Safety information

provided the other vessel gives you the right- of-way as it should.

Overtaking

If you are passing another vessel, you are the give-way vessel. This means that the other vessel is expected to maintain its course and speed. You must stay out of its way until you are clear of it. Likewise, if another vessel is passing you, you should maintain your speed and direction so that the other vessel can steer itself around you.

Other special situations

There are three other rules you should be aware of when riding your watercraft around other vessels.

Narrow channels and bends

When navigating in narrow channels, you should keep to the right when it is safe and practical to do so. If the operator of a power- driven vessel is preparing to go around a bend that may obstruct the view of other water vessels, the operator should sound a prolonged blast of four to six seconds on the whistle. If another vessel is around the bend, it too should sound the whistle. Even if no reply is heard, however, the vessel should still proceed around the bend with caution. If you navigate such waters with your watercraft, you will need to carry a portable air horn, available from local marine supply stores.

Fishing vessel right-of-way

All vessels fishing with nets, lines, or trawls are considered to be “fishing vessels” under the International Rules. Vessels with trolling lines are not considered fishing vessels. Fishing vessels have the right-of-way regardless of position. Fishing vessels cannot, however, impede the passage of other vessels in narrow channels.

Sailing vessel right-of-way

Sailing vessels should normally be given the right-of-way. The exceptions to this are:

(1)When the sailing vessel is overtaking the power-driven vessel, the power-driven vessel has the right-of-way.

(2)Sailing vessels should keep clear of any fishing vessel.

(3)In a narrow channel, a sailing vessel should not hamper the safe passage of a power-driven vessel that can navigate only in such a channel.

Reading buoys and other markers

The waters of the United States are marked for safe navigation by the lateral system of buoyage. Simply put, buoys and markers have an arrangement of shapes, colors, num- bers, and lights to show which side of the buoy a boater should pass on when navigating in a particular direction. The markings on these buoys are oriented from the perspective of being entered from seaward (the boater is going towards the harbor). Red buoys are passed on your starboard (right) side when proceeding from open water into the harbor, and black buoys are to your port (left) side. An easy way to remember the meaning of the colors is the phrase “red right returning”. When navigating out of the harbor, your position with respect to the buoys should be re- versed; red buoys should be to port and black buoys to starboard.

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