2-4 CHAPTER 2: BASIC RULES OF THE ROAD
Sport Boat Owner’s Manual
Crossing Situation
In crossing situations, 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. Boats going up
and down a river have the privi-
lege over boats crossing the river.
Meeting Head-On
Neither boat has the right-of-way
in this situation. Both boats
should decrease speed, should
turn to the right, and pass port-to-
port. However, if both boats are
on the left side of a channel, each
vessel should sound two short
horn blasts and pass starboard to
starboard.
KC-0471
BURDENED
VESSEL
DANGER ZONE
PRIVILEGED
VESSEL
12 O'CLOCK
4 O'CLOCK
PASSING
PORT TO
PORT
MEETING
HEAD TO
HEAD
PASSING
STARBOARD TO
STARBOARD
HONK
HONK
HONK
HONK
