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Exercise 4: Trolling speed maneuvering
Objective:
This exercise familiarizes you with the watercraft’s handling characteristics at trolling
speed. It teaches techniques you will use when beaching, docking, or approaching objects.
Skills:
Starting and turning at trolling speed.
Directions:
Drill 1: Moving straight and turning at trolling speed
1. Board the watercraft, and check for people, objects and other watercraft.
2. Start the engine and go straight ahead.
3. Begin to turn, making a large figure eight about 15–21 m (50–70 ft) long. Do not apply
throttle.
Drill 2: Making full-lock turns at trolling speed
1. Turn the handlebars as far as possible in either direction. Allow the watercraft to turn
360°.
2. Practice turning both clockwise and counterclockwise to get a feel for how the watercraft
responds to handlebar movement.
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Exercise 5: Sub-planing speed maneuvering
Stopping
The watercraft is not equipped with a separate braking system. It is stopped by water
resistance when the throttle lever is released.
From full speed, the watercraft comes to a complete stop approximately 100 m (330 ft)
after the throttle is released and the engine is stopped. This distance will vary depending on
many factors, including gross weight, water surface conditions, and wind direction. It is
important to remember that you need throttle to steer.
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. Reverse can be used to slow down or
stop during slow speed maneuvering.
Drill 1: Moving forward and turning in large ovals
1. Gradually accelerate forward to sub-planing speed, and then make a gradual right turn
while maintaining your speed.
2. Repeat the drill, making a gradual left turn.
3. Repeat the drill, traveling forward and turning to make a complete oval.
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Exercise 5: Sub-planing speed maneuvering
Drill 2: Turning in circles
1. Make large circles, turning to the right. Gradually decrease the size of the circles while
keeping your speed constant.
2. Repeat the drill, turning to the left.
Drill 3: Making a figure eight
1. Combine the above drills to make a large figure eight.
2. Repeat the drill, making the figure eight smaller each time.
Drill 4: Understanding how throttle affects turns
1. Gradually accelerate to sub-planing speed while traveling in a straight line. Release the
throttle lever and then turn the handlebars as far as possible to the right or left.
2. Notice that you have rapidly decreasing ability to turn the watercraft and that the water-
craft does not respond to handlebar input once the engine slows down after the throttle
lever is released.
3. Gradually re-apply throttle to see how the watercraft responds with throttle again.
Tips:
To make tight turns at these speeds you must apply more throttle while you are turning
the handlebars.
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Exercise 6: Full acceleration and stopping
Objective:
This exercise teaches you how the watercraft stops.
Skills:
Stopping, operating at planing speed, and stopping from planing speed.
Directions:
Releasing the throttle completely produces only minimum thrust. Once the engine slows
down, the watercraft will no longer respond to handlebar input until you apply throttle again
or you reach a trolling speed - you need throttle to steer.
Drill 1: Stopping
1. Accelerate to planing speed, and then release the throttle lever until you come to a stop.
2. Make a turn at trolling speed as shown in the illustration.
3. Repeat the drill, increasing your maximum speed as you progress.
Drill 2: Approaching objects
1. Pick a spot in the water at a certain distance away and visualize an imaginary object
there.
2. Accelerate toward the chosen spot, then release the throttle lever and slow to see if you
can stop before you reach the imaginary object.
3. If the watercraft will not stop before it reaches the imaginary object, look in all directions,
then apply throttle and turn away from the spot, as if you were avoiding the object.
Repeat the drill at different distances from your chosen spot and at different speeds so
you become familiar with both stopping and turning as ways to avoid objects in your path.
Tips:
1. If a smaller practice area is used, reduce the maximum speed you reach.
2. The faster you go, the farther it will take you to stop.
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Exercise 9: Operating with passengers
3. Have the passenger get on board and sit astride the seat. If additional passengers are
getting on, have them follow the same procedure.
4. Make sure all passengers are properly seated with their feet in the footwell and that they
are securely holding on to the person in front of them or to the handgrip provided.
5. Attach the engine shut-off cord to your left wrist, and then install the clip to the engine
shut-off switch.
6. Look in all directions, start the engine, and then start off slowly.
7. Practice accelerating, turning, and stopping to get accustomed to how the watercraft
handles with passengers on board.
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