Handling Characteristics; Driving At High Speeds; Visibility From The Steering Position - Silver Fox Avant Eignerhandbuch

5.9

Handling characteristics

5.9.1

Driving at high speeds

Do not use the boat if the engine output exceeds the maximum
power indicated on the maunfacturer's plate.
A few basic rules for adjusting the power trim:
− Use the "bow down" position when making the boat plane.
− When the boat is planing and if the swell is low, lift the bow until
the boat starts to porpoise or the propeller loses its grip. Then
lower the bow slightly until the boat stabilises. Optimise the
power trim by means of the log.
− In head sea, lower the bow for a smoother ride. In following sea,
lift the bow to prevent it from nose-diving.
Get acquainted with the engine manual as well.
Normally, an outboard engine is installed in the lowest position on
the transom.
WARNING! At high speeds, adjust the power trim with great care
– it might alter the behaviour of the boat radically. Do
not drive the boat with the bow too low to prevent the
boat from turning abruptly.
Do not drive at high speeds with a negative power trim
(bow low). If you do so, the boat may veer to one side
and become unstable when turning.
WARNING! Waves make it harder to control the boat and tend to
make it heel. Reduce the speed when waves get high.
Learn and follow the rules of the waterways and comply with the
146
COLREG (Convention on the International Regulations for Prevent-
ing Collisions at Sea) regulations. Navigate with care and use new
or updated nautical charts.
Always adjust your speed to prevailing conditions. Consider the
following:
− Swell (listen to your passengers)
− Wake (greatest when starting to plane and smallest at displace-
ment speeds below 6 knots). Observe the No Waves signs. Reduce
your speed to diminish the wake out of respect for others and for
your own safety.
− Visibility (islands, fog, rain, sun in your eyes)
− Familiarity with the route (time required for navigation)
− Width of the channel (other boaters, noise and wake hitting the
shore)
− Room required for stopping and evasive manoeuvring.
5.9.2

Visibility from the steering position

When the weather is fine and the sea calm, boating is simple pro-
vided that you keep a sharp lookout in accordance with the COLREG
regulations. Make sure that you have the best possible visibility
from the steering position:
− Position the passengers, curtains, etc., in such a way that they do
not limit your field of vision.
− Do not drive continuously at the planing threshold because the
high bow will decrease visibility.
− Control the attitude of the boat by adjusting the power trim to
prevent the rising bow from reducing visibility.
− Use windshield wipers when necessary.
− In poor visibility conditions, open the cabin roof hatch to see better.
− Keep a lookout astern particularly in shipping lanes.
When it is dark or visibility is limited (e.g. fog), switch on the naviga-
tion lights. Turn off the cabin lights if the reflections decrease visibility.