Right of Way Rules For Boating

Posted by on June 23, 2010

Today’s waterways are often jam-packed with boat traffic, and if you don’t know the rules on who has the right of way, you could get into serious trouble. The most basic rules should be known and followed by all boat operators.

First of all, let’s get the terminology down:

1) Stand-on. This term refers to staying on course when you have the right of way, and making no alterations in your course.

2) Give way. This means that if you are in a course conflict and the other boat has the stand-on course, you must alter your course and let the other boat pass first.

3) Burdened vessel. This simply means the boat that has the responsibility to give way.

4) Privileged vessel. This is the boat that is allowed to stand-on course, according to the rules.

Now for some rules of the road (er, water):

Sailboats All sailboats, when under sail power only, have the stand-on course and if you have a powerboat, or are under power, you must give way when meeting or crossing their course.

Commercial Boats All commercial boats restricted by their draft have stand-on rights over all recreational boats-including sailboats.

Commercial Fishing Boats All fishing boats towing fishing nets have stand-on status over all recreational boats-including sailboats. Fishing boats can be particularly problematic, because sometimes it is difficult to see the boundaries of a net or trawl being towed behind the boat until it is too late and you have yards of fishing net wrapped around your prop-not to mention a very angry fisherman.

Meeting Another Boat When meeting another boat, both boats should steer to the right in such a manner as to make their intentions clear, and safely pass portside to portside (left sides).

Crossing Paths When a boat is on a course that will cross paths of another boat, and a collision could occur if someone does not give way, the boat on the right is always the privileged vessel and the other boat must give way.

Passing a Boat If you are following another boat in a narrow waterway (river, canal, or marked channel), you are the burdened vessel and must give way to the boat in front of you (the privileged vessel). If you want to pass, the procedure is to sound two short blasts on your horn, letting the boat in front know that you want to pass on the boats portside (left). If the skipper feels it is safe to pass, they will signal back with two short blasts.

However, if the skipper in front does not want you to pass (perhaps they see something ahead you can’t see), they will signal back with five short blasts. No return signal means the same as five short blasts, so you should hang back until you reach open water, or receive two short horn blasts from the boat in front.

When Rules Fail Unfortunately, the waters are full of boats and skippers that either do not know the rules, or do not care…or both. In encountering a boat that is standing-on when they should be giving way, it becomes your responsibility to give way to avoid a collision. Sadly, if you stand-on course (even though you have the right of way) and a collision ensues-you will be held partially responsible.

Hopefully, these basic right of way rules for boats will help you better enjoy your boating adventures.

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