Operation
51
EJU31980
Pre-operation checks EJU31990Pre-operation check list
Before operating this watercraft, perform the checks in the following check list. See the accom-
panying text in this chapter for details on how to perform the checks.
WARNING
EWJ00410
If any item in the pre-operation check list is not working properly, have it inspected and
repaired before operating the watercraft, otherwise an accident could occur.
ITEM ROUTINE PAGE
BEFORE LAUNCH OR OPERATION
Engine compartmentRemove the seats to ventilate the engine compart-
ment. Check for fuel vapors and loose electrical con-
nections.53
BilgeCheck for water and fuel and drain if necessary. 54
Stern drain plugsCheck for proper installation. 55
Throttle leverCheck that the throttle lever springs back smoothly. 57
Steering systemCheck for proper operation.
Check that the handlebars are locked in place.57
Shift lever and reverse gateCheck for proper operation. 57
QSTSCheck for proper operation. 58
Fuel and oilCheck the fuel and oil levels and replenish if neces-
sary.
Check the hoses and tanks for leakage.53, 53
Water separatorCheck for water and drain if necessary. 54
BatteryCheck the electrolyte level and battery condition. 55
HoodCheck that the hood is securely closed. 25
Front and rear seatsCheck that the seats are securely installed. 24
Hull and deckCheck the hull and deck for cracks and other dam-
age.53
Jet intakeCheck for debris and remove if necessary. 59
Fire extinguisherCheck the condition and replace if necessary. 56
Engine shut-off cordCheck the condition and replace if frayed or broken. 59
SwitchesCheck the start switch, engine stop switch, and en-
gine shut-off switch for proper operation.60
AFTER LAUNCH
Cooling water pilot outletCheck that water is discharged while the engine is
running and the watercraft is in the water.60
Multifunction information
centerCheck for warning indications and proper operation. 60
UF1X71E0.book Page 51 Tuesday, September 26, 2006 9:52 AM
Operation
56
Check that the battery leads are tightened se-
curely and that there is no corrosion on the
battery terminals.
WARNING
EWJ00450
The battery must always be fully
charged and in good condition. Loss of
battery power may leave you stranded.
Never operate the watercraft if the bat-
tery does not have sufficient power to
start the engine or if it shows any other
signs of decreased power.
Be sure to connect the breather hose to
the battery. Fire or explosion could re-
sult if the breather hose is damaged, ob-
structed, or not connected properly.
Make sure that the battery is securely held in
place.
EJU32580Fire extinguisher
Check that there is a full fire extinguisher on
board.
The fire extinguisher container is located in
the seat storage compartment.
To open the fire extinguisher container, turn
the cap counterclockwise.
To close the fire extinguisher container, insert
the fire extinguisher into the container, and
then install the cap and tighten it securely.
NOTE:
To check the fire extinguisher, see the in-
structions supplied by the fire extinguisher
manufacturer. Always keep the fire extin-
guisher in the fire extinguisher container.
Always carry a fire extinguisher on board. A
fire extinguisher is not standard equipment
with this watercraft. If you do not have one,
1Positive (+) battery terminal: Red lead
2Negative (–) battery terminal: Black lead
3Breather hose
1Fire extinguisher container
2Fire extinguisher container cap
UF1X71E0.book Page 56 Tuesday, September 26, 2006 9:52 AM
Operation
57
contact a Yamaha dealer or a fire extin-
guisher dealer to obtain one meeting the
proper specifications.
EJU32590Throttle lever
Check the throttle lever for proper operation.
Squeeze and release the throttle lever several
times to make sure that there is no hesitation
in its travel. It should be smooth over the com-
plete range and spring back to the idle posi-
tion when released.
WARNING
EWJ00490
Before starting the engine, always check
the operation of the throttle lever.
EJU32610Steering system
Check the handlebars for looseness.
Turn the handlebars as far as possible to the
right and left to make sure that operation is
smooth and unrestricted throughout the
whole range. Also, make sure that the jet
thrust nozzle moves as the handlebars areturned, and that there is no free play between
the handlebars and the jet thrust nozzle.
Check that the handlebars are locked in
place. (See “Tilt lever” on page 29 for more in-
formation.)
EJU32630Shift lever and reverse gate
Check the shift lever and reverse gate for
proper operation.
Make sure that the reverse gate goes down
completely when the shift lever is pulled up.
UF1X71E0.book Page 57 Tuesday, September 26, 2006 9:52 AM
Operation
58
Also, make sure that the reverse gate goes up
completely when the shift lever is pushed
down.
WARNING
EWJ00480
Make sure that the throttle lever is com-
pletely released and that the engine is at
idle before shifting into reverse.
Do not use the reverse function to slow
down or stop the watercraft as it could
cause you to lose control, be ejected, or
impact the handlebars.
Use reverse for slow-speed maneuver-
ing only.
Make sure that there are no obstacles or
people behind you before shifting into
reverse.
Do not touch the reverse gate while the
shift lever is being operated, otherwise
you could be pinched.
EJU32641Quick Shift Trim System (QSTS)
Operate the QSTS selector lock lever and the
QSTS selector several times to check that
they operate properly.
(1) Squeeze the QSTS selector lock lever
and check that it returns smoothly to its
original position when released.
(2) Check that the QSTS selector turns
smoothly when the lever is squeezed and
check that the selector locks in place at
each position when the lever is released.
(3) Check that the angle of the jet thrust noz-
zle changes when the QSTS selector is
UF1X71E0.book Page 58 Tuesday, September 26, 2006 9:52 AM
Operation
61
EJU32740
Operation
WARNING
EWJ00510
Before operating your watercraft, become
familiar with all of the controls. Consult a
Yamaha dealer about any control or func-
tion that you do not fully understand. Fail-
ure to understand how the controls work
could cause an accident or prevent you
from avoiding an accident.
CAUTION:
ECJ00460
Make sure that the stern drain plugs are
tightened securely before launching the
watercraft.
EJU36140Engine break-in
The engine break-in period is essential to al-
low the various components of the engine to
wear and polish themselves to the correct op-
erating clearances. This ensures proper per-
formance and promotes longer component
life.
CAUTION:
ECJ00440
Be sure to check the engine oil level be-
fore operating the watercraft for the first
time. (See page 53 for engine oil checking
procedures.)
(1) Launch the watercraft and start the en-
gine. (See page 61 for engine starting
procedures.)
(2) For the first 5 minutes, run the engine at
trolling speed only. For the 30 minutes of
operation after that, keep the engine
speed below 5000 r/min. For the 1 hour of
operation after that, keep the engine
speed below 8000 r/min.
(3) Proceed with normal operation.
CAUTION:
ECJ00430
Failure to follow the engine break-in pro-
cedure could result in reduced engine life
or even severe engine damage.
EJU32801Launching the watercraft
When launching the watercraft, make sure
that there are no obstacles behind you.
Use the remote control transmitter to select
the unlock mode. (See page 33 for Yamaha
Security System lock and unlock mode selec-
tion procedures.)
After the watercraft is in the water, start the
engine. Shift into reverse and move the water-
craft back slowly. If there are waves, some-
one should make sure that the watercraft is
not pushed into the trailer before backing
away.
EJU36340Starting the engine
WARNING
EWJ00560
Never start the engine or let it run for any
length of time in an enclosed area. Ex-
haust fumes contain carbon monoxide, a
colorless, odorless gas that may cause
loss of consciousness and death within a
short time. Always operate the watercraft
in an open area.
UF1X71E0.book Page 61 Tuesday, September 26, 2006 9:52 AM
Operation
62
(1) If the lock mode of the Yamaha Security
System is selected, use the remote con-
trol transmitter to select the unlock mode.
(See page 33 for Yamaha Security Sys-
tem lock and unlock mode selection pro-
cedures.)
(2) Launch the watercraft in water free from
weeds and debris and at least 60 cm (2 ft)
deep.
WARNING
EWJ00570
Never operate in water that is less than 60
cm (2 ft) deep, otherwise you increase
your chance of hitting a submerged ob-
ject, which could result in injury.
CAUTION:
ECJ00470
Never operate in water that is less than 60
cm (2 ft) deep, otherwise pebbles or sand
could be sucked into the jet intake, caus-
ing impeller damage and engine overheat-
ing.
(3) Attach the engine shut-off cord to your left
wrist, and then attach the clip to the en-
gine shut-off switch.
WARNING
EWJ00580
Check that the engine shut-off cord is not
frayed or broken, and keep it free from the
handlebars so that the engine stops if the
operator falls off. The engine shut-off cord
may not pull free if wrapped around the
handlebars when the operator falls off, al-
lowing the watercraft to continue to run
and cause an accident.
NOTE:
It is not possible to start the engine with the
clip removed from the engine shut-off switch.
1Clip
2Engine shut-off switch
3Engine shut-off cord
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Operation
63
(4) Push the start switch (green button), and
then release it as soon as the engine
starts to run.
NOTE:
The engine will not start if the throttle lever is
squeezed.
CAUTION:
ECJ00480
Never push the start switch while the en-
gine is running.
Do not operate the start switch for more
than 5 seconds, otherwise the battery
will be discharged and the engine will
not start. Also, the starter motor could
be damaged. If the engine does not start
in 5 seconds, release the start switch,
wait 15 seconds, and then try again.
EJU32860Stopping the engine
To stop the engine, release the throttle lever,
and then push the engine stop switch (red
button).
WARNING
EWJ00600
You need throttle to steer. Shutting the en-
gine off can cause you to hit an obstacle
you are attempting to avoid. A collision
could result in severe injury or death.
EJU32881Leaving the watercraft
If leaving the watercraft, select the lock mode
of the Yamaha Security System and remove
the engine shut-off cord to reduce the chance
of accidental starting or unauthorized use by
children or others. (See page 33 for Yamaha
Security System lock and unlock mode selec-
tion procedures.)
UF1X71E0.book Page 63 Tuesday, September 26, 2006 9:52 AM
Operation
64
EJU32900
Operating your watercraft EJU32960Getting to know your watercraft
Operating your watercraft requires skills ac-
quired through practice over a period of time.
Take the time to learn the basic techniques
well before attempting more difficult maneu-
vers.
Operating your new watercraft can be a very
enjoyable activity, providing you with hours of
pleasure. However, it is essential to familiar-
ize yourself with the operation of the water-
craft to achieve the skill level necessary to
enjoy riding safely.
Before operating this watercraft, read this
owner’s/operator’s manual, the Riding Prac-
tice Guide, and all warning and caution labels
on the watercraft. Pay particular attention to
the safety information on page 10. These ma-
terials should give you an understanding of
the watercraft and its operation.
Remember: This watercraft is designed to
carry the operator and up to 2 passengers.
Never exceed the maximum load limit or allow
more than 3 persons (or 2 persons if a water-
skier is being pulled) to ride the watercraft at
any time.
EJU33000Learning to operate your watercraft
Before operating the watercraft, always per-
form the pre-operation checks listed on page
51. The short time spent checking the water-
craft will reward you with added safety and re-
liability.
Check local laws before operating your water-
craft.Operate defensively at safe speeds and keep
a safe distance away from people, objects,
and other watercraft. Select a wide area to
learn in, where there is good visibility and light
boat traffic.
Use the buddy system—operate with some-
one nearby. Scan constantly for people, ob-
jects, and other watercraft. Be alert for
conditions that limit your visibility or block your
vision of others.
Attach the engine shut-off cord to your left
wrist and keep it free from the handlebars so
that the engine stops if you, the operator, fall
off.
Wear a personal flotation device (PFD). All
riders must wear a PFD that is approved by
the appropriate authorities and is suitable for
personal watercraft use.
Wear protective clothing. Severe internal inju-
ries can occur if water is forced into body cav-
ities as a result of falling into the water or
being near the jet thrust nozzle. Normal swim-
wear does not adequately protect against
forceful water entry into the rectum and vagi-
na. All riders must wear a wetsuit bottom or
clothing that provides equivalent protection.
Such clothing includes thick, tightly woven,
sturdy and snug-fitting apparel such as den-
im, but does not include spandex or similar
fabrics, like those used in bicycle shorts. A full
wetsuit can also protect against hypothermia Maximum load:
240 kg (530 lb)
Load is the total weight of cargo, oper-
ator, and passengers.
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