Owner`s manual

3070 EXPRESS
12.10 Flooding or Capsizing
Boats can become unstable if they become flooded or completely swamped. You must always
be aware of the position of the boat to the seas and the amount of water in the bilge. Water entering
the boat over the transom can usually be corrected by turning the boat into the waves. If the bilge
is flooding because of a hole in the hull, the engine bracket or a defective hose, you may be able
to plug it with rags, close the thru-hull valve or assist the pumps by bailing with buckets. Put a
mayday call in to the Coast Guard or nearby boats and distribute life jackets as soon as you
discover your boat is in trouble.
If the boat becomes swamped and capsizes, you and your passengers should stay with the boat
as long as you can. It is much easier for the Coast Guard, aircraft, or other boats to spot, than
people in the water.
12.11 Fishing
Fishing can be very exciting and distracting for the operator when the action gets intense. You
must always be conscious of the fact that your primary responsibility is the safe operation of your
boat and the safety of your passengers and other boats in the area.
You must always make sure the helm is properly manned and is never left unattended while
trolling. If your boat is equipped with a tower, caution and good common sense must be exercised
whenever someone is in the tower. Most towers are designed for two average-sized people.
Remember, weight in the tower raises the boat's center of gravity and the boat's motion is greatly
exaggerated for the people in a tower.
If you are fishing in an area that is crowded with other fishing boats, it may be difficult to follow
the rules of the road. This situation can become especially difficult when most boats are trolling.
Being courteous and exercising good common sense is essential. Avoid trying to assert your
right of way and concentrate on staying clear and preventing tangled or cut lines and other
unpleasant encounters with other boats. Also keep in mind that fishing line wrapped around a
propeller shaft can damage seals in the engine lower unit.
12.12 Man Overboard
If someone falls overboard, you must be prepared to react quickly, particularly when you are
offshore. The following procedures will help you in recovering a person that has fallen
overboard.
• Immediately stop the boat and sound a man overboard alarm and have all passengers point
to the person in the water.
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