Sea-doo GTX Series User manual

SERIES

219 000 588 CA

OPERATORS GUIDE, GTI, GTX, RXP, RXT, WAKE SERIES / ENGLISH

GUIDE DU CONDUCTEUR, SÉRIE GTI, GTX, RXP, RXT, WAKE / ANGLAIS

FAIT AU / MADE IN CANADA U/M:P.C.

2009

OPERATORS GUIDE

Includes

Safety, Vehicle and

Maintenance Information

® AND THE BRP LOGO ARE TRADEMARKS OF BOMBARDIER RECREATIONAL PRODUCTS INC. OR ITS AFFILIATES.

TRADEMARK OF CASTROL LIMITED USED UNDER LICENSE.

219 000 588

GTI

TM

/

GTX



/

RXP

TM

,

RXT

TM

/

WAKE

TM

WARNING

Disregardin g any of the safety precau tions and inst ructions contained in

this Operator’s Guide,

SAFETY DVD

and on-product safety labels could

cause injury including the possibility of death!

WARNING

This watercraft may exceed the perfor mance of ot her boats yo u may have

ridden in the past. Take ti me to familiarize yourself w ith yo ur new water-

craft.

CALIFORNIA PROPOSITION 65 WARNING

WARNING

This product contains or emits chemicals known to the state of California to

cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.

In USA, products are distributed by B RP US Inc.

Knight’s Spray-Nine

†

is a tradema r k of Korkay System Ltd GTX

†

is a trademark of

Castrol Ltd. Used under license

This is a non-exhaustive list of tradema rk s that are the property of Bombardier

Recreational Products Inc. or its affiliates:

XP-S

TM

O.P.A.S.

TM

SEA-DOO

®

T.O.P .S.™ Rota x

®

Sea-Doo LK

TM

DESS

TM

RXP

TM

4-TEC

TM

GTI

TM

VTS™

RXT™

WAKE™

smo2009-001 en JPM

®™ and th e BRP logo a re tradem arks of Bom ba rdier Re creational Products In c. or its affiliates.

FOREWORD

Congratulations on your purchase

of a new Sea-Doo

®

personal water-

craft (PWC). It is backed by the BRP

warranty and a network of authorized

Sea-Doo personal watercraft dealers

ready to provide the parts, service or

accessories you may require.

Your dealer is committed to your sat-

isfaction. He has taken training to per-

form the initial setup and inspection of

your w atercraft as well as completed

the final adjustment before you took

possession. If you need more com-

plete servicing information, please ask

your dealer.

At delivery, you were also informed of

the warranty coverage a nd signed the

PREDELIVERY CHECK LIST

to ensure

your new watercraft was prepared to

your entire satisfaction.

Know Before You Go

To learn how to reduce the r isk for you

or o th er perso ns being hurt or killed,

read the following sections before you

operate the vehicle:

–

SAFETY INFORMATION

–

VEHICLE INFORMATION

.

We highly recommend that you take

a safe boating course. Please check

your dealer or local authorities for avail-

ability in your area.

In certain areas, an operator compe-

tency card is mandatory to operate a

pleasure craft.

Safety Messages

This Operator’s Guid e utilizes the fol-

lowing symbols and words to empha-

size particular information:

WARNING

Indicates a potentially hazardous

situation which, if not avoided,

could result in serious injury or

death.



The Safety A lert Symbol

indicates a potential personal

injury hazard.

CAUTION Indicates a hazard

situation which, if not avoided,

could result in minor or moderate

injury.

NOTICE

Indicates an instruction

which, if not followed, could se-

verely damage vehicle com ponents

or other property.

Please read and understand all

warning/safety labels on your Sea-Doo

PWC, your Operator’s Guide, all other

safety documents, and watch properly

your

SAFETY DVD

, before operating.

Always keep in mind that the ““

symbol, the Warning symbol, iden-

tifies an instruction which, if not fol-

lowed, may cause serious personal in-

juries including the possibility of death .

About this Operator's

Guide

This Operator's Guide has been pre-

pared to acquaint the owner/operator

or passenger with this personal water-

craft and its various controls, mainte-

nance and safe riding instructions.

This guide is indispensable for the

proper use of the product and should

be kept in a waterproof bag w ith the

watercraft at all times.

Note that this guide is available in sev-

eral languages. In the event of any dis-

crepancy, the English version shall pre-

vail.

Ifyouwanttoviewand/orprintan

extra copy of your Operator's Guide,

simply visit the followin g w eb site

www.operatorsguide.brp.com.

The informations contained in thi

s doc-

ument are correct at the time of publi-

cation. BRP, however, m aintains a pol-

icy of continuous improvement o

fits

products without imposing upon itself

_______________

1

FORE WORD

any obligation to install them on prod-

ucts pre viously ma nufa ctu red. D ue

to la te c ha nges , some difference s be-

tween the m a nufactured pro duc t and

the description s and/ or specifications

in this guide m ay occur. BRP reserves

the right at any time to d isc ontinue or

change s pecifications, designs, fea -

tures, models or equipment without

incurring any obligation upon itself.

This Operator's Guide and the

SA FETY

DVD

should rem ain wi th the wa tercraft

when it's sold and in a waterproof bag

with the v ehi cle at all times.

2

_______________

TA BL E OF CON TENT S

FOREWORD .......................................................................... 1

Know Before You Go............................................................. 1

Safety Messages................................................................. 1

About this Operator's Guide .................................................... 1

SAF ETY INFORM ATION

GENERAL PRECAUTIONS.......................................................... 8

Avoid Carbon M onox ide Poi s oning ............................................. 8

Avoid Gasoline Fires andOther Hazards ....................................... 8

Avoid Burns from Hot Parts ..................................................... 8

SPECIAL SAFETY MESSAGES .................................................... 9

Reminders Regarding Operation ............................................... 9

Water Sports .................................................................... 11

Hypothermia..................................................................... 14

Safe BoatingCourses........................................................... 14

SAFETY EQUIPMENT .............................................................. 15

Required Safety Equip m ent .................................................... 15

Additional Recommended Equipment ........................................ 17

SAFE BOATING PRACTICES ...................................................... 18

Drugs and Alcohol............................................................... 18

Safe Operation .................................................................. 18

RULES OF THE ROAD.............................................................. 21

Operating Rules ................................................................. 21

FUELING PROCEDURE ............................................................ 23

Recom m ended Fuel ............................................................ 23

Fueling Procedure............................................................... 23

TRAILERING......................................................................... 24

Launching/Loading.............................................................. 25

LOCATION OF THE IMPORTANT LABELS....................................... 26

PRE-RIDE INSPECTION ............................................................ 33

Hull ............................................................................... 34

Jet Pump Water Intake ......................................................... 34

Bilge.............................................................................. 34

Battery ........................................................................... 34

Fuel Tank ......................................................................... 35

Engine Compartment........................................................... 35

Engine Oil........................................................................ 35

Engine Coolant .................................................................. 35

SteeringSystem and Side Vanes (O.P.A.S.)................................... 35

Throttle System ................................................................. 35

Shifter System .................................................................. 35

Variable Trim System (VTS)..................................................... 36

Storage Compartment Covers and Seat ...................................... 36

WakeboardRack ................................................................ 36

_______________

3

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PRE-RIDE INSPECTION (cont’d)

Ski/Wakeboard Pos t ............................................................ 36

Ballast Tanks..................................................................... 36

DESS Postand Engine Start/Stop Button ..................................... 36

VEHICLE INFORMATION

CONTROLS/INSTRUMENTS/EQUIPMENTS .................................. 38

DESS Post(Engine Stop Switch) .............................................. 41

Handlebar........................................................................ 42

Throttle Lever ................................................................... 43

Engine Start/Stop Button ...................................................... 43

Variable Trim System (VTS)..................................................... 44

Shift Lever ....................................................................... 46

InformationCenter Gauge...................................................... 46

Glove Box........................................................................ 49

GPS Receiver (GlobalPositioning System) ................................... 50

Front Storage Compartment ................................................... 51

Rear Seat Latch ................................................................. 54

Seat Latch ....................................................................... 55

Rear Storage Basket ............................................................ 56

Front and Rear(bow/stern) Eyelets............................................ 56

Mooring Cleats .................................................................. 57

Boarding Step ................................................................... 57

Bilge Drain Plugs ................................................................ 57

Ski/Wakeboard Pos t ............................................................ 58

WakeboardRack ................................................................ 59

RecessedCargo Cleats......................................................... 61

Ballast System .................................................................. 61

OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS..................................................... 65

Principle of Operation........................................................... 65

Boarding the Watercraft ........................................................ 70

Starting........................................................................... 72

Riding ............................................................................ 72

Rear Grab Handle ............................................................... 73

Operation with Wakeboard Rack and Ballast Tanks .......................... 74

Rough Water or Poor Visibility Operation . .................................... 74

Crossing Waves................................................................. 74

Stopping/Docking ............................................................... 74

Beaching......................................................................... 74

ShuttingOff the Engine......................................................... 75

Post-Operation Care ............................................................ 75

SPECIAL PROCEDURES ........................................................... 78

Jet Pump Water Intake and Impeller Cleaning................................ 78

Capsized Watercraft ............................................................ 79

Submerged Watercraft ......................................................... 79

Water-Flooded Engine.......................................................... 79

4

_______________

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SPECIAL PROCEDURES (cont’d)

Towing the Watercraft in Water................................................ 79

MAINTENANCE INFORMATION

MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE ...................................................... 82

10-HOUR INSPECTION ............................................................ 86

MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES .................................................. 87

Engine Oil........................................................................ 87

Engine Coolant .................................................................. 88

Throttle Body .................................................................... 89

Throttle Cable ................................................................... 90

Fuses............................................................................. 90

Ride Plate and Water Intake Grate............................................. 92

Ski/Wakeboard Pos t (if so equipped) . . ........................................ 92

Body and Hull.................................................................... 92

STORAGE AND PRESEASON PREPARATION.................................. 93

Storage........................................................................... 93

Preseason Preparation ......................................................... 97

TECHNICAL INFORMA TION

IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS.................................................... 100

Hull ............................................................................. 100

Engine.......................................................................... 100

ENGINE EMISSIONS INFORMATION.......................................... 101

Manufacturer's Responsibility............................................... 101

Dealer 's R e sponsibility . ...................................................... 101

Owner Responsibility......................................................... 101

EPA Emissi on Regulations . .................................................. 101

SPECIFICATIONS ................................................................. 102

TROUBLESHOOTING

TECHNICAL GUIDELINES ....................................................... 114

MONITORING SYSTEM ......................................................... 118

Pilot Lamps and Message Display Information............................. 118

Beeper Code Information . . .................................................. 119

WARRANTY

BRP LIMITED WARRANTY – USA AN D CAN ADA: 2009 SEA-DOO

®

PERSONAL

WATERCRAFT .................................................................... 122

_______________

5

TABLE O F CONTENTS

CALIFORNIA AND NEW YORK EMISSION CONTROL WA RRANTY

STATEMENT FOR MODEL YEAR 2009 SEA-DOO

®

PERSONAL WATERCRAFT

WITH 4-TEC

®

ENGINES.......................................................... 126

BRP INTERNATIONAL LIMITED WARRANTY: 2009 SEA-DOO

®

PERSONAL

WATERCRAFT..................................................................... 130

BRP LIMITED WARRANTY FOR THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA: 2009

SEA-DOO

®

PERSONAL WAT ERCRAFT........................................ 134

PRIVACY INFORMATION/DISCLAIMER....................................... 138

CHANGEOFADDRESS/OWNERSHIP......................................... 139

6

_______________

SA FETY

INFORMATION

________

SAFETY INFO RM ATION

________

7

GENER AL PRECAUTIONS

Avoid Carbon Monoxide

Pois oni ng

All engine exhaus t contains carbon

monoxide, a dea dly gas. Brea th ing c a r-

bon monoxide can cause headaches,

dizziness , drowsiness, nausea, confu-

sion and eventuall y death.

Carbon monoxide is a co lorless, odor-

less, tasteless gas that may be present

even if you do no t see or s m ell an y en-

gine exha us t. Deadly lev els of carbon

monoxide ca n collect rapidly, and you

can quickly be overcom e and una ble

to save yourself. Also, d eadly levels of

carbon monoxide can linger for hours

or days in enclosed or poorly venti lated

areas. If you experience any sym p-

toms of carb on monoxide poisoning,

leave the area immediatel y, get fresh

air and seek medical treatment.

To prevent serious injury or death from

carbon m onox ide:

Never run the watercraft i n poorly

ventilated or partially enclosed ar-

eas such as boat houses, seawalls

or other boats in c lo se prox imity.

Even if yo u try to ventilate engi ne

exhaust, ca r bon m onox ide can

rapidly reach da ngerous levels.

Never run the waterc ra ft o utdoors

where engine exhaust can be draw n

into a building through openings

such as windows a nd doors .

Never sta nd behind the wa tercraft

while engine is running . The per-

son may inhales exhaust fumes in

concentration. Inhalation of c on-

centrated exhaust fumes, which

contain carbon monoxide, ca n re-

sult in CO poisoning, pe rsonal injury

and death.

Avoid Gasoline Fires and

Other Ha z ards

Gasoline i s extremely flammable and

highly explosive. Fuel vapors can

spread a nd be i gnited by a spark or

flame many f eet away from the en-

gine. To reduce the risk of fire or explo-

sion, follow these instructions:

Refuel ou tdoors in a w ell ventilated

area away from flames, sparks, any-

one smoking and other sources of

ignition.

Never add fuel with engine running.

Never top off the fuel tank. Leave

some room fo r the fuel to expand

with temperature changes.

Wipe up a ny spi lled fuel.

Never start or operate the engine

with th e fuel cap removed.

Use only an approved red gasoli ne

container to store f uel.

Do not carry gasoline containers in

the front s tora ge compartment or

anywhere el se on the watercraft.

Gasoline is poisonous and ca n cause

injury or death.

Never siphon ga so line by mouth.

If you swallow ga s oline, get any in

your eye or inhale gasoline vapor,

see your doc tor immediately.

If g asoline spills on you, w ash with

soap and w ater and change your

clothes.

Avoid Burns from Hot P arts

The ride plate, exhaust system a nd

engine bec ome hot during operation.

Avoid contac t durin g and shortly after

operation to avoid burns.

Do n ot make unauthorized modifi ca-

tions, or use accessories that are not

approved by BR P. Si nc e these cha nges

have not been tested by BRP, they

mayincreasetheriskofaccidentsor

injuries, and they can make the water-

craft illegal for us e on water.

See your authorized Sea-Doo dealer

for available accessories for your wa-

tercraft.

8

________

SAFETY INFORMAT ION

________

SPECIAL SAFETY MESSAGES

Reminders Regarding

O p eratio n

The performance of thi s watercraft

may significantly e xceed that of

other craft you ma y have operated.

Make sure y ou r ead and understand

the conten t of the Operator's Guide

to become completely familiar with

the controls and operation of the

watercraft before embarking on

your first trip or tak ing on a passen-

ger(s). If you h ave not had the op-

portunity to do so, prac tice driving

solo in a suitable traffic free area and

feel the response of each control.

Be fully familiar with all controls be-

fore accelerating above idle speed.

Do not assume that all PWCs han-

dle identically. Each model differs,

often substantially.

Always keep in mind that as the

throttle lever is returned to the idl e

position, less directiona l c ontrol is

available. To turn the watercraft,

both steering and throttle are nec-

essary.

Like most watercraft, this water-

craft has no brake. Stopping dis-

tance will var y depending on ini-

tial s peed, load, wind, and water

conditions. Practice s topping and

docking in a safe, traffic-free area to

have an idea of how long it will take

to stop the waterc ra ft under va ry-

ing c onditio ns. Do not release the

throttle wh en trying to s teer away

from objects. You need throttle to

steer. Do not use the watercraft's

reverse to stop.

Do n ot s tart or ope rate the water-

craft if any person is not properly

seated or if a person is nearby in the

water.

The personal watercraf t's jet thrust

can cause injury. The jet pump may

pick up debris and throw it rearward

causing a risk of injuring people or

damaging the jet pump or other

property.

Observe the in structions o n all

safety la bels. The y are there to help

assure that you have a safe a nd en-

joyable outing.

Riding with passenger(s) or p ulling

tubes, a skier or a wake boarder

makes the PWC handle d ifferently

and requires greater skill.

Certain PWC s may c om e equipped

with tow eyele ts or a ski pole wh ich

can be used to a ttach a tow rope for

a skier, tube or wa k eboa rder. Do not

use these attachment points or any

other portion of the waterc raft to

tow a parasail or another craft. P er-

sonal injury or severe damage ma y

occur.

Combustion engi nes ne ed air to

operate; cons equently this PWC

can not be totally watertight. Any

maneuvers such a s figure e ights

that cause the upper deck to be un-

der water may cause severe en-

gine pro blems due to water inges-

tion. Refer to t he

SPECIAL PROCE-

DURES

and

WARRANTY

sections

contained in this Opera tor's Guide.

Engine exhaust contains carbon

monoxide (CO), which c a n cause

injury or death if i nha led in sufficient

quantities. Do not operate the PW C

in a confined area or a ll ow CO to

accum ulate around t he PWC, or i n

enclosed or s heltered a reas. Such

as whe n docked, or when ra fting.

Be aw are of risk of C O from exhaust

of other PWCs.

Before Getting Und e rway

For s afe ty reasons an d proper

care , always perform pre-operation

checks” as specified in your Oper-

ator’s Guide before operating your

watercraft.

________

SAFETY INFO RM ATION

________

9

SPECIAL SAFETY MESSAGES

Do not e xceed the payload or pas-

senger ca pac ities for you r wa ter-

craft, whi ch are listed on the capac-

ity plate and in the specifications.

Overload ing can affect m aneuver-

ability, s tability and performance.

Also, heavy seas reduc e c a pa city. A

payload or person capacity plate is

not an exc us e for failure to use com -

mon sense o r good judgm ent.

Regularly inspect the PWC, the hull,

engine, safety equipment, and all

other boatin g gear and keep them in

safe operating condition .

Be sure you have the minimum re-

quired safety equipment, PFDs and

any additional gea r nee ded for your

cruise.

Check that all lifesaving equipment,

including fire extinguisher, is in

safe operating conditio n and eas-

ily accessible. S how all passengers

where this equipment is, a nd make

sure they know how to use it.

Keep a n eye on the weather. Chec k

local weather broadcasts before de-

parture. Be alert to cha nging condi-

tions.

Keep accurate and up-to-date charts

of the boating a rea on boa rd. Before

getting underway, check wa ter con-

ditions in the planned boating area.

Keep enou gh fuel on board for the

planned trip . A lwa ys verify fuel leve l

before use and during the ride. Ap-

ply t he princi ple of 1/3 of the fuel to

reach your desti na tion, 1/3 t o r eturn,

and k eep 1/3 in reserve. Allo w for

changes due to adverse weather or

other dela ys.

Operators and Pa ssengers

Read a nd understand a ll

WARNING/

SAFETY

labels on your Sea-Doo

PWC, your

OPER ATOR’S GUIDE

,all

other safety documents, and wa t c h

properly y our

SAFETY DVD

, b efore

operating. A lways keep in mind that

the ““ symbol, the Warning sym-

bol, ide ntifies an instruction which,

if not followed, m a y c a us e serious

personal injuries inclu ding th e pos-

sibility of death.

Check loc a l and federal boating law s

applicable to the w aterways wh ere

youintendtouseyourwatercraft.

Learn the local rules of the road.

Know and understand the appli-

cable navigation system (such as

buoys and signs). K now the waters

in w hich the w atercraft is to be oper-

ated. Current, tides , rapids, hidden

obstacles, wakes and waves e tc.

can affect safe op eration. It i s not

advisable to operate the watercraft

in rough or inc lement weather.

For s afe ty reasons an d proper

care , always perform “Daily Pre-

operation Checks” as specified in

your Opera tor’s Guide befo re op-

erating your watercraft. Keep the

safe ty lanyard a ttached to the o per-

ator’s PFD at all times and k eep it

free from handlebars so that engine

stops if operator fa lls off.

After riding, remove DESS™ key

from its post to avoid unauthorized

use by children or others. If opera-

tor falls off the watercraft and safety

lanyard is unattached, the water-

cra ft will not stop

Never operate a PWC while un der

the influence of drugs or alcohol

they s low rea c tion tim e and im pa ir

judgement. It is also a Federal of-

fense. Allow only qualified drivers

to operate your watercraft.

Remember that sun , wind, fatig ue

or il lness may impair your judge-

ment and reactio n tim e.

10

_______

SAFETY INFO RM ATION

________

SPECIAL SAFETY MESSAGES

At least one passenger should be

able to operate the watercraft in

case the operator is unexp ec te dly

unable to do so.

Operatio n of this PW C by a p ers on

under 16 years of age or a p ers on

with a disability that impairs vision,

reaction time, judgment, or opera-

tion of the con tro ls is NOT recom-

mended.

Always use the safety lanyard when

operating t he watercraft and ensure

that all passengers are familiar with

its use.

Ensure tha t any opera tor and all p as-

sengers know how to swim a nd

how to re-board the PWC from

thewater. Boardingindeepwa-

ter can be strenuous. Practice in

chest-deep wa ter before op erat-

ing or embarking your watercraft

in deep wa ter. If a pa s s enger does

not kn ow how to swim, ensure that

passenger wea rs a PFD a t all times

and take ex tra pre cautions when

boating.

Water Spo rts

WARNING

Avoid personal injury! Your PWC

is not designed for and should not

be used for pulling p arasails, kites,

gliders, or any devi c e which can

become airborne. Use watercraft

only for appropriate water sports.

Water skiing, wakeboardin g, or riding

a towe d, inflatable a ppara

tus are some

of the more popular water sports. Tak-

ing part in any water sport req uires

increased safety awaren

ess by the pa r-

ticipant a nd the watercraft operator. If

you have never pulled someone be-

hind y our P WC befor

e, it is a good i dea

to spend some hours a s an ob se rver,

working with and learn ing from an ex-

perienced drive

r. It is also important to

be aware of the sk ill and experience of

the person being pulled. Alway s have

a second person on board to observ e

the person in t he water so th e driver

can concentrate on opera t ing the wa-

tercraft.

Both the operator and observ er should

monitor the location of the towrope

when participating in watersports. A

slack tow rope can become entangled

with person(s) or objects o n the PWC

or in the water, particularly w hen mak-

ing a tight turn or circling, and cause

serious personal in jury.

Everyone participating in a water sport

should observe thes e guidelines:

Allow only capable sw immers to

take part in any water sport.

Always wear an approved personal

flotation device (PFD). Wearing

a properly des igned PFD helps a

stunned or unc ons c ious person stay

afloat. A Type-IV water-ski v est is an

approved and practical PFD .

Have a second person aboard to

observe the perso n being towed

and inform the driver about the par-

ticipant's hand signals. The driver

must give full attention to operat-

ing the watercraft and the waters

ahead.

Be considerate t o others you share

the water with.

Do no t tow a person in a ny wa ter

sport on a short tow rope such that

the pe rson inhales exhaust fumes

in conc entra tion. Inha lation of con-

centrated exhaust fumes, which

contain carbon monoxide, ca n re-

sult in CO poisoning, pe rsonal injury

and death.

Give immediate attention to a per-

son who has fal len. He o r she is

vulnerable in the water alo ne and

may not be seen by o ther boaters.

Approach a person in the wate r from

the lee side (oppos ite the direction

of the wind). Turn off the motor be-

fore coming c lose to the person.

________

SAFETY INFOR MATION

________

11

SPECIAL SAFETY MESSAGES

Participate in water sports only

in safe areas. S tay away from

other boa ts , channels, bea c hes ,

restricted areas, swimmers, and

heavily traveled waterways and un-

derwater obstructions.

Turn off engine and anchor the wa-

tercraft before s wim m ing.

Swim only in a r ea s designated as

safe for swim m ing. These a re usu-

ally marked with a swim area bu oy.

Do not sw im alone or at night.

F00A2LY

SWIM AREA BUO Y

Do not w a ter ski between sunset

and su nrise. It is illegal in most

states.

Do not drive the wa tercraft directly

behind a water sk ier, tuber or wake-

boarder. At 40 km (25 mi) per hour,

the w atercraft will overtake a per-

sonwhofallsinthewater60m

(200 ft) in front of your w a tercraft

in a bout 5 sec onds .

Shut engine off and remov e ignition

key when anyone is in the water

nearby.

Stay at least 45 m (150 ft) away from

areas marked by a diver down float.

F00A2MY

DIVER DOWN FLOAT

WARNING

Avoid personal injury! Do not al-

low anyone near the jet pump or

intake grate, even when the en-

gine is off. Items such as long hair,

loose clothing or personal flota-

tion device straps can become en-

tangled in moving parts resulting

in serious injury or drowning. In

shallow water, shells, sand, peb-

bles or other objects could be

drawn up by the jet pump and be

thro wn rearwa rd.

12

_______

SAFETY INFO RM ATION

________

SPECIAL SAFETY MESSAGES

F00A2NL

FASTER -

Palm of one hand pointing

upward.

SLOWER -

Palm pointing down.

SPEED OK -

Arm upraised with thumb and

finger joined to form circle.

RIGHT TURN -

Arm outstretched pointing

to the right.

LEFT TURN -

Arm outstretched pointing

to the left.

RETURN TO DROP-OFF AREA -

Arm at 45 degree from body

pointing down to water and

swinging.

CUT MOTOR -

Finger drawn across

throat.

STOP -

Hand up, palm forward,

policeman style.

SKIER OK.

AFTER THE FALL -

Hands clenched

together overhead.

PICK ME UP

OR FALLEN SKIER,

WATCH OUT -

One ski extended

vertically out of water.

SKIING SIGN AL S

For more informat ion about wa ter skii ng, please conta ct the Ameri can Water Sk i

Association, 1251 Holy Cow Road, Po lk City, FL 33868 (1 863 324-4341).

INTERNET WEB SITE: www.usawaterski.org/

E-MAIL: usawaterski@u sawaterski.org

________

SAFETY INFOR MATION

________

13

SPECIAL SAFETY MESSAGES

Hypothermia

Hypothermia, the loss of body heat

to th e water, i s a sig nificant cause of

deaths in boating accidents. After an

individual h as suc c um bed to h yp other-

mia, he or she will lose co ns cious nes s

and then drow n.

PFDs can increase survival time be-

cause of the insulation they provide.

Naturally, the warmer the water, the

less ins ulation one will require. When

operating in col d water (be low 4.4°C

(40°F)) c onsideration should be given

to using a coat or jacket style PFD as

they cover more of the body than the

vest style P FDs.

Som e points to rem ember a bout hy-

pothermia protectio n:

– While afloat in the water, do not at-

tempt to sw im unless i t is to reac h

a nearby boat, fellow survivor, or

a floating object on which you can

lean or climb. Unne ce ssary sw im-

ming inc reases the rate of body heat

loss. In cold water, drown- proof

methods tha t require putting your

head in the water are not r ec om -

mended. Keep your head out of the

water. This w ill grea tly lessen heat

loss and increase your survival time.

– Kee p a positive a ttitude about your

survival and rescue. This will im-

prove your c ha nces of extending

your surv ival time until res c ue. Your

will to li ve does make a di fferen ce!

– If there i s more than one p erson

in the water, huddling is r ec om-

mended while waiting to be r es -

cued. This action tends to reduce

the rate of heat loss and thus in-

crease the survival time.

– Always wear your P FD. It won't hel p

you fight off the effec t s o f h yp other-

mia if you don't ha ve it on w hen you

go into the w ater.

Safe Boating C ourses

Many countries recom m end or requ ire

a boating safety course. Check w ith

your l oc al competent authoriti es .

Check loc a l and federal boating law s

applicable to the waterways wh ere

youintendtouseyourwatercraft.

Learn the local rule s of the road. K now

and understand the applicable naviga-

tion s ystem (such as buoys and signs).

14

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SAFETY INFO RM ATION

________

SAFETY EQUIPMENT

Re qui red Safety

Equi pment

Always c a rry the regul atory safety

items and have them conveniently on

board available for use. Check the local

regulations or consult your authorized

Sea-Doo dea ler. S uc h required saf ety

items usually include, without limi ta-

tion, a sound s ignali ng dev ice such as

a whistle, a watertight flashlight or ap-

proved flares , a buoyant heavin g line,

an anc hor and rope*, a bailer*, and

an appropriate fire extinguisher*. The

items ma r k ed with a “*” a r e not re-

quired in Canada if all persons on boa rd

a P WC are wearing a PFD.

The operator and passeng er(s) must

wear a Coast G uard approved Personal

Flotation Device (PFD) that is suitable

for PWC use.

The opera tor and w atercraft’s p as-

senger(s) s hould have ready access

to shatterproof glasses should riding

conditions or personal preference wa r-

rant. Wind, water s pra y and spe ed

may cause a person’s eyes to w ater

andcreateblurredvision.

The operator and pas s enger(s) of

PWCs mus t wear protective clothing,

including:

– A wet suit bottom or thick, tightly

woven, s nug fitting clothing that

provides equiva lent protection.

Thin bike shorts for examp le w ould

not be appro priate. Severe inter-

nal injuries can occur if w ater is

forced into body cavities as a result

of falling into water or bei ng nea r jet

thrust nozzle. Normal swimwear

does not adequately protect a ga inst

forceful water entry into the lower

body open ing(s) of males or fe-

males.

– Footw ea r, gloves and goggles/

glasses are also recommended.

Some type of lightw eight, flexible

foot protectio n is recommended.

This will help re duc e possible injury,

should you step on sharp underwa-

ter objects.

F00A12A

Eye

protection

Vest-type

personal

flotation

device

Gloves

Wet suit

or wet suit

bottom

Foot

protection

Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs)

In ma ny countries, regul ations requ ire

that you have at least one app roved

personal flotation device (PFD) for

each person on a rec rea tional w a t er-

craft an d require tha t all c hil dren under

13 years o f age wear a P FD at all times

when the watercraft is underway. You

may not use your wa tercraft unless

all PFDs are in serviceable c ondition,

readily accessible, legibly marked w ith

the appro val number, a nd of an appro-

priate size ( wi thin the weight range and

chest size marked on the PFD) for each

person on board.

A PFD provides buoyancy to help ke ep

your head ab ov e the wa ter and to help

you remain in a satisfactory position

while in the water. Body weight and

age should be considered when se-

lecting a PFD. The buoya nc y provided

by the PFD shoul d sup port your wei ght

in wa ter. The size o f the PFD should

be appropriate for the wearer. Body

weight a nd chest size are com mon

methods used to size PFDs. It is your

responsibility to ensu re tha t you hav e

the proper number and types of PFDs

on bo ard to comply with f ederal and

local regulations and that your passen-

gers know w here t hey are and how to

use them.

________

SAFETY INFOR MATION

________

15

SAFETY EQUIPMENT

PFD Types

There are five types of approved PFDs.

PFD Type I, Wearable has the greatest

required buoyancy. Its des ign allows

for turning most unconscious persons

inthewaterfromfacedownpositionto

a vertical or slightly backward, face-up

position. It can greatly increase the

chances of survival. Type I is most

effective for all w ate rs, especially off-

shore when rescue m ay be delayed. I t

is a lso the most effective in rough wa-

ters

F00A2CY

TYPE I — WEARABLE

PFD Type II, Wearab le turns its wea rer

in the same way as Type I, bu t no t as

effectively. The Type Il does not turn as

many persons under the same condi-

tions as a Type I. You may prefer to use

this PFD where there is a probability of

quick rescue such as in areas wh ere

other peo ple a re c om monly involved in

water activities.

F00A2DY

TYP E II — WEA RABLE

PFD Type III, Wearable all ows wear-

ers to place themselves in a vertical

or slightly backward position. It does

not turn the w earer. It maintains the

wearer in a vertical or slightly back-

ward position and has no tendency

to turn the wearer face down. It has

the sam e buo yancy as a Type I l PFD

and may be appropriate i n a rea s where

other peo ple a re c om monly involved in

water activities.

F00A2EY

TYPE III — WEARABLE

PFD Type IV, Throwa ble is required

in addition to the PFDs previously dis-

cussed. The most common Type IV

PFD is a buoyant cushion or ring buoy.

It is designed to b e thrown to a per-

son in t he water, grasped a nd held by

the user until he or she is rescued. A

Type I V PFD should a lways be in s er-

viceable condition and immediately

available for use. Grasping this PFD

may be difficult if the rescue is delayed

or if the user is overcome by hypother-

mia (loss of body heat).

F00A2FY

TYPE IV — T HROWABLE

16

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SAFETY INFO RM ATION

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SAFETY EQUIPMENT

PFD Type V, We arabl e must be worn.

When i nflated, it provides buoyancy

equivalent to Type I, Il or III PFDs.

When it is deflated, however, it m a y

not support s om e people.

Helmets

Some Important Considerations

Helmets are designed to offer som e

degree of protection in case of im-

pact to the head. In most motorized

sports, the benefits of wearin g a hel-

met clearly outweigh the drawbacks.

However, in the case of mo torized wa-

tersports s uc h as riding personal wa-

tercraft, this is not necessarily true a s

there are som e p articular risks associ-

ated with the water.

Benefits

A helmet helps to reduce the risk of

injury in case of a head impact against

a hard surface such as another craft,

for example, in the case o f a collision.

Similarly, a helmet with a chinguard

might h elp prevent injuries to the face,

jaw, or teeth.

Risks

On the other hand, in som e situa tions

when falling off the watercraft, hel-

mets have a tendenc y to catch the

water, l ike a “bucket”, and put severe

stresses on the neck or spine. This

could r es ult in choking, severe or per-

manent neck or spi ne injury, or dea th.

Helmets may also interfere with pe-

ripheral vision and hearing, or increa s e

fatigue, which could contribute to in-

crease the risk of a c ollision.

Weighing the Risks vs Benefits

In order t o decide whether or not y ou

should we ar a helmet, it is bes t to con-

sider the pa rticular environment you

will be riding in, as well as other fac-

tors such as persona l experience. Will

there be a l ot of traffic on the water?

What is your riding style?

The Bottom Line

Since each option minimizes som e

risks, but increases o thers, before

each ride you must decide whether

to wear a helmet or not based on your

particular situation.

If you decide to wear a helmet, you

must then decide what type is the

most appropriate for the c ircum-

stances. Look for helmets that meet

DOT or Snell standards, and i f possi-

ble, choose one designed for motor-

ized watersports.

Racing

Due to the na ture of competitio n and

the proximity of other crafts, BRP rec-

ommends w ea ring a helmet in clos e

quarter PWC racing activities. Always

follow the helmet requirements of the

sanctioning organi zation.

Addi ti onal Recommen ded

Equi pment

It is re co m m ended that you acquire

additional equipment for safe, enjoy-

able cruisi ng. This list, which is not all

inclusive, includ es item s you should

consider acquiring.

– Paddle

– First aid kit

–Charts

– Sunblock

– Emergency s upply of drin king wat er

and food.

A cellular telephon e in a waterproof

bag or c onta iner has also been found

to be be neficial to boaters when in dis-

tress or just fo r contacting someone

on shore.

________

SAFETY INFOR MATION

________

17

SAFE BOATING PRACTICES

YOU are responsible for your own

safety, th e s afety of y our passengers,

and the sa fety of fellow boaters. R ide

smart from the start and we all win!

Drugs and Alc ohol

Do n ot use drugs or drink a lcohol while

operating a PWC. Like driving a car,

driving a watercraft requires s ober, at-

tentive care. Operating a w atercraft

while i ntox ica ted or under the influ-

ence of drugs is not only dangerous,

but it is also a Federal offense carry-

ing a significant penalty. These law s

are vigorously enforced. The use of

drugs a nd alcohol, s ingly or in combi-

nation, decreases reaction time, im-

pedes jud gm ent, impa irs vi sion, and

inhibits your a bil ity t o s afely operate a

watercraft.

WARNING

Alcohol consumption an d boat-

ing do not mix! Operating un-

der the influence endangers the

lives of your passengers and other

boaters. Federal laws prohibit op-

erating a watercraft under the in-

fluence of alcohol or drugs.

Safe O peration

Always keep in mind that as the

throttle le ver is released to idle posi-

tion, less directional control is avail-

able, and as the engine is off, di-

rectional control is lost. You need

throttle to s teer.

Know the waters in which the wa-

tercraft is to be operat ed. C urrent,

tides, rapi ds, hidd en obstacles,

wakes and waves etc. can affect

safe operation. It is not advisable to

operate the w a terc raft in rough or

inclement weather.

Keep the safety lanyard attached to

the operator’s PFD at all times a nd

keep it free from handlebars so that

engine stops if op erator falls off. Af-

ter riding, remove DE SS ™ k ey from

its post to avoid unauthorized us e by

children or others. If operator falls

off the watercraft and safety lanyard

is unattached , the watercraft will

not stop.

Ride w ithin y our lim its and lev el of

riding ability. Avoid aggressive ma-

neuvers to r educ e the risk of loss

of control, ejection and c oll ision.

Understand and res pec t t he perfor-

mance or your watercraft.

Always ride res ponsibl y and safely.

Use comm on sense a nd c ourtes y.

While your wa tercraft has the ca-

pacity of operatin g at high speeds,

it is strongly recommended tha t

high speed o pera tion on ly be ap-

plied w hen idea l conditions ex ist

and are permi tted. Higher s peed

operation requires a higher deg ree

of skill and increases the risk o f se-

vere injuries.

The forces genera ted on the body

of riders while turning, negotiat-

ing wav es or wakes, operat ing in

choppy waters, or falling off the wa-

tercraft, especially at higher speeds,

may cause injury including the pos-

sibility of broken legs and other

bones or m ore s erious injuries. Re-

main flexible and avoid sharp turns.

In s ha llo w w ater, proceed with

caution and at very low speeds.

Grounding or abrupt stops ma y re-

sult in injury. Debris may also be

picked up a nd be throw n rearward

by the jet pump onto people o r prop-

erty.

Do not use the watercraft’s reverse,

if so equip ped, to stop. You or your

passenger( s) could be violently

ejected fo rward onto the handle-

bars or ev en off the watercraft onto

the haz ard.

PWCs are not des igned for night-

time operation.

18

_______

SAFETY INFO RM ATION

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Sea-doo GTX Series User manual

Sea-doo GTX Series User manual

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