2005 YAMAHA XL 700 towing

1-16
E

A second person should be on board as a
spotter to watch the skier; in many places
it is required by law. Let the skier direct
the operator’s control of speed and direc-
tion with hand signals.
The spotter should sit securely on the
passenger seat and hold onto the hand-
grip 2 with one hand and the finger
grip3 with the other hand, and place his/
her feet firmly on the footrest 4 for proper
balance while facing to the rear to watch
the skier’s hand signals and his or her
condition.

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.
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EJU01008
Location of main components
1Cooling water pilot outlet
Use to verify cooling water flow.
2Bow eye
Use to attach rope for transporting, mooring or
towing the watercraft in an emergency.
3Front storage compartment
4Hood
5Fuel cock knob
Use to select either normal or reserve fuel flow
from the fuel tank to the carburetors, or to shut
off fuel flow.
6Handlebars
Use to control direction.
7Fuel tank filler cap
8Rope hole
Use to attach a rope for mooring only.
9Oil tank filler cap
0Choke knob
Use to start a cold engine.AFootwell
Use to place feet for balance.
BFootrest
To keep proper balance while facing to the rear
to watch the skier.
CFire extinguisher container
Use to store the fire extinguisher.
DIntake grate
Prevents debris from getting into the jet pump.
EHandgrip
Use for suppor t when boarding the watercraft
or when seated facing rearward and acting as
a spotter for a water-skier.
FRear seat
GFront seat
HGlove compartment
ISeat storage compartments
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CAUTION:@ Do not turn the watercraft over counter-
clockwise, otherwise water can leak into
the carburetor and engine, which can
result in severe damage.
@
3. Start the engine and operate the water-
craft to discharge any water remaining in
the engine compartment. (If the engine
does not start, see page 5-7, “Towing the
watercraft” or page 5-8, “Submerged
watercraft.”)
NOTE:@ To efficiently discharge water from the
engine compartment, operate the watercraft
as straight as possible and above planing
speed for at least 2 minutes.
@
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5
EJU01115
TROUBLESHOOTING
AND EMERGENCY
PROCEDURES
Troubleshooting ...................................... 5-1
Troubleshooting chart ............................ 5-1
Emergency procedures .......................... 5-4
Cleaning the jet intake and impeller ...... 5-4
Jumping the battery ............................... 5-5
Towing the watercraft ............................ 5-7
Submerged watercraft ........................... 5-8
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EJU01913
Towing the watercraft
If the watercraft becomes inoperative in
the water, it can be towed to shore.
If the watercraft must be towed in an
emergency using a towline, the operator
should ride the watercraft, holding onto the
handlebars.
CAUTION:@
Tow the watercraft at 5 mph (8 km/h) or
less, otherwise water could enter the
engine through the exhaust passages
or through the air intake and flood the
engine compartment if it is towed too
fast.

Tow the watercraft using the bow
eye1 only.

The bow must be kept up out of the
water during towing to prevent water
from entering the engine compart-
ment.
@
WARNING@
The watercraft should only be towed in
an emergency.

The towline should be long enough so
that the watercraft will not collide with
the towing boat when slowing down. A
good rule of thumb is a towline that is
three times the combined length of the
towing boat and the watercraft.

The operator of the towing boat must
keep speed to a minimum and avoid
traffic or obstacles which could be a
hazard to the rider on the watercraft.
@
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Limitations on who may operate the
watercraft ................................................ 1-9
Location of main components ................. 2-1
Lubrication............................................... 4-3
Lubrication points .................................. 4-15
M
Maintenance and adjustments ................ 4-7
Manufactured date label.......................... 1-2
O
Oil filter .................................................. 4-12
Oil level warning lamp ........................... 2-14
Oil tank .................................................. 4-12
Oil tank filler cap...................................... 2-7
Operating your watercraft...................... 3-20
Operation .............................................. 3-14
Operation of controls and other
functions .................................................. 2-4
Operation requirements ........................ 1-11
Other labels ............................................. 1-7
Owner’s/Operator’s Manual and
tool kit ...................................................... 4-8
P
Periodic maintenance chart..................... 4-9
Post-operation checks........................... 3-34
Pre-operation check list........................... 3-5
Pre-operation check points ..................... 3-6
Pre-operation checks .............................. 3-5
Primary Identification (PRI-ID)
number .................................................... 1-1
R
Rear seat................................................. 2-4
Recommended equipment .................... 1-13
Replacing the fuse ................................ 4-21
Riding watercraft with passengers ........ 3-21
Rough water operation .......................... 3-33
S
Safe boating rules ................................. 1-17
Safety information ................................... 1-9
Seat storage compartment .................... 2-16
Specifications ........................................ 4-22
Starting and boarding in shallow
water ..................................................... 3-23
Starting from a dock .............................. 3-23Starting the engine ................................ 3-16
Starting the watercraft ........................... 3-22
Start switch............................................ 2-10
Steering system ...........................2-11, 3-11
Stern drain plug ....................................... 3-8
Stopping the engine .............................. 3-19
Stopping the watercraft ......................... 3-31
Storage.................................................... 4-1
Storage compartments .......................... 2-15
Submerged watercraft ............................. 5-8
Switches ................................................ 3-13
T
Throttle .................................................. 3-11
Throttle lever ......................................... 2-10
Towing the watercraft .............................. 5-7
Transporting .......................................... 3-36
Troubleshooting ...................................... 5-1
Troubleshooting chart ............................. 5-1
Turning the watercraft ........................... 3-29
W
Warning labels ........................................ 1-4
Watercraft characteristics ...................... 1-14
Water separator ...................................... 3-7
Water-skiing .......................................... 1-15
E_F0M-70.book Page 2 Wednesday, June 23, 2004 4:52 PM