Mercury Marine Sport 899183001 - Manual (Page 13)

GENERAL INFORMATION
9
!
WARNING
Avoid serious injury or death from deceleration forces resulting
from accidental or unintended stop switch activation. The boat
operator should never leave the operator's station without first
disconnecting the stop switch lanyard from the operator.
Accidental or unintended activation of the switch during normal
operation is also a possibility. This could cause any, or all, of the
following potentially hazardous situations:
• Occupants could be thrown forward due to unexpected loss
of forward motion ‑ a particular concern for passengers in the
front of the boat who could be ejected over the bow and
possibly struck by the gearcase or propeller.
• Loss of power and directional control in heavy seas, strong
current or high winds.
• Loss of control when docking.
Protecting People In The Water
WHILE YOU ARE CRUISING
It is very difficult for a person standing or floating in the water to
take quick action to avoid a boat heading in his/her direction, even
at slow speed.
21604
Always slow down and exercise extreme caution any time you are
boating in an area where there might be people in the water.
Whenever a boat is moving (coasting) and the outboard gear shift
is in neutral position, there is sufficient force by the water on the
propeller to cause the propeller to rotate. This neutral propeller
rotation can cause serious injury.