Yamaha WaveRunner XLT1200 2001 Owner's manual

READ THIS MANUAL
CAREFULLY BEFORE OPERATION!
OWNER’S/OPERATOR’S
MANUAL
LIT-18626-04-01
XLT1200
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 XLT1200
OWNER’S/OPERATOR’S MANUAL
©2000 by Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA
1st Edition, November 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-18626-04-01

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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
Water-skiing ..........................................1-14
Rules of the Road...................................1-16
Steering and sailing rules .....................1-16
Rules when encountering vessels .......1-17
Other special situations ........................1-18
Reading buoys and other markers.......1-18
To get more boating safety
information..............................................1-20
United States Coast Guard ..................1-20
Other sources .......................................1-20
Watercraft Education and Training.......1-20
Enjoy your watercraft responsibly.......1-21

1-2
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EJU00631a
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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EJU00293
Important labels
Label location

1-4
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Warning labels
1
23
5
4

1-5
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67
8
90
AB
C

1-6
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Caution labels
DE
F
GH
IJ

1-7
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Other labels
KL
M
N

1-8
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EJU00686
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 up to 2 passengers. Never
exceed the maximum load limit or allow
more than 3 persons (or 2 persons if a
water-skier is being pulled) to ride the
watercraft at one time.
●Do not operate the watercraft with any
passengers on board until you have con-
siderable practice and experience riding
alone. Operating the watercraft with pas-
sengers requires more skill. Take the time
to become accustomed to the handling
characteristics of the watercraft before
trying any difficult maneuvers.
Maximum load: 240 kg (530 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.

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 aft deck.
EJU00288a
Engine serial number
The engine serial number is stamped on
a label 3attached to the engine unit.

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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 passengers 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 children if their feet cannot reach the
floor of the footwell.
●Passengers should firmly hold on to the
person in front of them.
●Always consult your doctor on whether it
is safe for you to ride this watercraft if you
are pregnant or in poor health.

1-12
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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 1-16 to 1-19.)
●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

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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 the engine on land until
everyone is away from the stern. Hot
water and steam spurting from exhaust
outlet into the air can cause serious
burns.
●Hot muffler surfaces can cause serious
burns. Do not touch any muffler surface
during or after operation. The catalytic
converter gets hotter after the 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. You are in either “forward” or
“reverse,” depending upon the shift lever
position.
●Do not use the reverse function to slow
down or stop the watercraft as it could
cause you to lose control, be ejected, or
impact the handlebars.
This could increase the risk of back/spinal
injury (paralysis), facial injuries, and bro-
ken legs, ankles, and other bones. You
could also damage the shift mechanism.

1-14
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●Reverse can be used to slow down or
stop during slow speed maneuvering,
such as when docking. Once the engine
is idling, shift to reverse and gradually
increase engine speed. Make sure that
there are no obstacles or people behind
you before shifting into reverse.
●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.
●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.
EJU00668a
Water-skiing
You can use the watercraft for water-ski-
ing if it has the seating capacity to carry the
operator, a rearward-facing spotter, and the
water-skier when he or she is not skiing.
The watercraft must also have a cleat 5
designed to pull a ski tow rope; do not attach
the tow rope to any other location.
It is the watercraft operator’s responsibility
to be alert to the safety of the water-skier
and others. Know and follow all state and
local water-skiing regulations in effect for the
waters in which you will be operating.
The operator should be comfortable car-
rying passengers before attempting to pull a
skier.
The following are some important consid-
erations for minimizing risks while water-ski-
ing.
●The skier should wear an approved PFD,
preferably a brightly colored one so boat
operators can see the skier.
●The skier should wear protective clothing.
Severe internal injuries can occur if water
is forced into body cavities as a result of
falling into the water. Normal swimwear
does not adequately protect against
forceful water entry into rectum or vagina.
The skier should wear a wetsuit bottom or
clothing that provides equivalent protec-
tion.

1-15
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●A second person should be on board as a
spotter to watch the skier; in most states it
is required by law. Let the skier direct the
operator’s control of speed and direction
with hand signals.
The spotter should sit securely on the
passenger seat and hold onto the hand-
grip with feet firmly on the footrest for
proper balance while facing to the rear to
watch the skier’s hand signals and his or
her condition.
1Handgrip
2Footrest
●Your control while pulling a skier is
affected by the skier’s ability, as well as
water and weather conditions.
●When preparing to pull a skier, operate
the watercraft at the slowest possible
speed until the watercraft is well away
from the skier and slack in the towrope is
taken up. Make sure that the rope is not
looped around anything.
After checking that the skier is ready and
that there is no traffic or other obstacles,
apply enough throttle to raise the skier.
●Make smooth, wide turns. The watercraft
is capable of very sharp turns, which
could exceed the abilities of the skier.
Keep the skier at least 50 m (150 ft),
about twice the distance of a standard
towrope, from any potential hazard.
●Be alert to the hazard of the towrope han-
dle snapping back at the watercraft when
the skier falls or is unable to get up on the
skis.
●Towing heavy or bulky objects other than
skiers, such as another boat or watercraft,
can cause loss of steering control and
create a hazardous condition. If you must
tow another boat in an emergency situa-
tion, operate slowly and cautiously.