Yamaha F50 User manual

F50
T50
F60
T60
OWNER’S MANUAL
6C1-28199-14
U.S.A.Edition
LIT-18626-07-41
6C1-9-14Hyoshi07.2.204:53PMページ1
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EMU25061
ZMU01690
Read this owner’s manual carefully before operating or working on your
outboard motor. Keep this manual onboard in a waterproof bag when
boating. This manual should stay with the outboard motor if it is sold.
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Important manual information
EMU31281
To the owner
Thank you for choosing a Yamaha outboard
motor. This Owner’s Manual contains infor-
mation needed for proper operation, mainte-
nance and care. A thorough understanding
of these simple instructions will help you ob-
tain maximum enjoyment from your new
Yamaha. If you have any question about the
operation or maintenance of your outboard
motor, please consult a Yamaha dealer.
In this Owner’s Manual particularly important
information is distinguished in the following
ways.
The Safety Alert Symbol means
ATTENTION! BECOME ALERT! YOUR
SAFETY IS INVOLVED!
WARNING
EWM00780
Failure to follow WARNING instructions
could result in severe injury or death to
the machine operator, a bystander, or a
person inspecting or repairing the out-
board motor.
CAUTION:
ECM00700
A CAUTION indicates special precautions
that must be taken to avoid damage to the
outboard motor.
NOTE:
A NOTE provides key information to make
procedures easier or clearer.
Yamaha continually seeks advancements in
product design and quality. Therefore, while
this manual contains the most current prod-
uct information available at the time of print-
ing, there may be minor discrepancies
between your machine and this manual. If
there is any question concerning this manu-
al, please consult your Yamaha dealer.
NOTE:
The F50TR, T50TR, F60TR, T60TR and the
standard accessories are used as a base for
the explanations and illustrations in this
manual. Therefore some items may not ap-
ply to every model.
EMU25111
F50, T50, F60, T60
OWNER’S MANUAL
©2007 by Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA
1st edition, April 2007
All rights reserved.
Any reprinting or unauthorized use
without the written permission of
Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA
is expressly prohibited.
Printed in Japan
P/N LIT-18626-07-41
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Table of contents
General information .......................... 1
Identification numbers record.......... 1
Outboard motor serial number .......... 1
Key number....................................... 1
Emission control information ........... 1
North American models..................... 1
Star labels ......................................... 2
Read manuals and labels................ 4
Warning labels .................................. 4
Safety information............................. 7
Safety information ........................... 7
Rotating parts.................................... 7
Hot parts ........................................... 7
Electric shock.................................... 7
Power trim and tilt ............................. 7
Engine shut-off cord.......................... 7
Gasoline............................................ 7
Gasoline exposure and spills ............ 7
Carbon monoxide.............................. 8
Modifications ..................................... 8
Boating safety ................................. 8
Alcohol and drugs ............................. 8
Personal flotation devices ................. 8
People in the water ........................... 8
Passengers ....................................... 8
Overloading....................................... 8
Avoid collisions ................................. 8
Weather ............................................ 9
Accident reporting ............................. 9
Boat education and training .............. 9
Passenger training ............................ 9
Boating safety publications ............... 9
Laws and regulations ........................ 9
Boating organizations.................... 10
Basic boating rules (Rules of the
road) ............................................ 10
Steering and sailing rules and
sound signals................................ 10
Rules when encountering vessels .. 11
Other special situations................... 12
Basic requirements ......................... 15
Fueling instructions ....................... 15
Gasoline.......................................... 15
Engine oil ........................................ 15
Installation requirements ............... 16
Boat horsepower rating ................... 16
Mounting motor ............................... 16
Remote control requirements.......... 16
Battery requirement......................... 16
Propeller selection........................... 17
Start-in-gear protection ................. 17
Basic components .......................... 19
Main components ......................... 19
Fuel tank ......................................... 20
Fuel joint.......................................... 20
Fuel gauge ...................................... 21
Fuel tank cap................................... 21
Air vent screw.................................. 21
Remote control ................................ 21
Remote control lever ....................... 21
Neutral interlock trigger ................... 21
Neutral throttle lever........................ 21
Tiller handle..................................... 22
Gear shift lever................................ 22
Throttle grip ..................................... 22
Throttle indicator ............................. 22
Throttle friction adjuster................... 23
Engine shut-off switch ..................... 23
Engine stop button .......................... 24
Main switch ..................................... 24
Steering friction adjuster .................24
Power trim and tilt switch on
remote control or tiller handle .......25
Power trim and tilt switch on
bottom engine cowling .................. 26
Variable trolling RPM switches........ 26
Trim tab with anode......................... 27
Tilt support lever for power trim
and tilt model.................................27
Top cowling lock lever(s) (turn
type) .............................................. 28
Flushing device ............................... 28
Fuel filter/Water separator............... 28
Tachometer ..................................... 29
Digital tachometer ........................... 29
Low oil pressure-warning
indicator ........................................ 29
Low oil pressure-warning
indicator ........................................ 30
Overheat-warning indicator ............. 30
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Table of contents
Overheat-warning indicator (digital
type).............................................. 30
Speedometer (digital type).............. 31
Trim meter....................................... 31
Trim meter (digital type) .................. 31
Hour meter (digital type).................. 32
Trip meter........................................ 32
Clock ............................................... 32
Fuel gauge ...................................... 33
Fuel warning indicator..................... 33
Low battery voltage-warning
indicator ........................................ 33
Command link multifunction
meters........................................... 34
Tachometer unit .............................. 34
Speed & fuel meter unit .................. 37
Speedometer unit............................ 38
Fuel management meter................. 39
Warning system ............................ 40
Overheat warning............................ 40
Low oil pressure warning ................ 40
Operation ......................................... 42
Installation ..................................... 42
Mounting the outboard motor.......... 42
Breaking in engine ........................ 43
Procedure for 4-stroke models........ 43
Pre-operation checks .................... 44
Fuel ................................................. 44
Controls........................................... 44
Stop switches.................................. 44
Engine............................................. 44
Checking the engine oil level .......... 44
Filling fuel ...................................... 45
Ring Free Fuel Additive .................. 45
Operating engine........................... 46
Feeding fuel (portable tank) ............ 46
Starting engine................................ 47
Warming up engine ....................... 49
Manual start and electric start
models .......................................... 49
Shifting .......................................... 50
Stopping boat ................................ 51
Trolling .......................................... 51
Adjusting trolling speed................... 51
Stopping engine ............................ 52
Procedure........................................ 52
Trimming outboard motor.............. 53
Adjusting trim angle (Power trim
and tilt) .......................................... 53
Adjusting boat trim ..........................54
Tilting up and down....................... 55
Procedure for tilting up (power trim
and tilt models)..............................55
Procedure for tilting down (power
trim and tilt models).......................57
Cruising in shallow water .............. 57
Power trim and tilt models
models .......................................... 57
Cruising in other conditions........... 58
Maintenance .................................... 60
Specifications................................ 60
Transporting and storing outboard
motor ........................................... 61
Storing outboard motor ...................62
Procedure........................................ 62
Lubrication....................................... 63
Cleaning and anticorrosion
measures ...................................... 64
Battery care ..................................... 64
Flushing power unit ......................... 64
Cleaning the outboard motor........... 65
Checking painted surface of
motor............................................. 65
Periodic maintenance ................... 66
Replacement parts .......................... 66
Severe operating conditions............ 66
Maintenance chart 1........................ 67
Maintenance chart 2........................ 69
Greasing.......................................... 70
Cleaning and adjusting spark
plug ............................................... 70
Checking fuel system ...................... 71
Inspecting idling speed.................... 72
Changing engine oil ........................72
Checking wiring and connectors .....74
Exhaust leakage.............................. 74
Water leakage ................................. 74
Engine oil leakage........................... 74
Checking power trim and tilt /
power tilt system ........................... 74
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Table of contents
Checking propeller .......................... 75
Removing propeller......................... 75
Installing propeller........................... 76
Changing gear oil............................ 76
Cleaning fuel tank ........................... 78
Inspecting and replacing
anode(s)........................................ 78
Checking battery (for electric start
models) ......................................... 79
Connecting the battery.................... 80
Disconnecting the battery ............... 81
Checking top cowling ...................... 81
Coating the boat bottom.................. 81
Trouble Recovery ............................ 82
Troubleshooting ............................ 82
Temporary action in emergency.... 85
Impact damage ............................... 85
Replacing fuse ................................ 85
Power trim and tilt will not
operate.......................................... 86
Water separator-warning indicator
blinks while cruising ...................... 86
Starter will not operate .................... 88
Emergency starting engine ............. 89
Treatment of submerged motor..... 90
Consumer information.................... 91
Important warranty information for
U.S.A. and Canada ..................... 91
YAMAHA MOTOR
CORPORATION, U.S.A.
FOUR-STROKE OUTBOARD
MOTOR
THREE-YEAR LIMITED
WARRANTY ................................ 93
IMPORTANT WARRANTY
INFORMATION IF YOU USE
YOUR YAMAHA OUTSIDE THE
USA OR CANADA ...................... 95
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1
General information
EMU25170
Identification numbers record
EMU25183
Outboard motor serial number
The outboard motor serial number is
stamped on the label attached to the port
side of the clamp bracket.
Record your outboard motor serial number in
the spaces provided to assist you in ordering
spare parts from your Yamaha dealer or for
reference in case your outboard motor is sto-
len.
EMU25190
Key number
If a main key switch is equipped with the mo-
tor, the key identification number is stamped
on your key as shown in the illustration.
Record this number in the space provided for
reference in case you need a new key.
EMU25221
Emission control information
EMU25230
North American models
This engine conforms to U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) regulations for ma-
rine SI engines. See the label affixed to your
engine for details.
EMU31560
Approval label of emission control certif-
icate
This label is attached to the bottom cowling.
New Technology; (4-stroke) MFI
1. Outboard motor serial number location
1. Key number
1. Approval label location
1
ZMU03570
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General information
2
EMU25262
Manufactured date label
This label is attached to the clamp bracket or
the swivel bracket.
EMU25273
Star labels
Your outboard motor is labeled with a Cali-
fornia Air Resources Board (CARB) star la-
bel. See below for a description of your
particular label.
EMU25280
One Star—Low Emission
The one-star label identifies engines that
meet the Air Resources Board’s 2001 ex-
haust emission standards. Engines meeting
these standards have 75% lower emissions
than conventional carbureted two-stroke en-
gines. These engines are equivalent to the
U.S. EPA’s 2006 standards for marine en-
gines.
EMU25290
Two Stars—Very Low Emission
The two-star label identifies engines that
meet the Air Resources Board’s 2004 ex-
haust emission standards. Engines meeting
these standards have 20% lower emissions
than One Star-Low-Emission engines.
1. Manufactured date label location
ZMU04701
1
1. Star labels location
ZMU05088
1
ZMU01702
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General information
3
EMU25300
Three Stars—Ultra Low Emission
The three-star label identifies engines that
meet the Air Resources Board’s 2008 ex-
haust emission standards. Engines meeting
these standards have 65% lower emissions
than One Star-Low-Emission engines.
EMU33861
Four Stars—Super Ultra Low Emission
The four-star label identifies engines that
meet the Air Resources Board’s Sterndrive
and Inboard marine engine 2009 exhaust
emission standards. Personal Watercraft
and Outboard marine engines may also
comply with these standards. Engines meet-
ing these standards have 90% lower emis-
sions than One Star-Low-Emission engines.
ZMU01703
ZMU01704
ZMU05663
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General information
4
EMU33520
Read manuals and labels
Before operating or working on this motor:
●
Read this manual.
●
Read any manuals supplied with the boat.
● Read all labels on the outboard motor and the boat.
If you need any additional information, contact your Yamaha dealer.
EMU33830
Warning labels
If these labels are damaged or missing, contact your Yamaha dealer for replacements.
12
3
ZMU05676
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General information
5
EMU33841
Symbols
The following symbols mean as follows.
Caution/Warning
Read Operator’s Manual
Hazard caused by continuous rotation
12
3
ZMU05670
ZMU05696
ZMU05664
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General information
6
Electrical hazard
Remote control lever/gear shift lever operat-
ing direction, dual direction
Engine start/ Engine cranking
ZMU05665
ZMU05666
ZMU05667
ZMU05668
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7
Safety information
EMU33620
Safety information
Observe these precautions at all times.
EMU33630
Rotating parts
Hands, feet, hair, jewelry, clothing, PFD
straps, etc. can become entangled with inter-
nal rotating parts of the engine, resulting in
serious injury or death.
Keep the top cowling in place whenever pos-
sible. Do not remove or replace the cowling
with the engine running.
Only operate the engine with the cowling re-
moved according to the specific instructions
in the manual. Keep hands, feet, hair, jewel-
ry, clothing, PFD straps, etc. away from any
exposed moving parts.
EMU33640
Hot parts
During and after operation, engine parts are
hot enough to cause burns. Avoid touching
any parts under the top cowling until the en-
gine has cooled.
EMU33650
Electric shock
Do not touch any electrical parts while start-
ing or operating the engine. They can cause
shock or electrocution.
EMU33660
Power trim and tilt
Body parts can be crushed between the mo-
tor and the clamp bracket when the motor is
trimmed or tilted. Keep body parts out of this
area at all times. Be sure no one is in this
area before operating the power trim and tilt
mechanism.
The power trim and tilt switches operate
even when the main switch is off. Keep peo-
ple be away from the switches whenever
working around the motor.
Never get under the lower unit while it is tilt-
ed, even when the tilt support lever is locked.
Severe injury could occur if the outboard mo-
tor accidentally falls.
EMU33670
Engine shut-off cord
Attach the engine shut-off cord so that the
engine stops if the operator falls overboard
or leaves the helm. This prevents the boat
from running away under power and leaving
people stranded, or running over people or
objects.
Always attach the engine shut-off cord to a
secure place on your clothing or your arm or
leg while operating. Do not remove it to leave
the helm while the boat is moving. Do not at-
tach the cord to clothing that could tear
loose, or route the cord where it could be-
come entangled, preventing it from function-
ing.
Do not route the cord where it is likely to be
accidentally pulled out. If the cord is pulled
during operation, the engine will shut off and
you will lose most steering control. The boat
could slow rapidly, throwing people and ob-
jects forward.
EMU33810
Gasoline
Gasoline and its vapors are highly flam-
mable and explosive. Always, refuel ac-
cording to the procedure on page 46 to
reduce the risk of fire and explosion.
EMU33820
Gasoline exposure and spills
Take care not to spill gasoline. If gasoline
spills, wipe it up immediately with dry rags.
Dispose of rags properly.
If any gasoline spills onto your skin, immedi-
ately wash with soap and water. Change
clothing if gasoline spills on it.
If you swallow gasoline, inhale a lot of gaso-
line vapor, or get gasoline in your eyes, get
immediate medical attention. Never siphon
fuel by mouth.
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Safety information
8
EMU33900
Carbon monoxide
This product emits exhaust gases which
contain carbon monoxide, a colorless, odor-
less gas which may cause brain damage or
death when inhaled. Symptoms include nau-
sea, dizziness, and drowsiness. Keep cock-
pit and cabin areas well ventilated. Avoid
blocking exhaust outlets.
EMU33780
Modifications
Do not attempt to modify this outboard mo-
tor. Modifications to your outboard motor
may reduce safety and reliability, and render
the outboard unsafe or illegal to use.
EMU33740
Boating safety
This section includes a few of the many im-
portant safety precautions that you should
follow when boating.
EMU33710
Alcohol and drugs
Never operate after drinking alcohol or tak-
ing drugs. Intoxication is one of the most
common factors contributing to boating fatal-
ities.
EMU33720
Personal flotation devices
Have an approved personal flotation device
(PFD) on board for every occupant. Yamaha
recommends that you must wear a PFD
whenever boating. At a minimum, children
and non-swimmers should always wear
PFDs, and everyone should wear PFDs
when there are potentially hazardous boat-
ing conditions.
EMU33730
People in the water
Always watch carefully for people in the wa-
ter, such as swimmers, skiers, or divers,
whenever the engine is running. When
someone is in the water near the boat, shift
into neutral and shut off the motor.
Stay away from swimming areas. Swimmers
can be hard to see.
The propeller can keep moving even when
the motor is in neutral. Shut off the engine
when a person is in the water near you.
EMU33750
Passengers
Consult your boat manufacturer’s instruc-
tions for details about appropriate passenger
locations in your boat and be sure all pas-
sengers are positioned properly before ac-
celerating and when operating above an idle
speed. Standing or sitting in non-designated
locations may result in being thrown either
overboard or within the boat due to waves,
wakes, or sudden changes in speed or direc-
tion. Even when people are positioned prop-
erly, alert your passengers if you must make
any unusual maneuver. Always avoid jump-
ing waves or wakes.
EMU33760
Overloading
Do not overload the boat. Consult the boat
capacity plate or boat manufacturer for max-
imum weight and number of passengers. Be
sure that weight is properly distributed ac-
cording to the boat manufacturers instruc-
tions. Overloading or incorrect weight
distribution can compromise the boats han-
dling and lead to an accident, capsizing or
swamping.
EMU33770
Avoid collisions
Scan constantly for people, objects, and
other boats. 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, ob-
jects, and other boats.
●
Do not follow directly behind other boats or
waterskiers.
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Safety information
9
●
Avoid sharp turns or other maneuvers that
make it hard for others to avoid you or un-
derstand 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.
●
Take early action to avoid collisions. Re-
member, boats do not have brakes , and
stopping the engine or reducing throttle
can reduce the ability to steer. If you are
not sure that you can stop in time before
hitting an obstacle, apply throttle and turn
in another direction.
EMU33790
Weather
Stay informed about the weather. Check
weather forecasts before boating. Avoid
boating in hazardous weather.
EMU33800
Accident reporting
Boat operators are required by law to file a
Boating Accident Report with their state
boating law enforcement agency if their boat
is involved in any of the following accidents:
1. There is loss of life or probable loss of
life.
2. There is personal injury that requires
medical attention beyond first aid.
3. There is property damage to boats or
other property over a certain amount.
4. There is complete loss of a boat.
Contact local law enforcement personnel if a
report is necessary.
EMU33870
Boat education and training
Operators should take a boating safety
course. This may be required in your state.
Many of the organizations listed in the next
section can provide information about cours-
es in your area.
You may also want to consider an Internet-
based program for basic boater education.
The Online Boating Safety Course provided
by the BoatU.S. Foundation, is approved by
the National Association of State Boating
Law Administrators (NASBLA) and recog-
nized by the United States Coast Guard.
Most, but not all, states accept this course to
meet their minimum requirements. While it
cannot replace an in-depth course such as
one offered by the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S.
Power Squadron, or other organization, this
online course does provide a general over-
view of the basics in boating safety, require-
ments, navigation, and operation. Upon
successful completion of the course, the
user can download a certificate of comple-
tion immediately or, for a small charge, re-
quest one by mail. To take this free course,
go to boatus.org.
EMU33880
Passenger training
Make sure at least one other passenger is
trained to operate the boat in the event of an
emergency.
EMU33890
Boating safety publications
Be informed about boating safety. Additional
publications and information can be obtained
from many boating organizations.
EMU33590
Laws and regulations
Know the marine laws and regulations where
you will be boating- and obey them. Several
sets of rules prevail according to geographic
location, but all are basically the same as the
International Rules of the Road. The rules
presented in the following section are con-
densed- and have been provided for your
convenience only.
Contact the U.S. Coast Guard, the National
Association of State Boating Law Adminis-
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Safety information
10
trators, or your local Power Squadron for a
complete set of rules governing the waters in
which you will be using your boat.
EMU33680
Boating organizations
The following organizations provide boating
safety training and information about boating
safety and laws.
United States Coast Guard
Consumer Affairs Staff (G-BC)
Office of Boating, Public, and Consumer Af-
fairs
U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters
Washington, D.C. 20593-0001
Boating Safety Hotline: [phone]
www.uscgboating.org
United States Power Squadrons
1-888-FOR-USPS (1-888-367-8777)
www.usps.org
Boat Owners Association of The United
States
1-800-336-BOAT (1-800-336-2628)
www.boatus.com
National Association of State Boating
Law Administrators (NASBLA)
1500 Leestown Road, Suite 330
Lexington, KY 4051 859-225-9497
859-225-9497
www.nasbla.org
National Marine Manufacturers Associa-
tion (NMMA)
200 East Randolph Drive
Suite 5100
Chicago, IL 606001
www.nmma.org
Marine Retailers Association of America
155 N. Michigan Ave. Chicago,
IL 60601
www.mraa.com
EMU33690
Basic boating rules (Rules of
the road)
Just as there are rules that apply when you
are driving on streets and highways, there
are waterway rules that apply when you are
driving your boat. These rules are used inter-
nationally. (For USA: 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 en-
counter another vessel on the water.
EMU33700
Steering and sailing rules and sound
signals
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 determine how best to
avoid you.
Give-way vessel
The vessel that 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
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Safety information
11
vessel. Normally, you should not cross in
front of the vessel with the right-of-way. You
should slow down or change directions brief-
ly and pass behind the other vessel. 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 ”
This rule is called Rule 2 in the International
Rules and says,
“In obeying and construing these rules due
regard shall be had to all dangers of naviga-
tion and collision, and to any special circum-
stances, which may render a departure from
the above rules necessary in order to avoid
immediate danger.”
In other words, follow the standard rules ex-
cept when a collision will occur unless both
vessels try to avoid each other. If that is the
case, both vessels become “Give-Way ”
vessels.
EMU25521
Rules when encountering vessels
There are three main situations that you may
encounter with other vessels which could
lead to a collision unless the Steering Rules
are followed:
Meeting: (you are approaching another ves-
sel head-on)
Crossing: (you are traveling across the oth-
er vessel’s path)
Overtaking: (you are passing or being
passed by another vessel)
In the following illustration, your boat is in the
center. You should give the right-of-way to
any vessels shown in white area (you are the
Give-Way vessel). Any vessels in the shad-
ed area must yield to you (they are the Give-
Way vessels). Both you and the meeting
vessel must alter course to avoid each other.
Meeting
If you are meeting another power vessel
head on, and are close enough to run the risk
of collision, neither of you has the right-of-
way Both of you should alter course to avoid
an accident. You should keep the other ves-
sel on your port (left) side. This rule doesn’t
apply if both of you will clear one another if
you continue on your set course and speed.
Crossing
When two power driven vessels are crossing
each other’s path close enough to run the
risk of collision, the vessel which has the oth-
er on the starboard (right) side must keep out
of the way of the other. If the other vessel is
on your right, you must keep out of its way;
you are the Give-Way vessel. If the other
vessel is on your port (left) side, remember
that you should maintain course and direc-
tion, provided the other vessel gives you the
right-of-way as it should.
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Safety information
12
Overtaking
If you are passing another vessel, you are
the “Give-Way”vessel. This means that the
other vessel is expected to maintain its
course and speed. You must stay out of its
way until you are clear of it. Likewise, if an-
other vessel is passing you, you should
maintain your speed and direction so that the
other vessel can steer itself around you.
EMU25531
Other special situations
There are three other rules you should be
aware of when driving your boat around oth-
er vessels.
Narrow channels and bends
When navigating in narrow channels, you
should keep to the right when it is safe and
practical to do so. If the operator of a power-
driven vessel is preparing to go around a
bend that may obstruct the view of other wa-
ter vessels, the operator should sound a pro-
longed blast on the whistle (4 to 6 seconds).
If another vessel is around the bend, it too
should sound the whistle. Even if no reply is
heard, however, the vessel should still pro-
ceed around the bend with caution. If you
navigate such waters with your boat, you will
need to carry a portable air horn, available
from local marine supply stores.
Fishing vessel right-of-way
All vessels that are fishing with nets, lines or
trawls are considered to be “fishing vessels”
under the International Rules. Vessels with
trolling lines are not considered fishing ves-
sels. Fishing vessels have the right-of-way
regardless of position. Fishing vessels can-
not, however, impede the passage of other
vessels in narrow channels.
Sailing vessel right-of-way
Sailing vessels should normally be given the
right-of-way. The exceptions to this are:
1. When the sailing vessel is overtaking
the power-driven vessel, the power-driv-
en vessel has the right-of-way.
2. Sailing vessels should keep clear of any
fishing vessel.
3. In a narrow channel, a sailing vessel
should not hamper the safe passage of
a power-driven vessel that can navigate
only in such a channel.
Reading buoys and other markers
The waters of the United States are marked
for safe navigation by the lateral system of
buoyage. Simply put, buoys and markers
have an arrangement of shapes, colors,
numbers and lights to show which side of the
buoy a boater should pass on when navigat-
ing in a particular direction. The markings on
these buoys are oriented from the perspec-
tive of being entered from seaward (the boat-
er is going towards the port). This means that
red buoys are passed on the starboard
(right) side when proceeding from open wa-
ter into port, and black buoys are to port (left)
side. When navigating out of port, your posi-
tion with respect to the buoys should be re-
versed; red buoys should be to port and
black buoys to starboard.
Many bodies of water used by boaters are
entirely within the boundaries of a particular
state. The Uniform State Waterway Marking
System has been devised for these waters.
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Safety information
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This system uses buoys and signs with dis-
tinctive shapes and colors to show regulato-
ry or advisory information. These markers
are white with black letters and orange
boarders. They signify speed zones, restrict-
ed areas, danger areas, and general infor-
mation.
Remember, markings may vary by geo-
graphic location. Always consult local boat-
ing authorities before driving your boat in
unfamiliar waters.
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Safety information
14
ZMU01708
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