2012 YAMAHA FZS towing

Table of contents
Pre-operation check points .......... 58
Pre-launch checks ........................... 58
Post-launch checks ......................... 65
Operation ......................................... 66
Operating your watercraft ............. 66
Getting to know your watercraft ....... 66
Learning to operate
your watercraft ............................. 66
Riding position ................................. 67
Launching the watercraft ................. 67
Starting the engine on water ........... 67
Stopping the engine ........................ 68
Leaving the watercraft ..................... 68
Operating the watercraft .................. 68
Turning the watercraft ..................... 69
Stopping the watercraft ................... 70
Operating the watercraft in reverse . 71
Boarding the watercraft ................... 71
Starting off ....................................... 74
Capsized watercraft ......................... 75
Beaching and docking
the watercraft ............................... 76
Operating in weeded areas ............. 77
After removing the watercraft
from the water .............................. 77
Care and storage ............................. 78
Post-operation care ...................... 78
Flushing the cooling water
passages ...................................... 78
Cleaning the watercraft ................... 79
Battery care ..................................... 79
Long-term storage ........................ 82
Cleaning .......................................... 82
Lubrication ....................................... 82
Rustproofing .................................... 82
Maintenance..................................... 84
Maintenance ................................. 84
Tool kit ............................................. 84
Removing and installing the engine
cover ............................................ 84
Periodic maintenance chart ............. 86Engine oil and oil filter ..................... 87
Specifications.................................. 88
Specifications ................................ 88
Trouble recovery ............................. 89
Troubleshooting ........................... 89
Troubleshooting chart ...................... 89
Emergency procedures ................ 92
Cleaning the jet intake and
impeller ........................................ 92
Jumping the battery ......................... 93
Replacing the fuses ......................... 93
Replacing the bilge pump fuse ........ 95
Towing the watercraft ...................... 96
Submerged watercraft ..................... 97
UF2C73E0.book Page 2 Monday, June 13, 2011 8:52 AM

Safety information
19
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, ap-
ply enough throttle to raise the skier.

Make smooth, wide turns. The watercraft is
capable of very sharp turns, which could ex-
ceed the abilities of the skier. Keep the skier
at least 50 m (150 ft), about twice the dis-
tance of a standard ski rope, from any po-
tential hazard.

Be alert to the hazard of the ski rope handle
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 cre-
ate a hazardous condition. If you must tow
another boat in an emergency situation, op-
erate slowly and cautiously.
EJU30970
Safe boating rules
Your Yamaha watercraft is legally considered
a powerboat. Operation of the watercraft must
be in accordance with the rules and regula-
tions governing the waterway on which it is
used.
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Equipment operation
43
reboarding step to lift the watercraft. The
reboarding step is not designed to sup-
port the watercraft’s weight. If the reboard-
ing step breaks, the watercraft could fall,
which could result in severe injury.
[EWJ01211]
NOTICE
ECJ00742
Use the reboarding step only to board the
watercraft in the water. Do not use the re-
boarding step for any other purpose. The
watercraft can be damaged.
EJU34872Bow eye
The bow eye is used to attach a rope to the
watercraft when transporting, mooring, ortowing it in an emergency. (See page 96 for
information on towing the watercraft.)
EJU34881Stern eyes
The stern eyes are used to attach a rope to
the watercraft when transporting or mooring it.
EJU40420Cleat
The cleat is used to attach a ski rope to the
watercraft when pulling a water-skier.
WARNING! Do not use the cleat to lift the
watercraft. The cleat is not designed to
support the watercraft’s weight. If the cleat
1Reboarding step
1
1Bow eye
1Stern eye
1
1
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Operation
76
(2) Swim to the rear of the watercraft. Turn
the watercraft over clockwise by pulling
on the ride plate with your left hand while
pushing down on the gunwale with your
right hand or foot.
If the port (left) side of the capsized wa-
tercraft is tilting up, push down on the
gunwale so that the port (left) side is
down before turning the watercraft clock-
wise. NOTICE: Do not turn the water-
craft over counterclockwise,
otherwise water can enter the engine,
which can result in severe damage.
[ECJ00541]
(3) Start the engine and operate the water-
craft at planing speed to drain the bilge
water from the engine compartment.
(See page 52 for information on draining
the bilge water. If the engine does not
start, see “Towing the watercraft” on
page 96 or “Submerged watercraft” onpage 97.) NOTICE: Do not run the en-
gine at full throttle for at least 1 minute
after the engine has been restarted.
Bilge water in the engine compart-
ment can splash into the engine,
which can result in severe damage.
[ECJ00553]
EJU37521
Beaching and docking the watercraft
To beach the watercraft:
(1) Make sure that there are no boats, swim-
mers, or obstacles near the beach.
(2) Release the throttle lever to reduce
speed about 130 m (430 ft) before you
reach the intended beaching area.
(3) Slowly approach the beach and stop the
engine just before reaching land.
WARNING! You need throttle to steer.
Shutting the engine off can cause you
to hit an obstacle you are attempting
to avoid. A collision could result in se-
vere injury or death.
[EWJ00601] NOTICE:
Never run the engine in water that is
less than 60 cm (2 ft) deep from the
bottom of the watercraft, otherwise
pebbles or sand could be sucked into
the jet intake, causing impeller dam-
age and engine overheating.
[ECJ00472]
(4) Get off the watercraft and pull it up on the
beach.
To dock the watercraft:
(1) Make sure that there are no boats, swim-
mers, or obstacles near the dock.
(2) Release the throttle lever to reduce
speed about 130 m (430 ft) away from the
dock.
(3) Slowly approach the dock and stop the
engine just before coming alongside it.
WARNING! You need throttle to steer.
Shutting the engine off can cause you
to hit an obstacle you are attempting
UF2C73E0.book Page 76 Monday, June 13, 2011 8:52 AM

Trouble recovery
96
cap. (See page 93 for information on the fuse
puller.)
(5) Securely install the fuse cover, and then
fit the bilge pump fuse holder into the rub-
ber cover.
(6) Secure the bilge pump fuse leads and
corrugated tube with the plastic ties.
(7) Securely install the engine cover and
seats in their original positions.If the fuse immediately blows again, the elec-
trical system may be defective. If this occurs,
have a Yamaha dealer service the watercraft.
EJU34715Towing the watercraft
WARNING
EWJ00811

The operator of the towing boat must
keep speed to a minimum and avoid traf-
fic or obstacles which could be a hazard
to the operator on the watercraft.

The towline should be long enough so
that the watercraft will not collide with
the towing boat when slowing down.
If the watercraft becomes inoperative in the
water, it can be towed to shore.
To tow the watercraft:
Use a towline that is three times the combined
length of the towing boat and the watercraft.
(1) Securely attach the towline to the bow
eye of the watercraft being towed.
(2) Sit astride the seat and hold on to the
handlebars in order to balance the water-
craft. NOTICE: The bow must be kept
up out of the water during towing, oth-
erwise water could flood the engine
compartment or water could flow back
into the engine, causing severe en-
gine damage.
[ECJ01330]
1Bilge pump fuse holder
2Fuse cover
3Spare fuse
4Fuse
Fuse amperage:
Bilge pump fuse:
3 A
1Bilge pump fuse lead
2Plastic tie
3Corrugated tube
4Rubber cover
21
43
213
4
1Bow eye
1
UF2C73E0.book Page 96 Monday, June 13, 2011 8:52 AM

Index
Limitations on who may operate
the watercraft ........................................ 11
Long-term storage .................................... 82
Low RPM Mode........................................ 34
Lubrication................................................ 82
M
Main components, location of .................. 22
Maintenance............................................. 84
Manufactured date label............................. 2
Model information....................................... 2
O
Oil pressure warning ................................ 38
Operating in weeded areas ...................... 77
Operating the watercraft........................... 68
Operating the watercraft in reverse .......... 71
Operating your watercraft......................... 66
Operation requirements ........................... 13
P
Periodic maintenance chart...................... 86
Post-launch checks .................................. 65
Post-operation care .................................. 78
Pre-launch checks.................................... 58
Pre-operation check points ...................... 58
Pre-operation checklist............................. 56
Primary Identification (PRI-ID) number ...... 1
Q
Quick Shift Trim System (Q.S.T.S.) ......... 33
Quick Shift Trim System (Q.S.T.S.)
checks................................................... 61
R
Reboarding grip........................................ 42
Reboarding step ....................................... 42
Recommended equipment ....................... 15
Remote control transmitter ....................... 26
Remote control transmitter check ............ 62
Reverse system ....................................... 32
Reverse system checks ........................... 61
Riding position.......................................... 67
Rustproofing ............................................. 82
S
Safe boating rules .................................... 19
Safety equipment check ........................... 64
Seats ........................................................ 41
Speedometer............................................ 36
Start switch............................................... 28Starting off ................................................ 74
Starting off from a trailer ........................... 75
Starting the engine on water .................... 67
Steering system ....................................... 29
Steering system checks ........................... 60
Stern drain plug checks ............................ 64
Stern eyes ................................................ 43
Stopping the engine ................................. 68
Stopping the watercraft ............................ 70
Storage compartment checks .................. 63
Storage compartments ............................. 44
Submerged watercraft .............................. 97
Switch checks .......................................... 63
T
Tachometer .............................................. 36
Telescopic steering system ...................... 30
Telescopic steering system checks .......... 60
Throttle lever ............................................ 29
Throttle lever checks ................................ 62
Tool kit...................................................... 84
Towing the watercraft ............................... 96
Transporting on a trailer ........................... 54
Troubleshooting ....................................... 89
Troubleshooting chart .............................. 89
Turning the watercraft .............................. 69
W
Water separator ....................................... 31
Water separator check ............................. 58
Watercraft characteristics ......................... 16
Watercraft control functions ..................... 26
Watercraft operation functions ................. 32
Watercraft operation modes ..................... 34
Water-skiing ............................................. 18
Watertight storage compartment .............. 46
Y
Yamaha Security System ......................... 27
Yamaha Security System settings ........... 27
UF2C73E0.book Page 2 Monday, June 13, 2011 8:52 AM