performance boat—not a
toy. Sharp turns or jumping wakes or
waves can increase the risk of back/spinal
injury (paralysis), facial injuries, and bro-
ken legs, ankles and other bones. Do not
jump wakes or waves.
●Do not operate the watercraft in rough
water, bad weather or when visibility is
poor; this may lead to an accident caus-
ing injury or death. Be alert to the possi-
bility of adverse weather. Take note of
weather forecasts and the prevailing
weather conditions before setting out on
your watercraft.
●As with any water sport, you should not
ride your watercraft without someone else
near by. If you ride further than swimming
distance from shore, you should ride by
another boat or watercraft, but make sure
you stay a safe distance away. It’s good
common sense!
●Never operate in water that is less than
60 cm (2 ft) deep, otherwise you increase
your chance of hitting a submerged
object, which could result in injury.

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●This watercraft is not equipped with light-
ing required for night operation. Do not
operate the watercraft after sunset or
before dawn, otherwise you increase the
risk of colliding with another boat, which
could result in severe injury or death.
EJU00735a
Operation requirements
●All riders must wear a Coast Guard
approved personal flotation device (PFD)
that is suitable for personal watercraft
use.
●Wear protective clothing. Severe internal
injuries can occur if water is forced into
body cavities as a result of falling into
water or being near the jet thrust nozzle.
Normal swimwear does not adequately
protect against forceful water entry into
rectum or vagina. All riders must wear a
wetsuit bottom or clothing that provides
equivalent protection. Such clothing
includes thick, tightly woven, sturdy and
snug-fitting apparel such as denim, but
does not include spandex or similar fab-
rics, like those used in bicycle shorts.
1Coast Guard approved PFD
2Wetsuit bottom
●Eye protection is recommended to keep
wind, water, and glare from the sun out of
your eyes while you operate your water-
craft. Restraining straps for eyewear are
made which are designed to float should
your eyewear fall in the water.
Footwear and gloves are recommended.

1-11
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●Helmets meeting Snell or DOT standards
are required for IJSBA-sanctioned races.
You must decide whether to wear a hel-
met while you ride for recreation. You
should know that a helmet could help pro-
tect you in certain kinds of accidents and
that it could also injure you in others.
A helmet is designed to provide some
head protection. Although helmets cannot
protect against all foreseeable impacts, a
helmet might reduce your injuries in a col-
lision with a boat or other obstacle.
A helmet may have potential safety haz-
ards, as well. Falling into the water could
risk the chance of the helmet catching
water, commonly known as “bucketing,”
and the resulting strain on your neck
could cause choking, severe and perma-
nent neck injuries, or death. A helmet
could also increase the risk of an accident
if it reduces your vision or hearing, or if it
distracts you or increases your fatigue.
How should you decide if a helmet’s
potential safety benefits outweigh its
potential risks for you? Consider your par-
ticular riding conditions. Consider factors
such as your riding environment, your
riding style and your riding ability. Also
consider the likelihood of traffic conges-
tion, and the water surface conditions. If
you decide to wear a helmet based upon
your riding circumstances, choose one
carefully. Look for a helmet designed for
personal watercraft use, if possible. Con-
sider a helmet meeting Snell or DOT stan-
dards. If you will be engaging in closed-
course competition, follow the helmet
requirements of the sanctioning organiza-
tion.
●NEVER operate the watercraft after con-
suming alcohol or taking other drugs.
●For reasons of safety and proper care of
the watercraft, always perform the pre-
operation checks listed on page 3-5
before operating the watercraft.
●The operator and passenger should
always keep both feet in the footwell when
the watercraft is in motion. Lifting your
feet increases your chances of losing your
balance, and your feet being hit by objects
outside the watercraft. Do not give a ride
to a child whose feet cannot reach the
floor of the footwell.
●Passenger should firmly hold on to the
operator.
●Always consult your doctor on whether it
is safe for you to ride this watercraft if you
are pregnant or in poor health.

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●Do not attempt to modify this watercraft!
Modifications to your watercraft may
reduce safety and reliability, and render
the watercraft unsafe or illegal for use.
●Attach the engine shut-off cord (lanyard)
to wrist and keep it free from the handle-
bars so that the engine stops if the opera-
tor falls off. After riding, remove the
engine shut-off cord from the watercraft to
avoid accidental starting or unauthorized
use by children or others.
●Scan carefully for swimmers and stay
away from swimming areas. Swimmers
are hard to see and you could acciden-
tally hit someone in the water.
●Avoid being hit by another boat! You
should always take the responsibility to
watch for traffic; other boaters may not be
watching for you. If they do not see you,
or you maneuver more quickly than other
boaters expect, you risk a collision.
●Maintain a safe distance from other boats
or watercraft, and also watch for boats’ ski
ropes or fishing lines. Obey the “Rules of
the Road,” and be sure to check behind
you before making a turn. (See Rules of
the Road on pages 1-15 to 1-18.)
●This watercraft is included in the Class A
inboard boat classification of the U.S.
Coast Guard. A watercraft of this type
MUST carry a fire extinguisher of a B-1
classification, with a capacity of two
pounds or more when navigating in
waters under Coast Guard jurisdiction. In
addition, most state and local boating
laws also require that the fire extinguisher
be approved by the USCG.
F0P03010

1-13
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Hazard information
●When transporting or storing your water-
craft, always place the fuel cock knob in
the “OFF” position, otherwise gasoline
may overflow from the carburetor.
●Never start the engine or let it run for any
length of time in an enclosed area.
Exhaust fumes contain carbon monoxide,
a colorless, odorless gas that may cause
loss of consciousness and death within a
short time. Always operate the watercraft
in an open area.
●Do not start engine on land until everyone
is away from stern. Hot water and steam
spurting from exhaust outlet can cause
serious burns.
●Hot muffler surfaces can cause serious
burns. Do not touch any muffler surface
during or after engine operation. Catalytic
converter gets hotter after engine stops.
EJU00315a
Watercraft characteristics
●Jet thrust turns the watercraft. Releasing
the throttle completely produces only min-
imum thrust. If you are traveling at speeds
above trolling, you will have rapidly
decreasing ability to steer without throttle.
You may still have some turning ability
immediately after releasing the throttle,
but once the engine slows down, the
watercraft will no longer respond to han-
dlebar input until you open the throttle
again or you reach a trolling speed. Prac-
tice turning in an open area without
obstructions until you have a good feel for
this maneuver.
●This watercraft are water-jet propelled.
The jet pump is directly connected to the
engine. This means that jet thrust will pro-
duce some movement whenever the
engine is running. There is no “neutral”
position.
●Keep away from intake grate 1while the
engine is on. Items such as long hair,
loose clothing, or PFD straps can become
entangled in moving parts resulting in
severe injury or drowning.
●Never insert any object into the jet thrust
nozzle 2while the engine is running.
Severe injury or death could result from
coming in contact with the rotating parts
of the jet pump.

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●Stop the engine and remove the clip 3
from the engine shut-off switch 4before
removing any debris or weeds, which may
have collected around the jet intake.

1-15
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Rules of the Road
Yamaha watercraft is legally consid-
ered a powerboat. Operation of the
watercraft must be in accordance with
the rules and regulations governing the
waterway on which it is used.
Just as there are rules that apply when
you are driving on streets and highways,
there are waterway rules that apply when
you are operating your watercraft. These
rules are used internationally, and are also
enforced by the United States Coast Guard
and local agencies. You should be aware of
these rules, and follow them whenever you
encounter another vessel on the water.
Several sets of rules prevail according to
geographic location, but are all basically the
same as the International Rules of the
Road. The rules presented here in this
Owner’s/Operator’s Manual are condensed,
and have been provided for your conve-
nience only. Consult your local U.S. Coast
Guard Auxiliary or Department of Motor
Vehicles for a complete set of rules govern-
ing the waters in which you will be operating
your watercraft.
Steering and sailing rules
Whenever two vessels on the water meet
one another, one vessel has the right-of-
way; it is called the “stand-on” vessel. The
vessel that does not have the right-of-way is
called the “give-way” or “burdened” vessel.
These rules determine which vessel has the
right-of-way, and what each vessel should
do.
Stand-on vessel
The vessel with the right-of-way has the
duty to continue its course and speed,
except to avoid an immediate collision.
When you maintain your direction and
speed, the other vessel will be able to deter-
mine how best to avoid you.
Give-way vessel
The vessel which does not have the right-
of-way has the duty to take positive and
timely action to stay out of the way of the
stand-on vessel. Normally, you should not
cross in front of the vessel with the right-of-
way. You should slow down or change direc-
tions briefly and pass behind the other ves-
sel. You should always move in such a way
that the operator of the other vessel can see
what you are doing.
The General Prudential Rule regarding
the right-of-way is that if a collision appears
unavoidable, neither boat has the right-of-
way. Both boats must avoid the collision.
In other words, follow the standard rules
except when a collision will occur unless
both vessels try to avoid each other. If that is
the case, both vessels become give-way
vessels.