OPERATION IN SHALLOW WATER
When operating your outboard motor in shallow water, use the shallow water position to tilt the motor slightly from the normal trim angle. When using the shallow water position, however, you should only operate the motor at slow speeds. After returning to deep water, be sure to release the shallow water position and move the tilt lock lever to the “lock” position.
To tilt the motor slightly, set the shallow water position as outlined in the SHALLOW WATER POSITION section.
When the shallow water position is used, the tilt lock will not work. As a result, forces such as from propeller thrust during operation in “REVERSE” gear, rapid deceleration, and striking an underwater object can cause the motor to lift out of the water, resulting in personal injury.
When using the shallow water position, proceed with caution and only at very low speeds.
If you do not take proper precautions when operating your boat in shallow water, your outboard motor or boat could be damaged.
• When you operate your motor in shallow water using the shallow water position, make sure that the water intake holes remain in the water at all times and that water is always spraying out of the water discharge hole.
• Do not allow your motor to hit bottom, particularly when operating in “REVERSE” gear, or serious damage can result. When the motor hits bottom while operating in “REVERSE” gear, the shock acts directly on the transom, and both the motor and the boat could be damaged.
OPERATION IN SALT WATER
After operating the motor in salt water, you should flush the water passages with clean, fresh water as outlined in the FLUSHING THE WATER PASSAGES section. If you do not flush the water passages, salt can corrode the motor and shorten its life.
OPERATION IN FREEZING WEATHER
When operating your outboard motor in freezing temperatures, you should keep the lower
unit submerged in the water at all times.
When taking motor out of the water, stand it up in a vertical position until the cooling system drains completely.
If you leave your outboard motor out of the water in freezing temperatures with water still in the cooling system, the water can freeze and expand, causing severe damage to the motor.
When your outboard is in the water in freezing temperatures, keep the lower unit submerged in the water at all times. When the motor is stored out of the water in freezing temperatures stand it up in the vertical position so that the cooling system drains completely.