2013 Chaparral SSi Owner’s Manual
Chaparral Boats, Inc.
Nashville, GA
chaparralboats.com
5-9
When you are sure your boat is ready, check wind, tide, current or other
forces that will affect the way you maneuver your boat away from the
dock. Then cast off mooring lines and stow fenders.
Shift your boat’s engine into forward or reverse depending on whether
you want to move the bow or the stern away from the dock fi rst. Move the
throttle lever to neutral position. Then push forward quickly and fi rmly to
shift into forward gear or backward to shift to reverse. Your engine should
be running at a slow speed as you move away from the dock. If you move
the bow out fi rst, watch that the swim platform does not swing into the
dock or a piling.
Getting Up To Cruising Speed
After slowly motoring from the dock area to open water, you can safely
accelerate to cruising speed. Advance throttle to setting which provides
your desired engine speed (RPMs). As you move the throttle forward,
engine RPMs increase, and your boat moves faster through the water.
Important: Acceleration at full throttle is not recommended during the en-
gine “break-in period.” This “break-in period” coincides with the engine
“20-hour check-up.” Do not attempt full throttle acceleration during the
fi rst 20 hours of operation.
When you throttle up and accelerate, your boat increases the trim angle
and causes the boat to ride bow-high. From a maximum angle, the boat
levels out to its planing attitude as you continue to accelerate. (Figure
5.2)
The maximum angle is commonly known as the “hump.” You should get
over the hump as quickly as possible because visibility, handling, and
performance are limited until you do. Only a few seconds at full throt-
tle should be needed; however, the way your boat is loaded, the wind,
and sea conditions affect the time required. When the boat gets over the
hump, it reaches its planing attitude. Then, accelerate until your boat
reaches a comfortable plane and then throttle down to cruising speed.
This also provides for better fuel effi ciency.
When maneuvering at low speeds you can reverse (move throttle forward
or aft) the shift mechanism. This will react in a braking action.
BOW RISES
PLANING ATTITUDE
ACCELERATE
Figure 5.2 Boat Acceleration and Attitude
CAUTION:
When shifting between forward and reverse, always
pause in neutral for a few seconds before reversing the rotation
of the propeller. This will prevent unnecessary damage to the
drive system.
CAUTION:
High speed acceleration in reverse can create a
wake that could wash over the transom and flood the boat.
