GENERAL INFORMATION
There is another less common hazardous result from allowing your boat to launch off a wave or wake. If the bow of your boat pitches down far enough while airborne, upon water contact it may penetrate under the water surface and submarine for an instant. This will bring the boat to a nearly instantaneous stop and can send the occupants flying forward. The boat may also steer sharply to one side.
Impact With Underwater Hazards
Reduce speed and proceed with caution whenever you drive a boat in shallow water areas, or in areas where you suspect underwater obstacles may exist which could be struck by the outboard or the boat bottom. The most important thing you can do to help reduce injury or impact damage from striking a floating or underwater object is to control the boat speed. Under these conditions, boat speed should be kept to a minimum planing speed of 24 to 40 km/h (15 to 25 MPH).
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WARNING
To avoid serious injury or death from all or part of an outboard coming into the boat after striking a floating or underwater obstacle maintain a top speed no greater than minimum planing speed.
Striking a floating or underwater object could result in an infinite number of situations. Some of these situations could result in the following:
•Part of the outboard or the entire outboard could break loose and fly into the boat.
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