OWNER'S/OPERATOR'S MANUAL - Chaparral Boats Owners Club

Pyrotechnic U.S. Coast Guard-approved visual distresssignals and associated equipment include:• Red flares, handheld, or aerial• Orange smoke, handheld, or floating• Launchers for aerial red meteors or parachuteflaresNon-pyrotechnic equipment includes an orange distressflag and an SOS electric distress light.No single signaling device is ideal under all conditionsfor all purposes. Consider carrying varioustypes of equipment. Careful selection and properstowage of visual distress equipment are veryimportant. If young children are frequently aboard,you should select devices with packages which children,but not adults, will find difficult to open.sound signaling deviceYour Chaparral boat must have a device that canproduce a sound signal when required. For boatsgreater than 26 feet, the device must be able to producea two-second blast which can be heard onemile away. For boats less than 26 feet, the devicemust be able to produce a two-second blast whichcan be heard one-half mile away. It can be a hand-,mouth-, or power-operated horn or whistle. Refer tothe U.S. Coast Guard’s publication, NavigationalRules, International-Inland for details about usingthe appropriate signals.additional recommended equipmentfor safe operationIn addition to legally mandated equipment, the followingitems are necessary for safe boating, especiallyif your boat is located out of sight of land.• First aid kit• Visual distress signals suitable for day andnight use (required in some areas; consult localregulations)• Charts of your intended cruising area• Compass• GPS or LORAN position locating devices• Marine VHF radio with weather channels• Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon(EPIRB)• Manual bilge pump• Anchors, chain, and line (The anchors must beproperly sized for your boat. Ask your dealer ormarine supply store for recommendations.)• Mooring lines• Fenders• Boat hook• Waterproof flashlight(s)• Extra batteries for flashlights and portable electronicdevices• High-power spotlight, if you intend to boat atnight• Spare keys• Instruction manuals for engine and accessories• Lubricating oil• Tool kit• Spare parts kit (spark plugs, fuses, hose clamps,ask your dealer to recommend additional parts)• Extra propellerload CaPaCiTYunited statesThe presence of the capacity plate does not relievethe boat operator from the responsibility of usingcommon sense or sound judgment. Turbulentwaters and adverse weather conditions reduce themaximum load capacity rating of the boat.• The number of seats does not indicate howmany people a boat can carry in poor weatherand rough water.• Above idle speed, all passengers must be seatedon the seats provided.The U. S. Coast Guard does not provide specificnumbers for passenger capacity or cargo weightfor recreational vessels larger than 20 feet (6.09meters). For safety, use the following informationprovided for international loading standardsfor maximum number of passengers plus cargoweight.2-5