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Pre-operation checks
42
EJU41561Engine oil level check
Make sure that the engine oil level is between
the minimum and maximum level marks on
the dipstick attached to the oil tank filler cap.
(See page 33 for information on checking the
engine oil level.)
EJU32456Bilge water check
Make sure that no bilge water has collected in
the engine compartment. If bilge water has
collected in the engine compartment, drain it.
(See page 35 for information on draining the
bilge water.)
EJU32488Battery checks
Make sure that the battery terminals are not
damaged and that the battery leads are con-
nected properly. WARNING! Never operate the watercraft if the battery does not have
sufficient power to start the engine or if it
shows any other signs of decreased pow-
er. Loss of battery power may leave you
stranded.
[EWJ01242]
Make sure that the battery is securely held in
place.
EJU32614Steering system checks
Turn the handlebars to the right and left sev-
eral times to make sure that operation is
smooth and unrestricted throughout the
whole range, and that the free play is not ex-
cessive.
Turn the handlebars as far as possible to the
right and left to make sure that the jet thrust
nozzle moves as the handlebars are turned,
and that there is no difference between the
1
Oil tank filler cap/Dipstick
1 Dipstick
2 Maximum level mark
3 Minimum level mark
1
213
1Positive (+) battery terminal: Red lead
2 Negative (–) battery terminal: Black lead
1
2
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Page 50 of 84
Pre-operation checks
43
right and left fully turned positions of the jet
thrust nozzle.
EJU32623Steering pole check
Move the steering pole up and down several
times to make sure that operation is smooth
and unrestricted throughout the whole range,
and that the free play is not excessive. Also, make sure that the steering pole does not
have any side play.
EJU32595Throttle lever checks
Operate the throttle lever several times to
make sure that operation is smooth through-
out the whole range. Also, make sure that the
throttle lever returns automatically to its fully
closed (idle) position when released.
Difference between fully turned posi-
tions of jet thrust nozzle (distances A
and B): Maximum 5 mm (0.20 in)
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Pre-operation checks
44
Make sure that there is the proper amount of
throttle lever free play when the throttle lever
is in the fully closed (idle) position.
EJU32666Engine shut-off cord (lanyard) check
Make sure that the engine shut-off cord (lan-
yard) is not damaged. If the cord is damaged,
replace it. WARNING! Never try to repair
the engine shut-off cord (lanyard) or tie it
together. The engine shut-off cord (lan-
yard) may not pull free when the operator
falls off, allowing the watercraft to contin-
ue to run and cause an accident.
[EWJ01222] EJU45610
Switch checksECJ01361
Do not run the engine for more than 15
seconds on land without supplying water,
otherwise the engine could overheat.
Check the start switch, the engine stop/“L-
MODE” switch, and the engine shut-off
switch for proper operation. (See pages 20 to
20 for information on operating each switch.)
To check the operation of the switches:
(1) Push the start switch to make sure that
the engine starts.
(2) As soon as the engine starts running, push the engine stop/“L-MODE” switch
to make sure that the engine stops im-
mediately.
(3) Restart the engine, and then pull the en- gine shut-off cord (lanyard) to remove
the clip from the engine shut-off switch
to make sure that the engine stops im-
mediately.
EJU41211Storage pouch checks
Make sure that the storage pouch is not dam-
aged and that water has not collected in the
1Throttle lever free play
Throttle lever free play:
3.0–6.0 mm (0.12–0.24 in)
1
1Start switch
2 Engine shut-off switch
3 Clip
4 Engine shut-off cord (lanyard)
5 Engine stop/“L-MODE” switch
3
1
5 4
2
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Pre-operation checks
45
pouch. Also, make sure that the storage
pouch is securely installed. (See page 28 for
information on the storage pouch.)
EJU41082Fire extinguisher holder, cover, and band
checks
Make sure that the fire extinguisher holder,
cover, and band are not damaged and that
the cover is securely held in place using the
band. (See page 29 for information on the fire
extinguisher holder, cover, and band.)
EJU32544Fire extinguisher check
Check that there is a full fire extinguisher on
board.
To check the fire extinguisher, see the in-
structions supplied by the fire extinguisher
manufacturer. Always keep the fire extin-
guisher secured in the holder with its cover in
place.
Always carry a fire extinguisher on board. A
fire extinguisher is not standard equipment
with this watercraft. If you do not have one,
contact a Yamaha dealer or a fire extinguish-
er dealer to obtain one meeting the proper
specifications.
EJU40122Safety equipment check
Check that safety equipment meeting the ap-
plicable regulations is on board.
EJU32353Hull and deck check
Check the hull and deck for damage or other
problem.
EJU32657Jet intake checks
Make sure that the jet intake is not damaged
or clogged with weeds or debris. If the jet in-
take is clogged, clean it. (See page 72 for in-
formation on the jet intake.)
EJU44252Stern drain plug checks
Loosen the stern drain plugs and remove
them, and then make sure that the plugs and
O-rings on the plugs are not damaged and
that there is no foreign material on the
threads or O-rings on the plugs. NOTICE:
Before installing the stern drain plugs,
clean the drain plug threads and the O-
rings on the plugs to remove any foreign
materials, such as dirt or sand. Otherwise,
the stern drain plugs could be damaged,
allowing water to enter the engine com-
partment. Check the O-rings on the stern
drain plugs and make sure that the plugs
are tightened securely before launching
the watercraft. Otherwise, water may
flood the engine compartment and cause
the watercraft to submerge.
[ECJ00364]
1 Stern drain plug
2 O-ring
12
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Pre-operation checks
46
Securely install the stern drain plugs by tight-
ening them until they stop.
EJU40703Hood check
Make sure that the hood is securely closed.
(See page 26 for information on the hood.)
EJU40147Post-launch checks
Perform the post-launch checks in the pre-
operation checklist while the watercraft is in
the water and the engine is running.
To perform the post-launch checks:
(1) Launch the watercraft. (See page 48 forinformation on launching the watercraft.)
(2) Perform the checks and make sure that there are no malfunctioning items or oth-
er problems.
EJU40553Cooling water pilot outlet check
Make sure that water is discharged from the
cooling water pilot outlet while the engine is
running. (See page 22 for information on the
cooling water pilot outlet.)
EJU45840Meter check
Make sure that the meter operates properly.
(See page 24 for information on proper oper-
ation of the meter.)
1Stern drain plug
1
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Operation
47
EJU32905
Operating your watercraftEWJ00512
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.
EJU32924Getting 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, the Riding Instruction card, and all
labels on the watercraft. Pay particular atten-
tion to the safety information beginning on
page 8. These materials should give you an
understanding of the watercraft and its oper-
ation.
Remember: This watercraft is designed to
carry the operator only. Never have more
than one person on the watercraft at any
time.
EJU32985Learning to operate your watercraft
Before operating the watercraft, always per-
form the pre-operation checks listed on page
39. The short time spent checking the water- craft will reward you with added safety and
reliability.
Check local laws before operating your wa-
tercraft.
Operate defensively at safe speeds and keep
a safe distance away from people, objects,
and other watercraft. Select a wide area to
practice maneuvering 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.
You should grip the handlebars firmly and get
to a standing or kneeling position quickly.
Keep both feet or knees on the riding tray
when the watercraft is in motion.
EJU33173Operating positions
After you are underway, you may choose to
kneel or stand, depending upon watercraft
speed, your skill level,
and your preference.
Here are some guidelines.
Kneeling
It is easier to maintain your balance when
kneeling than when standing. This position is
recommended when traveling at sub-planing
speeds. (At sub-planing speeds, there is a
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Operation
48
wake, but the watercraft is moving through
the water rather than skimming on top of it.)
At very slow speeds, it may be necessary to
support your upper-body weight with your el-
bows resting on the gunwales, trailing your
legs in the water.
Standing
After you are comfortable handling the water-
craft from a kneeling position, try standing as
the watercraft gains speed. The watercraft
will become easier to balance as the speed
increases, because jet thrust provides stabil-
ity as well as directional control. When you
are moving slowly, or preparing to stop, you
will probably need to return to the kneeling
position to maintain your balance.
EJU32823Launching the watercraft
When launching the watercraft, make sure
that there are no obstacles around you.If the watercraft is launched from a trailer,
someone should make sure that waves do
not push the watercraft into the trailer.
After the watercraft is in the water, turn it
around so that the bow faces the direction
you wish to go.
EJU43582Starting the engine on waterEWJ01532
Do not apply throttle when anyone is at the
rear of the watercraft. Turn the engine off
or keep it at idle. Water and debris exiting
the jet thrust nozzle can cause severe in-
jury.
To start the engine:
(1) Move the watercraft to an area that is
free from weeds and debris, and has a
water depth of at least 60 cm (2 ft) from
the bottom of the watercraft. 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.
[ECJ00473]
(2) Attach the engine shut-off cord (lanyard) to your left wrist, and then attach the clip
to the engine shut-off switch. (See page
20 for information on operating the en-
gine shut-off switch.) WARNING! Check
60 cm (2 ft)
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Operation
49
that the engine shut-off cord (lanyard)
is attached correctly. If the engine
shut-off cord (lanyard) is not attached
correctly, it may not pull free when the
operator falls off, allowing the water-
craft to continue to run and cause an
accident.
[EWJ00583]
(3) With the throttle lever released, push thestart switch (green button) to start the
engine. (See page 20 for information on
operating the start switch.)
EJU45710Stopping the engine
Release the throttle lever, and then push the
engine stop/“L-MODE” switch (red button) to
stop the engine. 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 re-
sult in severe injury or death.
[EWJ00602]
EJU32874
Leaving the watercraft
If leaving the watercraft, remove the clip from
the engine shut-off switch to prevent acci-
dental starting or unauthorized operation by
children or others.
EJU41173Operating the watercraft
When the engine is running, the watercraft
will move forward at trolling speed even if the
1 Clip
2 Engine shut-off switch
3 Engine shut-off cord (lanyard)
3
1
2
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