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Saltwater Suzi and Cap'n Larry's advice for the cash-starved boater
Rules of the Road
Right of Way rules on the water can be complex and confusing especially to the beginner but even to the more experienced boater.
To further increase the complexity, there are two sets of rules, Inland and Offshore Obviously, you need to know the rules which apply where you use your boat.
After a brief dissertation about learning these rules, we will offer a cheat sheet you can print out and keep at your helm, and also some mnemonics to help you remember.
There are many courses on the internet and there are organizations such as the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and the United States Power Squadron which will teach you not only the “rules of the road” but many other facets of boating.
United States Power Squadron can be found at this link: U.S. Power Squadron
United States Coast Guard Auxiliary is at this link: U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary
We cannot recommend strongly enough the joining of one of these organizations and taking the courses they offer. It's not expensive. Being the Frugal Mariner we probably wouldn't recommend it if it were expensive.
There is an incredible amount to be learned about boating - once you start, you will never stop learning - there is always, ALWAYS something you don’t know - some of which you need to know, and which may save your life. Or at least keep you from doing something incredibly stupid and embarrassing yourself.
To further increase the complexity, there are two sets of rules, Inland and Offshore Obviously, you need to know the rules which apply where you use your boat.
After a brief dissertation about learning these rules, we will offer a cheat sheet you can print out and keep at your helm, and also some mnemonics to help you remember.
There are many courses on the internet and there are organizations such as the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and the United States Power Squadron which will teach you not only the “rules of the road” but many other facets of boating.
United States Power Squadron can be found at this link: U.S. Power Squadron
United States Coast Guard Auxiliary is at this link: U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary
We cannot recommend strongly enough the joining of one of these organizations and taking the courses they offer. It's not expensive. Being the Frugal Mariner we probably wouldn't recommend it if it were expensive.
There is an incredible amount to be learned about boating - once you start, you will never stop learning - there is always, ALWAYS something you don’t know - some of which you need to know, and which may save your life. Or at least keep you from doing something incredibly stupid and embarrassing yourself.
Standard Disclaimer so you won't sue us:
This particular discourse below is not designed to be a complete course but merely a quick summation, a ‘cheat sheet’ to refer to. Print out a copy and keep it handy at your helm while you’re out on the water. It’s almost impossible to memorize all of the rules.
It’s also impossible to give a complete rendering of the rules in a concise summary because there are many exceptions to the rules. This is why most books on the subject run into hundreds of pages. This summary is not designed to nor would it be able to take the place of the complete set of rules. It is only designed to give a quick reference - in a handy format.
We have done our best to make this as accurate and complete as possible within the limited format, however if you see errors which are blatantly wrong - we would appreciate it if you would bring them immediately to our attention. Please don’t nitpick.
The definitive book is the U.S. Coast Guard’s Navigation Rules International - Inland
Available at some bookstores, most chandleries and on line at:
http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/mwv/navrules/rotr_online.htm
Important:
If your boat is over 12 meters (39.4 feet), the Coast Guard requires that you have a copy on board.
Please note: In many instances, and we have seen this ourselves, the proper lights or day shapes are not displayed. Many of the guys out there making a living at fishing don’t have the time or inclination to worry much about setting the proper lights or day shapes and, in some cases, may not even have them.
You may see cruise liners out there that are lit up like New York City - and picking out the navigation lights from among them is impossible.
You will also encounter background lights from cities or the night sky which make the vessel you're worried about very confusing. In these instances, GET ON YOUR RADIO. Find out their intentions; let them know what and where you are. Take appropriate agreed upon evasive actions to avoid a collision.
In many cases, they may not even be aware you are there - you’re just a blip on their radar -if you’re lucky. The big guys can run you down and may not even know it. This is where what we call the ‘Gross Tonnage Rule’ applies.
The helmsman of a super tanker may not see you anymore than you might see a duck swimming in the water ahead of you. The duck will fly out of your way, but you may end up being a dead duck. Those big ships are moving much faster than you might expect.
Sailboats which are motor sailing in the daylight are supposed to fly an inverted cone (also called a 'steaming cone') under international rules (optional under inland rules).
We have been sailing since we were teenagers (more years than we like to think about) and we have never once seen such an inverted cone being used. We have never known a sail boater to own one. And if one did own one, and flew it, 99.9% of the other boaters out there wouldn’t know what it meant anyway. This is not to imply that we, as boaters, should ignore the rules. We are only saying that we cannot trust the other boater to follow the rules. So, to stay alive out there, you MUST remain ALWAYS VIGILANT. Keep a sharp eye - stay awake, stay sober, stay in contact.
Imagine if you will, an almost infinite parking lot - with no lines drawn and everything from bicycles and mopeds, to fast cars, panel trucks and semi’s, all traveling at different speeds in different directions. Some are following the rules. Some are not. Some are polite. Some are rude. Now let’s do it at night. Kind of a scary scenario. But that’s what’s going on out there. And worse, there are some boats out on the water with an auto-helm steering the boat and no one at the helm and no one keeping watch. And it isn’t as rare as you might think.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~/)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The pecking order of who has ‘right of way.’ The higher number must give way to the lower number. However, the General Prudential Rule always takes precedence. If the ‘give way’ vessel does not give way and a collision is imminent, the ‘stand on vessel’ must take whatever action is necessary. Remember: no vessel actually has 'right of way' over another vessel.
1 Not Under Command
2 Restricted Maneuvering Ability
3 Constricted by Draft
4 Fishing or Trawling(commercial)
5 Sailing (not motoring or motorsailing)
6 Power Boat
7 Seaplane
This chart is easy - find your type of boat on the chart - and stay the heck out of the way of everyone above you on the chart.
Two Power Boats (a sailboat which is motoring, or motor sailing is a power boat.)
There are several rules regarding which vessel is the ‘Give Way’ vessel and which is the ‘Stand On’ vessel when 2 similar vessels are motoring.
Mnemonic:
If we can see his GREEN light (on the starboard side of his boat) we are the ‘Stand on’ vessel and hold our course. If we can see his RED light (on the port side of his boat) we are the ‘Give Way’ vessel. This makes sense - it’s like a traffic signal - Red means stop and Green means go.
Meeting head on, again, just like on the street - each turns to his right. There are cases, of course, when this is not practical when there are other boats or obstructions. If you can make your move early enough, turn with such exaggeration that there is no question as to your intention. Otherwise, use your radio - or your horn. See Sound Signals.
If you are overtaking, you must stay clear of the vessel in front of you. This is obvious. If you are overtaking in a narrow channel, use your radio - or your horn with the correct sound signals.
Sailboats meeting have their own set of rules.
Two sailboats on the same tack:
The vessel to Windward is the Give Way boat.
Two Sailboats on opposite Tacks:
The vessel on a Port Tack is the Give Way boat.
Mneumonic:
Upwind has precedence over downwind - Up over down
Starboard (Right) has precedence over Port (Left) - Right over Left
How to tell if you are on a collision course.
The relative bearing of the boat in question does not change (unless on parallel course at the same speed.) That is, for instance, if you see a boat on your starboard side at about 45 degrees (line up something from where you sit that is in line with the boat in question, a stanchion, for instance). If that angle does not change and he’s getting closer, you are on a collision course. If he is to your starboard, you should be able to see his red running light, located on his port side. (Even in daylight, with the running lights off, he still is presenting his port (red) side to you.) You need to alter speed, or alter course in order to avoid a collision. Do not wait once you have determined you are on a collision course. The sooner you alter course, the less change you will have to make in your course or speed.
The above is a very brief summation which, if you are familiar with it, should make you a safer boater. You should have and read a set of the Navigation Rules on board your boat, even if it isn’t required by law. If you don’t want to pay for your own copy, you can download them here: Download NavRules. You will need Acrobat Reader to view the file.
Here are a few tips to make your boating (and other’s) a little more pleasant.
1. Sometimes you are the Stand On Boat and the other guy is the Give Way Boat, but sometimes it pays to be nice. It will create a little less antipathy between boaters to simply use some manners. For instance, don’t go sailing through the middle of a sailboat race. Granted, sometimes the sailboat race is set up across a designated channel, and that may seem rude. And maybe it is. But unless you’re in a big hurry, you can slow down and let them pass in front of you. And we don’t think you’re in a big hurry, or else you’d have a powerboat, in which case, you are the Give Way boat anyway. You should have left sooner.
2. Sometimes you might be sailing and you see a private fishing vessel, with a bunch of lines out. True, you are the Stand On boat. (Only the professionals have rights over sailing boats). But it is usually just as easy for you to alter course a few degrees early on and avoid the problem.
3. Sometimes you might be the fishing boat, and you’ve got all your lines out and that damned sailboat, who could have altered course didn’t and now you’ve got to pull all your lines in and get out of his way. Well, maybe he can’t really alter course that much. Maybe the depth of his keel won’t allow him to go behind you because the water is too shallow, and he can’t go ahead of you because even at your slow trawling speed, he can’t keep up. Be a little understanding. Give the other guy the benefit of the doubt.
4. Sometimes some big powerboat comes down a narrow channel putting out a huge wake, swamping rowboats and canoes, rocking all the sailboats, and laughing about it on the radio. Try to be a little understanding. Maybe he has no brain.
This particular discourse below is not designed to be a complete course but merely a quick summation, a ‘cheat sheet’ to refer to. Print out a copy and keep it handy at your helm while you’re out on the water. It’s almost impossible to memorize all of the rules.
It’s also impossible to give a complete rendering of the rules in a concise summary because there are many exceptions to the rules. This is why most books on the subject run into hundreds of pages. This summary is not designed to nor would it be able to take the place of the complete set of rules. It is only designed to give a quick reference - in a handy format.
We have done our best to make this as accurate and complete as possible within the limited format, however if you see errors which are blatantly wrong - we would appreciate it if you would bring them immediately to our attention. Please don’t nitpick.
The definitive book is the U.S. Coast Guard’s Navigation Rules International - Inland
Available at some bookstores, most chandleries and on line at:
http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/mwv/navrules/rotr_online.htm
Important:
If your boat is over 12 meters (39.4 feet), the Coast Guard requires that you have a copy on board.
Please note: In many instances, and we have seen this ourselves, the proper lights or day shapes are not displayed. Many of the guys out there making a living at fishing don’t have the time or inclination to worry much about setting the proper lights or day shapes and, in some cases, may not even have them.
You may see cruise liners out there that are lit up like New York City - and picking out the navigation lights from among them is impossible.
You will also encounter background lights from cities or the night sky which make the vessel you're worried about very confusing. In these instances, GET ON YOUR RADIO. Find out their intentions; let them know what and where you are. Take appropriate agreed upon evasive actions to avoid a collision.
In many cases, they may not even be aware you are there - you’re just a blip on their radar -if you’re lucky. The big guys can run you down and may not even know it. This is where what we call the ‘Gross Tonnage Rule’ applies.
The helmsman of a super tanker may not see you anymore than you might see a duck swimming in the water ahead of you. The duck will fly out of your way, but you may end up being a dead duck. Those big ships are moving much faster than you might expect.
Sailboats which are motor sailing in the daylight are supposed to fly an inverted cone (also called a 'steaming cone') under international rules (optional under inland rules).
We have been sailing since we were teenagers (more years than we like to think about) and we have never once seen such an inverted cone being used. We have never known a sail boater to own one. And if one did own one, and flew it, 99.9% of the other boaters out there wouldn’t know what it meant anyway. This is not to imply that we, as boaters, should ignore the rules. We are only saying that we cannot trust the other boater to follow the rules. So, to stay alive out there, you MUST remain ALWAYS VIGILANT. Keep a sharp eye - stay awake, stay sober, stay in contact.
Imagine if you will, an almost infinite parking lot - with no lines drawn and everything from bicycles and mopeds, to fast cars, panel trucks and semi’s, all traveling at different speeds in different directions. Some are following the rules. Some are not. Some are polite. Some are rude. Now let’s do it at night. Kind of a scary scenario. But that’s what’s going on out there. And worse, there are some boats out on the water with an auto-helm steering the boat and no one at the helm and no one keeping watch. And it isn’t as rare as you might think.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~/)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The pecking order of who has ‘right of way.’ The higher number must give way to the lower number. However, the General Prudential Rule always takes precedence. If the ‘give way’ vessel does not give way and a collision is imminent, the ‘stand on vessel’ must take whatever action is necessary. Remember: no vessel actually has 'right of way' over another vessel.
1 Not Under Command
2 Restricted Maneuvering Ability
3 Constricted by Draft
4 Fishing or Trawling(commercial)
5 Sailing (not motoring or motorsailing)
6 Power Boat
7 Seaplane
This chart is easy - find your type of boat on the chart - and stay the heck out of the way of everyone above you on the chart.
Two Power Boats (a sailboat which is motoring, or motor sailing is a power boat.)
There are several rules regarding which vessel is the ‘Give Way’ vessel and which is the ‘Stand On’ vessel when 2 similar vessels are motoring.
Mnemonic:
If we can see his GREEN light (on the starboard side of his boat) we are the ‘Stand on’ vessel and hold our course. If we can see his RED light (on the port side of his boat) we are the ‘Give Way’ vessel. This makes sense - it’s like a traffic signal - Red means stop and Green means go.
Meeting head on, again, just like on the street - each turns to his right. There are cases, of course, when this is not practical when there are other boats or obstructions. If you can make your move early enough, turn with such exaggeration that there is no question as to your intention. Otherwise, use your radio - or your horn. See Sound Signals.
If you are overtaking, you must stay clear of the vessel in front of you. This is obvious. If you are overtaking in a narrow channel, use your radio - or your horn with the correct sound signals.
Sailboats meeting have their own set of rules.
Two sailboats on the same tack:
The vessel to Windward is the Give Way boat.
Two Sailboats on opposite Tacks:
The vessel on a Port Tack is the Give Way boat.
Mneumonic:
Upwind has precedence over downwind - Up over down
Starboard (Right) has precedence over Port (Left) - Right over Left
How to tell if you are on a collision course.
The relative bearing of the boat in question does not change (unless on parallel course at the same speed.) That is, for instance, if you see a boat on your starboard side at about 45 degrees (line up something from where you sit that is in line with the boat in question, a stanchion, for instance). If that angle does not change and he’s getting closer, you are on a collision course. If he is to your starboard, you should be able to see his red running light, located on his port side. (Even in daylight, with the running lights off, he still is presenting his port (red) side to you.) You need to alter speed, or alter course in order to avoid a collision. Do not wait once you have determined you are on a collision course. The sooner you alter course, the less change you will have to make in your course or speed.
The above is a very brief summation which, if you are familiar with it, should make you a safer boater. You should have and read a set of the Navigation Rules on board your boat, even if it isn’t required by law. If you don’t want to pay for your own copy, you can download them here: Download NavRules. You will need Acrobat Reader to view the file.
Here are a few tips to make your boating (and other’s) a little more pleasant.
1. Sometimes you are the Stand On Boat and the other guy is the Give Way Boat, but sometimes it pays to be nice. It will create a little less antipathy between boaters to simply use some manners. For instance, don’t go sailing through the middle of a sailboat race. Granted, sometimes the sailboat race is set up across a designated channel, and that may seem rude. And maybe it is. But unless you’re in a big hurry, you can slow down and let them pass in front of you. And we don’t think you’re in a big hurry, or else you’d have a powerboat, in which case, you are the Give Way boat anyway. You should have left sooner.
2. Sometimes you might be sailing and you see a private fishing vessel, with a bunch of lines out. True, you are the Stand On boat. (Only the professionals have rights over sailing boats). But it is usually just as easy for you to alter course a few degrees early on and avoid the problem.
3. Sometimes you might be the fishing boat, and you’ve got all your lines out and that damned sailboat, who could have altered course didn’t and now you’ve got to pull all your lines in and get out of his way. Well, maybe he can’t really alter course that much. Maybe the depth of his keel won’t allow him to go behind you because the water is too shallow, and he can’t go ahead of you because even at your slow trawling speed, he can’t keep up. Be a little understanding. Give the other guy the benefit of the doubt.
4. Sometimes some big powerboat comes down a narrow channel putting out a huge wake, swamping rowboats and canoes, rocking all the sailboats, and laughing about it on the radio. Try to be a little understanding. Maybe he has no brain.
Books you should own regarding ‘Rules of the Road’ are:
Chapman Piloting: Seamanship and Small Boat Handling available at Chandleries, many bookstores and on line at: Chapman Piloting which lists for around $40.00 and has a wealth of absolutely essential information.
If you would like a professionally made ‘cheat sheet’ try the Captain’s Quick Guides Rules of the Road and Running Light Patterns available at Chandleries and on line at:
Captain's Quick Guides
It’s only $8.95 and it’s waterproof.
Chapman Piloting: Seamanship and Small Boat Handling available at Chandleries, many bookstores and on line at: Chapman Piloting which lists for around $40.00 and has a wealth of absolutely essential information.
If you would like a professionally made ‘cheat sheet’ try the Captain’s Quick Guides Rules of the Road and Running Light Patterns available at Chandleries and on line at:
Captain's Quick Guides
It’s only $8.95 and it’s waterproof.
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