HISON WATERCRAFT
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On water, your Crosski is classified as a Class. A inboard boat and you must follow
navigational rules or nautical ‘rules of the road’. You must know these rules before getting
underway and always follow navigational rules when operating your Crosski.
It is your responsibility to know and follow the navigation rules, which require that you
maintain a proper look-out at all times to fully assess the situation and the risk of collision. You
should always use common sense and operate your Crosski at a safe speed and at a safe distance
from shore, other vessel, swimmers and fixed objects such as docks. As a general rule, you should
keep to your starboard side.
This section of the manual provides the basic rules and guidelines that must be followed
when operating your Crosski on public waterways. Hison strongly recommends that operator take
a boater safety course which can provide you with more detailed training on safety, piloting and
navigation.
When two boats encounter one another on the water the navigation rules dictate which
vessel has the right of way and what actions the vessels are required to take when they meet. In
nautical terms, the vessel with the right-of-way is called the ‘stand-on’ vessel and the vessel wich
does not have the right-of-way is called the ‘give-way’ vessel. You should give the right-of-way to
all vessels to your starboard side in the ‘give-way’ zone.
There three main situations that typically occur when you encounter another vessel:
Meeting, Crossing and Overtaking. Failure to follow the navigation rules when you encounter
another vessel could lead to a collision.
Meeting
is the term give when two vessels are approaching one another in a head-on or nearly
head-on situation. In a meeting situation, neither vessel has the right-of-way. Both vessels should
alter course to starboard to avoid a collision and you should keep the other vessel on your port
side keeping a safe distance between the vessels. This rule does not apply if the vessels will clear
one another by a safe distance by continuing on a set course and speed.
Crossing:
whenever two vessels are crossing paths close enough that there is a risk of collision,
you are the ‘give-way’ vessel if the other vessel is on your starboard side. As the ‘give-way’ vessel,
you should keep out of the way and avoid crossing ahead of the other vessel if possible. If the
other vessel is on your port side, you are the ‘stand-on’ vessel and you should maintain your
course and speed as long as the other vessel gives you the right of way. A simple way to
remember this is ‘A vessel to your right has the right-of-way’.
Overtaking:
If you are passing another vessel from the stern, you are the ‘give-way’ vessel and
are expected to keep clear and pass the other vessel at a safe distance until you are clear. If you
are the vessel being passed, you are the ‘stand-on’ vessel and you should maintain your course
and speed to allow the other vessel to safely steer around you.
Non-powered boats
Sailboats, canoes, and other boats which are not under power, have the right-of-way over
power boats in nearly all situations. Always stay clear of these vessels are do not create a wake
which may cause them trouble.
