Volvo Penta 5.7 Gil-B Operator'S Manual Download

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Introduction

Safety Equipment

Rescue and emergency items such personal flotation
devices and signal rockets. Make sure all passengers
know where these items are.

Replacement parts.

Proper tools.

Fire extinguisher checked and charged.

Basic Safety Rules of Boating

•

Shut off the engine when people who are in the water
come near the boat.

•

Propellers are inherently dangerous and, as such,
are potential safety hazards. Make sure that the
propeller is not operating when people who are in the
water come near the boat.

•

Avoid standing up or shifting weight suddenly in
small, lightweight boats.

•

Keep your passengers seated in seats. The boat’s
bow, gunwale, transom, and seat backs are not
intended for use as seats.

•

Insist on the use of personal flotation devices by all
passengers at all times.

•

Know the “rules of the road” and obey them. If you are
not familiar with the “rules of the road,” take the U.S.
Coast Guard’s boater safety course. You may find
information about boating safety at

WWW.USCGBOATING.ORG

and

WWW.CGAUX.ORG/CGAUXWEB/PUBLIC/
PUBFRAME.HTM.

•

Prevent explosion and fire by maintaining your fuel
delivery system in top condition. Fuel vapor is volatile;
handle fuel with care.

•

Keep your boat and equipment neat and in top
operating condition. Carry a selection of spare parts
for the engine. (Volvo Penta’s on-board kit contains a
selection of essential items that a boat owner should
carry at all times. See your Volvo Penta dealer.)

•

NEVER OPERATE THE BOAT IF YOU ARE UNDER
THE INFLUENCE OF DRUGS OR ALCOHOL.

•

If boating in waters that are unfamiliar, obtain
appropriate charts to avoid damage from underwater
objects.

High Performance Boat Operation

High performance is not only defined by engine size, but
by a combination of engine power (horsepower), hull
design, and the size of the boat. Your new engine(s)
produce a high power output. Depending on the boat type,
the top speed may be much higher than what you are
accustomed to.

High speed operation requires an experienced operator
who has mastered handling of high performance boats. It
is advisable that you learn the boat’s behavior before you
take passengers on board. Inform your passengers about
your boat’s characteristics and the maneuvers you intend
to do. Use the boat’s performance with due consideration
and care!

When operating at high speeds, remember that other
boaters may not realize the speed at which you are
traveling, especially when you close in on another boat
from astern or from ahead. Always keep a good distance
to allow for the unexpected! Always be prepared for what
other boaters may do unexpectedly. High speed driving
requires the driver to give a high degree of attention to
boat operation and surrounding conditions.

A boat traveling at a speed of approximately 70 M.P.H. (60
knots) covers about 101 feet (30 meters) in 1 second. The
faster you go the quicker things will happen. High speed
driving requires a lot of water and a good distance from
possible hazards! Always allow for adequate reaction time.
Always reduce speed when visibility is reduced for what-
ever reason.

When driving, make sure that all passengers are safely
seated. Emphasize this especially if you have a larger,
high performance cabin cruiser where one normally moves
about during operation. Reduce speed considerably, or
stop completely if someone needs to move about the boat.

The driver should always use the safety kill switch! The kill
switch lanyard which is securely connected to the driver,
immediately shuts off the engine(s) should the driver be
thrown from the driving position. Even if the risk of being
thrown overboard is practically nonexistent in your type of
boat, the risk of the driver falling and being dazed in rough
seas can be even greater.

Remember, even when the engine(s) is stopped in a high
performance boat that is planing, it will travel approxi-
mately 325 feet (100 meters) before dropping through the
planing threshold and stopping!