Rules of the Water

[HD]

Rules of the Water | A Guide for Safe Boating

By Jason Sealock

Avoiding accidents on the water becomes more important as more folks take to the water each year. On lakes like Kentucky and Guntersville, there are thousands of boats on the lakes every weekend. Everyone that owns a boat owes it to themselves and their loved ones to know how to avoid common situations on the water.

Boat on Boat Situations

Three common situations where boats will come to navigation decisions when approaching each other are head-on, crossing and overtaking boats.

The Head-On Rules



When in doubt, yield right. That will avoid most common problems with boat on boat encounters. When approaching a boat coming at you head-on, both boats are to yield to their right. If because of navigation issues (shallow water), pulling over to the right as much as possible and shutting down will allow the other boat to navigate around you in safe water. In tight situations, slow down and judge the safe area to the right. And use your horn signals (identified in the Horn Blows section).

Crossing Rules



When two boats are crossing in front of each other, the boat to the right is consider the Stand-On Vessel and the other boat is considered the Give-Way Vessel. The Stand-On Vessel (boat on the right) is to continue on a straight course. While the Give-Way Vessel yields and navigates around the right of the other vessel. Again use horn blows as necessary.

Overtaking Rules



When passing another boat, sound a short horn blast to signal your presence and then give a wide clearance and pass the boat on the right (starboard) if possible. If navigation won't allow passing on the right, then again sound the horn with two short bursts and pass with a wide margin on the left (port). Use caution as boats coming head on may be masked by the forward boat. Don't put yourself in a situation of passing and having to yield to oncoming vessels.


Note: These rules apply to two boats of power meeting each other on the water. The rules differ for other boats not under power like sailboats. The boat under power must yield to the boat without power and make maneuvers to avoid the boat without power.

Horn Blows

    Turn Starboard (Right) - Short blast
    Turn Port (Left) - Two short blasts
    Going Astern (backing up) - Three short blasts
    Danger (to warn other boats of hazard ahead) - Five short blasts
    Backing up from Dock - One long blast

Navigation Markers

Red Buoys - Mark right side of channel when going upstream or returning from open seas.
Green Buoys - Mark left side of channel when going upstream or returning from open seas.


Non Lateral Markers (usually on white buoy with orange lines)

    A square means information (things like fuel, or docks).
    A diamond means danger and avoid that area (shallow or rocks).
    A circle means controlled area, use caution (like a no-wake zone).
    A diamond with a cross means exclusion area (no boats allowed).

[Rebel SS]

Good post! I've always believed anyone who buys a boat should have to take a safe boating course, or no registration.

[Boar]

real.good info, but i thought that if you have the more exspensive boat and its flashy and you wear a turtle.neck in the middle.of summer, and have a trophy wife that obviously dosent want to be ther. you get the right of way and and can park ur trialer at any angle.yu choose. specially ifyou look like th abouve and purposely motor right thru the middle of those anchored looking for any reason why their anchored.all.others give way. now i know....

[Rebel SS]

 You forgot to mention the Cadillac SUV.    

[mike89]

that is a good read for all..

[Rebel SS]

Way too many boneheads out there on the water. Just like when yer riding a motorcycle. Did that for 20+ years and three crashes. Not anymore for me.

[mike89]

I under stand the boat and bike runs..  they can be interesting and scary!!

[Rebel SS]

It's the ones that pull out in front of ya, that are the killers.

[mike89]

YUP.  sad too, they can see the phone but not us.

[Bobby Bass]

I will say that fishing these waters way up north we have an advantage over your southern waters. Up here when two boats meet they stop and ask "how ya doing" Ok "which way ya going" and then they pass each other and are on their way. as the day or evening goes on they will either wave or shout at each other hello then do MN nice at the boat landing getting off.  That is if there is another boat on the lake you are fishing.

[Rebel SS]

Down here, all it is is zooming jet skis, and guys roaring by wide open continually. This end of the state is hard to find a decent place to fish, too.

[Bobby Bass]

Down here, all it is is zooming jet skis, and guys roaring by wide open continually. This end of the state is hard to find a decent place to fish, too.

When I do get to fish up here it is during the week and odds are I am the only one on the lake till sundown then a few of the locals may come out for a cocktail and a ride on their pontoon. Way laid back here then down south. Pretty good odds also that if you are fishing on Thursday there has been no boat traffic since Sunday. Lot of 500 acre lakes up this way that this is true on.

[dew2]

Here's Minnesotas rules of the waters Abit more informative.This PDF comes in a paper folder at lisences places,I allways get one I like booklet reading more so than PDFs
 I NEVER go out weekends way to many crazies!!! even Fri evenings we got buzzer,by boats an skiers!!!

http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/rlp/regulations/boatwater/boatingguide.pdf

[Rebel SS]

NO WAY would I even THINK of hitting the water on a weekend down here! Mid-week or Monday mornings were always my fishing days, and even then some knot-heads out.

[Lee Borgersen]

Try to navigate on Lake Geneva WI. where I guide.

Enlarge for best viewing: