Operating With Passengers
WARNING
Overloading a watercraft will significantly reduce vehicle stability and control, which could result in an accident and lead to severe injury or death.
Never exceed the load capacity for the watercraft.
Polaris watercraft are designed to carry an operator and up to three passengers, depending on the model. Refer to the capacity decal on your craft and the specifications beginning on page 102 to determine your boat’s rider capacity. Never exceed the stated capacity for your vehicle.
When more than one person is riding, the watercraft handles differently, which means that the operator must have enough prior riding experience to handle the watercraft with one or more passengers aboard. The operator should be skilled in operation and maneuvers before carrying any passenger.
Passengers should sit behind the operator and face toward the bow of the watercraft. A passenger riding as a spotter in towing situations should face the rear of the craft and hold on to the rear grab handle.
OPERATION
All passengers should read the owner’s manual and follow all safety warnings. Passengers
must wear an approved personal flotation device
and other recommended safety gear. They should be good swimmers and they should be in good physical condition, as reboarding in deep water can be strenuous.
A passenger should firmly hang on to the operator’s PFD or the seat strap and keep both feet on the footwell pads in the gunnel.
The operator should make sure any passenger is properly seated and holding on before accelerating. The operator should also communicate sudden maneuvers to a passenger in advance to prevent an ejection from the craft.
No person should operate or ride on a watercraft unless both feet reach the footrests when sitting on (straddling) the seat.
67
