towing YAMAHA VX DELUXE 2018 Owners Manual

Table of contents
Transporting on a trailer ................ 56
First-time operation ........................ 57
Engine break-in ............................. 57
Pre-operation checks ..................... 58
Pre-operation checklist .................... 58
Pre-operation check points........... 60
Pre-launch checks ........................... 60
Post-launch checks ......................... 66
Operation ......................................... 68
Operating your watercraft ............. 68
Getting to know your watercraft ...... 68
Learning to operate your
watercraft ...................................... 68
Riding position ................................. 69
Launching the watercraft ................. 69
Starting the engine on water ............ 69
Stopping the engine ......................... 70
Leaving the watercraft...................... 70
Operating the watercraft .................. 70
Turning the watercraft ...................... 71
Stopping the watercraft ................... 72
Operating the watercraft in reverse
or neutral....................................... 73
Boarding the watercraft ................... 74
Starting off........................................ 76
Capsized watercraft ......................... 77
Beaching and docking the
watercraft ...................................... 78
Operating in weeded areas .............. 78
After removing the watercraft from
the water ....................................... 79
Care and storage............................. 80
Post-operation care ...................... 80
Flushing the cooling water
passages....................................... 80
Cleaning the watercraft .................... 81
Battery care ...................................... 81
Long-term storage ........................ 84
Cleaning ........................................... 84
Lubrication ....................................... 84Rustproofing ..................................... 84
Maintenance .................................... 86
Maintenance ................................. 86
Tool kit.............................................. 86
Periodic maintenance chart ............. 87
Engine oil and oil filter ...................... 89
Specifications .................................. 90
Specifications ............................... 90
Trouble recovery ............................. 91
Troubleshooting ............................ 91
Troubleshooting chart ...................... 91
Emergency procedures ................ 94
Cleaning the jet intake and
impeller ......................................... 94
Raising the reverse gate .................. 95
Jumping the battery ......................... 95
Towing the watercraft....................... 96
Submerged watercraft ..................... 96
Index................................................. 98
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Safety information
18
er’s or water-skier’s ability, as well as water
and weather conditions.
When preparing to pull a wakeboarder or
water-skier, operate the watercraft at the
slowest possible speed until the watercraft
is well away from the person being pulled
and slack in the ski rope is taken up. Make
sure that the rope is not looped around
anything.
After checking that the wakeboarder or wa-
ter-skier is ready and that there is no traffic
or other obstacles, apply enough throttle to
raise the person.
Make smooth, wide turns. The watercraft is
capable of very sharp turns, which could
exceed the abilities of the wakeboarder or
water-skier. Keep the person being towed
at least 50 m (164 ft), about twice the dis-
tance of a standard ski rope, away from
any potential hazard.
The operators of boats and other water-
craft may not be aware that you are pulling
a wakeboarder or water-skier. Together
with the spotter, pay attention to others
around you and cruise at safe speeds.
Be alert to the hazard of the ski rope handle
snapping back at the watercraft when the
wakeboarder or water-skier falls or is un-
able to get up.
Towing heavy or bulky objects other than
wakeboarders or water-skiers, such as an-
other boat or watercraft, can cause loss of
steering control and create a hazardous
condition. If you must tow another boat in
an emergency situation, operate slowly
and cautiously.
EJU30971
Safe boating rules
Your Yamaha watercraft is legally considered
a powerboat. Operation of the watercraft
must be in accordance with the rules and
regulations governing the waterway on which
it is used.
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Equipment operation
45
step breaks, the watercraft could fall,
which could result in severe injury.
[EWJ01212]
NOTICE
ECJ00743
Use the reboarding step only to board the
watercraft in the water. Do not use the re-
boarding step for any other purpose. The
watercraft can be damaged.
EJU34873Bow eye
The bow eye is used to attach a rope to the
watercraft when transporting, mooring, ortowing it in an emergency. (See page 96 for
information on towing the watercraft.)
EJU34882Stern eyes
The stern eyes are used to attach a rope to
the watercraft when transporting or mooring
it.
EJU40423Cleat
The cleat is used to attach a ski rope to the
watercraft when pulling a wakeboarder or
water-skier. WARNING! Do not use the
cleat to lift the watercraft. The cleat is not
designed to support the watercraft’s
weight. If the cleat breaks, the watercraft
1Reboarding step
1
1Bow eye
1Stern eye
1
1
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Operation
78
on the gunwale with your other hand or
your foot.
(3) Start the engine and operate the water-
craft at planing speed to drain the bilge
water from the engine compartment.
(See page 54 for information on draining
the bilge water. If the engine does not
start, see “Towing the watercraft” on
page 96 or “Submerged watercraft” on
page 96.) NOTICE: Do not run the en-
gine at full throttle for at least 1 minute
after the engine has been restarted.
Bilge water in the engine compart-
ment can splash into the engine,
which can result in severe damage.
[ECJ00554]
EJU43282
Beaching and docking the watercraft
To beach the watercraft:
(1) Make sure that there are no boats, swim-
mers, or obstacles near the beach.(2) Release the throttle lever to reduce
speed about 100 m (330 ft) before you
reach the intended beaching area.
(3) Slowly approach the beach using the
throttle lever and RiDE lever to control
the watercraft speed. NOTICE: Never
run the engine in water that is less
than 60 cm (2 ft) deep from the bottom
of the watercraft, otherwise pebbles
or sand could be sucked into the jet
intake, causing impeller damage and
engine overheating.
[ECJ00473]
(4) After reaching land, stop the engine, and
then get off the watercraft and pull it up
on the beach.
To dock the watercraft:
(1) Make sure that there are no boats, swim-
mers, or obstacles near the dock.
(2) Release the throttle lever to reduce
speed about 100 m (330 ft) away from
the dock.
(3) Slowly approach the dock using the
throttle lever and RiDE lever to control
the watercraft speed.
(4) After coming alongside the dock, stop
the engine, and then get off the water-
craft.
EJU37194Operating in weeded areas
Always avoid using your watercraft in areas
where weed growth is thick. If operating in
weeded areas is unavoidable, alternately
squeeze the throttle lever and relax your grip
on the throttle lever to vary the engine speed.
Weeds tend to become clogged more when
operating at a steady speed and at trolling
speed. If weeds may have clogged the intake
area, clean the jet intake. (See page 94 for in-
formation on the jet intake.)
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Trouble recovery
96
(1) Connect the positive (+) jumper cable to
the positive (+) battery terminals of both
batteries.
(2) Connect one end of the negative (–)
jumper cable to the negative (–) battery
terminal of the booster battery.
(3) Connect the other end of the negative (–)
jumper cable to an engine hanger.
(4) Start the engine, and then disconnect the
jumper cables by reversing the steps
above. (See page 27 for information on
starting the engine.)
EJU34716Towing the watercraft
WARNING
EWJ00812
The operator of the towing boat must
keep speed to a minimum and avoid
traffic or obstacles which could be a
hazard to the operator on the water-
craft.
The towline should be long enough so
that the watercraft will not collide with
the towing boat when slowing down.
If the watercraft becomes inoperative in the
water, it can be towed to shore.To tow the watercraft:
Use a towline that is three times the com-
bined length of the towing boat and the wa-
tercraft.
(1) Securely attach the towline to the bow
eye of the watercraft being towed.
(2) Sit astride the seat and hold on to the
handlebars in order to balance the water-
craft. NOTICE: The bow must be kept
up out of the water during towing, oth-
erwise water could flood the engine
compartment or water could flow
back into the engine, causing severe
engine damage.
[ECJ01331]
Tow the watercraft at 8 km/h (5 mph) or less.
NOTICE: Tow the watercraft at 8 km/h (5
mph) or less, otherwise water could flood
the engine compartment or water could
flow back into the engine, causing severe
engine damage.
[ECJ01322]
EJU36156
Submerged watercraft
If the watercraft is submerged or flooded with
water, drain the bilge water from the engine
compartment. Then, have a Yamaha dealer
service the watercraft as soon as possible.
If the watercraft was submerged:
(1) Remove the watercraft from the water
and drain the water from the storage
compartments. (See page 46 for infor-
1Positive (+) jumper cable
2Booster battery
3Negative (–) jumper cable
4Engine hanger
1
23
41Bow eye
1
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Index
99
Low RPM Mode
(VX Deluxe / VX Cruiser / VX Limited) ... 33
Lubrication ............................................... 84
M
Main components, location of ................. 21
Maintenance ............................................ 86
Manufactured date label ............................ 2
Model information ...................................... 2
Multifunction information center .............. 38
Multifunction information center check ... 66
N
No-wake mode
(VX Deluxe / VX Cruiser / VX Limited) ... 34
O
Oil pressure warning ................................ 40
Operating in weeded areas ...................... 78
Operating the watercraft .......................... 70
Operating the watercraft in reverse or
neutral ................................................... 73
Operating your watercraft ........................ 68
Operation requirements ........................... 12
P
Periodic maintenance chart ..................... 87
Post-launch checks ................................. 66
Post-operation care ................................. 80
Pre-launch checks ................................... 60
Pre-operation check points ..................... 60
Pre-operation checklist ............................ 58
Primary Identification (PRI-ID) number ...... 1
Pull-up cleats (VX Limited) ....................... 46
R
Raising the reverse gate .......................... 95
Reboarding step ...................................... 44
Recommended equipment ...................... 14
Remote control transmitter check
(VX Deluxe / VX Cruiser / VX Limited) ... 63
Remote control transmitter
(VX Deluxe / VX Cruiser / VX Limited) ... 25
Removable watertight storage
compartment ........................................ 48
RiDE lever................................................. 28
RiDE lever checks .................................... 63
Riding position ......................................... 69
Rustproofing ............................................ 84S
Safe boating rules .................................... 18
Safety equipment check .......................... 65
Seats ........................................................ 43
Shift indicator ........................................... 39
Shift system ............................................. 31
Shift system check ................................... 66
Speedometer ........................................... 38
Start switch .............................................. 27
Starting off ............................................... 76
Starting off from a trailer .......................... 77
Starting the engine on water .................... 69
Steering system ....................................... 28
Steering system checks ........................... 62
Stern drain plug checks ........................... 65
Stern eyes ................................................ 45
Stopping the engine ................................. 70
Stopping the watercraft ........................... 72
Storage compartment checks.................. 64
Storage compartments ............................ 46
Submerged watercraft ............................. 96
Switch checks .......................................... 64
T
Tachometer .............................................. 39
Throttle lever ............................................ 28
Throttle lever checks ................................ 63
Tool kit ..................................................... 86
Towing the watercraft .............................. 96
Transporting on a trailer ........................... 56
Troubleshooting ....................................... 91
Troubleshooting chart .............................. 91
Turning the watercraft .............................. 71
V
Voltmeter .................................................. 41
W
Wakeboarding and water-skiing .............. 17
Water separator ....................................... 29
Water separator check ............................. 60
Watercraft characteristics ........................ 15
Watercraft control functions..................... 25
Watercraft operation functions ................ 31
Watercraft operation modes .................... 33
Y
Yamaha Security System settings ........... 26
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