Who Does go First?

Navigation Rules

Know Before You Go!

The Navigation Rules, or the "Rules of the Road" were developed to prevent collisions between vessels. They specify uniform patterns of safe operating behavior and they help prevent accidents.

You must have a whistle or audible-signaling device aboard your PWC. The whistle can be attached to your life jacket (PFD) by a lanyard (cord), and used to signal your intent to other boaters. Your whistle should be used in many right-of-way encounters. In certain boating conditions, boat operators must be able to alert other boats to their presence or operation intentions. This is why sound devices are required equipment on recreational boats, including PWCs.

Avoiding Collisions

There are rules that every operator must follow when encountering other boats or personal watercraft (PWC).

There are two terms that help explain these rules:

Give-way: The powerboat or PWC which is required to take early and substantial action to keep well away from other boats by stopping, slowing down or changing course.

Stand-On Boat: The powerboat or PWC which must maintain its course and speed unless it becomes apparent that the stay out of the way boat is not taking appropriate action. If you must take action, do not turn toward the stay out of the way boat or cross in front of it.

You are responsible for staying alert to your surroundings and taking whatever action is necessary to avoid collision - even when you must depart from the Navigation Rules to do so! Failing to keep a proper lookout is the most common cause of collisions. It's vital to maintain a proper look-out by sight and hearing. As circumstances and conditions change an operator must use the best means available to assess the situation and avoid the risk of collision.

Take into account any special circumstances due to weather, boat traffic, and limits of other boats. Keep a close lookout at all times for other boats, navigational hazards and others involved in water activities.

Be sure you operate your boat at a safe speed and distance to insure you will have ample time and space to avoid a collision. Some states have established a safe operating speed and minimal distance when operating a boat above a slow, wakeless (idle) speed. Safe speed will vary depending on conditions such as wind, water conditions, visibility and surrounding boat traffic. Always reduce speed and navigate with extreme caution when visibility is restricted. A power-driven vessel should have engines ready for immediate maneuver. Every vessel that hears a fog signal of another vessel in front of them, or cannot avoid a close-quarters situation with the other vessel should reduce their speed to the minimum required to stay on course. If necessary power should be halted with the operator proceeding with caution until the risk of collision has passed.

PWC operators need to be keenly aware of their relationship to other boat operators, especially if there is more than one PWC operating in a group. These operators may get too close to each other and in some circumstances, accidents have occurred because operators did not maintain a safe speed and distance between their boats. Because a PWC is highly maneuverable, a PWC operator should look over both shoulders before making a turn.

Never spray another boat, PWC or person with the wake of your PWC. It is obvious that a PWC involved in this activity is operating too close and too fast to the boat or person it is trying to "spray." While this action may seem like fun and harmless to some operators, it is very dangerous and it is illegal and considered reckless or negligent boating activity in most states.

The Rules specifically address three traffic situations:

• Meeting Head-On



• Overtaking



• Crossing

In these situations, one vessel will usually be the stand-on vessel and the other will be the stay out of the way vessel. The stand-on vessel is expected to maintain course and speed and the give-way vessel must keep out of the way of the stand-on vessel.

In each of the above situations, you must proceed with caution and common sense. Never assume that another boater is aware of what you are planning to do. It is also possible that they don't know the nautical rules of the road! You need to stay alert and be ready to take evasive actions to avoid collision. The Navigation Rules specify which boat fits each description in the three traffic situations on the water.

The navigation rules depend on the type of boats involved: power (any powerboat, PWC or sailboat operating using engine power) and sailing vessel (sailboat operating using wind power).

1. A power-driven vessel underway must steer clear of a:



1. vessel not under command.



2. vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver.



3. vessel engaged in fishing;



4. sailing vessel.



2. A sailing vessel underway must steer clear of a vessel:



1. not under command;



2. restricted in her ability to maneuver;



3. engaged in fishing.



3. A vessel engaged in fishing when underway should, as much as possible, steer clear of a vessel:



1. not under command;



2. restricted in her ability to maneuver.



4. Vessels not under command or restricted it their ability to maneuver must avoid, as much as possible, impeding the safe passage of other vessels.

An operator must use all proper means available to determine whether there is a risk of collision. When in doubt it is wise to assume that a risk exists. To determine this, look at the approaching vessel. Would a collision occur if the vessel did not change course? Or even if there was a significant course change would it be enough to avoid a collision? This is often a consideration when a large vessel or a vessel being towed is involved.

Actions taken to avoid a collision should be made well before the collision becomes imminent and the actions are significant enough that they are readily apparent (visually or by radar) to the other vessel. Small course or speed changes will confuse other boaters and should be avoided. It's also important to determine whether any course change will result in another close-quarters situation. If so, the course change should not be made. Another option to avoid a collision is to reduce speed or (on vessels where this is possible) reverse engines. Any action should be with safe passing distance, not impede the safe passing of the other vessel and be made in observance of Navigation Rules and good seamanship.

The risk of collision also exists for sail boats and there are specific rules for operations when two sailboats, under sail, approach each other.

1. when each has the wind on a different side, the vessel which has the wind on the port side shall keep out of the way of the other.



2. when both have the wind on the same side, the vessel which is to windward shall keep out of the way of the vessel which is to leeward.



3. if a vessel with the wind on the port side sees a vessel to windward and cannot determine with certainty whether the other vessel has the wind on the port or on the starboard side, the operator should keep their vessel clear of the other.

The windward side is opposite of where the mainsail is carried or, in the case of a square-rigged vessel, the side opposite to that on which the largest fore-and-aft sail is carried.

When Navigating In or Near an Area of Restricted Visibility.

1. Every vessel shall proceed at a safe speed adapted to the prevailing circumstances and conditions of restricted visibility. A power-driven vessel shall have her engines ready for immediate maneuver.



2. Every vessel shall have due regard to the prevailing circumstances and conditions of restricted visibility when complying with the Rules.



3. A vessel which detects by radar alone the presence of another vessel shall determine if a close-quarters situation is developing and/or risk of collision exists. If so, she shall take avoiding action in ample time, provided that when such action consists of an alteration in course, so far as possible the following shall be avoided:



4. An alteration of course to port for a vessel forward of the beam, other than for a vessel being overtaken.



5. An alteration of course toward a vessel abeam or abaft the beam.



6. Except where it has been determined that a risk of collision does not exist, every vessel hearing the fog signal of another vessel apparently forward of their beam, or which cannot avoid a close-quarters situation with another vessel forward of her beam, the operator should reduce the vessel's speed to be the minimum at which it can be kept on course. If necessary, the operator should take power all the way to idle and navigate with extreme caution until danger of collision is over.

Rules of Responsibility

Always respect other boaters by acting in a reasonable and prudent manner consistent with the ordinary practices of recreational boating. However, there are occasions when the dangers of navigation and collision exist that force a departure from these rules. Also, there are special circumstances relating to the limitations of the vessels involved. In other words, you should follow the Rules of Responsibility but be aware there may be instances when you must depart from those rules in order to avoid immediate danger, accident or injury.

Disclaimer

The navigation rules of the road contained in this course summarize basic navigation rules for which a boat owner is responsible. Additional and more in-depth rules apply regarding various types of waterways and operation in relation to commercial vessels and other watercraft. It is the responsibility of a boat operator to know and follow all the navigation rules.

For a complete listing of the navigation rules, refer to document "Navigation Rules of the Road" published by the U.S. Coast Guard (COMDTINST 16672.2 Series) and available through the U.S. Government printing office or on the web at: USDOT/USCG Navigation Rules. For state specific navigation requirements, refer to state laws where you intend to boat.