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left side of a channel, each vessel should sound two short horn blasts and pass starboard to
starboard.
Privileged Boats
Privileged boats have right-of-way and can hold course and speed. Sailboats and boats paddled
or rowed have the right-of-way over motor boats. Sailboats under power are considered
motorboats. Small pleasure craft must yield to larger boats. However, you must use common
sense when applying these rules. Not everybody follows the rules. Boating is no different than
driving. You must be defensive. Anticipate potential collisions and avoid them. One area often
neglected by power boat operators is the danger associated with slowing down or stopping.
Boat’s don’t have taillights, so you must be aware of and avoid collisions with any boats
traveling behind. A sudden slow down or stop could result in a serious accident.
Burdened Boats
A burdened boat is the boat that must make whatever adjustments to course and speed
necessary to keep out of the way of a privileged boat.
Crossing Situation
In crossing situations, where two power boats meet, the
boat to the right from the 12 o’clock to the 4 o’clock
position has the right-of-way. It must hold course and
speed. The burdened boat keeps clear and passes
behind the privileged boat. Power boats going up and
down a waterway have the privilege over power boats crossing that waterway.
The General Prudential Rule
The general prudential rule regarding right-of-way is that if a collision appears unavoidable,
neither boat has the right-of-way.
Both
boats must act to avoid a collision.
Slow Down In Unfamiliar Areas
Common sense should tell you to slow
down if you don’t know the area. You can
damage your boat at almost any speed, but
the damage will be much less when you’re
slow and in control. This guy shattered his
boat into a million pieces at high speed wen
he didn’t know where he was going. Chart
plotters/GPS units are great aids to
navigation, but they are not always
accurate. There is no substitute for the
operator’s vision. Be in control and keep a
watch full eye out.
Weather
Inclement weather is a major contributing factor
to boating accidents. NEVER operate your boat
in anything other than clear skies without rain,
fog or a small craft advisory. This photo is of a
boat that traveled across a sandy beach and hit a
restaurant when the operator got lost in foggy
conditions. This is a link to an article describing
