Understanding Boat Navigation Rules and Right of Way

Question 1 You’ve left the dock well before dawn on an offshore trip to fish the canyons. It’s still dark, but your radar is working properly. How fast can you go?

Question 2 To get to your favorite bay, you must run a lengthy, well-marked channel. As you do, another boat approaches, rapidly, from the opposite direction. How do you proceed?

Question 3 Sharking at night, anchored, you see a larger vessel making way, approaching well off your port side. You clearly see a red all-around light on top, a lower white light in a vertical line, another white light on one side, sidelights and a stern light. What kind of boat is it?

Question 4 While kingfishing in the Gulf of Mexico near several oil rigs, you spot a commercial boat, barely moving. Does it have what the rules consider “restricted maneuverability” (and thus require you to give way)?

Question 5 During a sailfish tournament, you are trolling off Miami’s Government Cut shipping canal when a commercial freighter comes into view, heading toward your boat on an apparent collision course. Who gives way?

Question 6 One of the engines on your twin-outboard center-console has overheated, and now you’re idling back to the marina. As you transit the narrow channel of a coastal river, a commercial vessel comes up behind you and sounds two prolonged blasts of its horn, followed by two short blasts. What is it telling you?

Question 7 Running to your favorite redfish hole involves crossing a congested bay lined by several marinas. An unmanned freighter is at anchor, and a sailboat is underway. What are your responsibilities?

Question 8 When two reaching sailboats are on a collision course – each with the wind on different sides, who needs to give way?

Question 9 When two sailboats have the wind on the same side, which boat needs to keep out of the way?

Question 10 Many believe power always gives way to sail, but that is not true if… (choose one) • Boats under power are traveling in excess of 25-knots. • A sailboat is overtaking a powerboat. • A powerboat is reversing. • A sailboat is sailing dead downwind.

Question 11 When a sailboat is under full sail but the engine is running and in gear (choose one): • A melding of navigational rules is at play. • It is still a sailboat by virtue of the raised sails. • The sailboat is considered power driven and must adhere to rules that are written for power driven vessels. • Sailors should use their best discretion for there is no written rule to obey.

Question 12 Who do the rules say is the stand on vessel when it comes to vessels driven by oars (choose one): • Rowboats, kayakers, SUPs, etc are the stand on vessels • As in many situations, sailboats are the stand on vessels in this scenario. • The navigation rules do not mention human powered vessels. • Oar driven vessels 18-ft and above are considered stand on vessels in most situations.

Question 13

Question 14

Question 15

Question 16

Question 17

Question 18 • Must you always obey the Rules? • a. Yes, under all circumstances • b. Only if other vessels are in sight • c. No, if in immediate danger

Question 19 • 3. Are Nautical Rules the same under all conditions? • a. Yes • b. No, Rules are different on rivers than on lakes • c. No, Rules are different under restricted visibility

Question 20 Which is correct? In a crossing situation, the vessel which has the other on her own starboard side shall ... A. Change course to port to keep out of the way B. If the circumstances of the case admit, avoid crossing ahead of the other

Question 21 You are approaching another vessel. She is about one mile distant and is on your starboard bow. You believe she will cross ahead of you. She then sounds a whistle signal of five short blasts. You should ...

Questions 22 A vessel nearing a bend where other vessels may be obscured shall sound ...

Answers

Answer 1 A1) According to Rule 6 (Safe Speed), a vessel must be operated at a safe speed (slow enough) to avoid collision, with the operator taking into account visibility, traffic density, stopping distance, background lights, sea conditions, navigational hazards, and the boat’s draft. In other words, you can go as fast as it’s safe to go — and no faster!

Answer 2 A2) According to Rule 14 (Head-On Situation), two power-driven boats meeting on reciprocal courses, with a risk of collision, shall each alter course to starboard to pass on the port side of the other. But nothing absolves you of the duty to avoid a collision, rules or no rules.

Answer 3 A3) The vessel is a fishing boat, engaged in a form of fishing other than trawling. (Its outlying gear in the direction of the white side light.) As described in Rule 26 (Fishing Vessels), a boat that is trawling (dragging a dredge net) would instead show a green light on top, with a white light in a vertical light below, plus side lights and a stern light. Vessels less than 50 meters long may also illuminate an optional masthead light abaft of and higher than the green light; vessels longer than 50 yards must show that masthead light abaft.

Answer 4 A4) Probably. According to Rule 3 (General Definitions), any of the following would qualify a vessel as restricted in maneuverability: engaged in laying, servicing or picking up a pipeline; engaged in dredging, surveying or underwater operations; engaged in replenishment or transferring people, provisions or cargo. Other restricted classifications apply if a vessel is launching or recovering aircraft, clearing mines, or towing and unable to deviate from its course. Such a vessel cannot maneuver to keep out of another boat’s way; you must adjust to it.

Answer 5 A5) The boat on port, unless … according to Rule 15 (Crossing Situation), when two power vessels are crossing with a possible risk of collision, the vessel that has the other on its starboard side should keep out of the way, and avoid crossing ahead of the other vessel. A vessel like yours, fishing with trolling lines, by the way, is not considered engaged in fishing under Rule 3, since it still has unrestricted maneuverability; if that’s you, on the port side, give way.

Answer 6 A6) The two long, two short blasts signal an intention to overtake you on your port side. Rule 34 (Maneuvering and Warning Signals) describes the proper use of sound and light signals. Two prolonged blasts followed by one short blast, by the way, indicates an intention to overtake on the starboard side.

Answer 7 A7) You are required to avoid both the anchored freighter and, unless it is under power, the sailboat. Under Rule 18 (Responsibilities Between Vessels) and except when rules 9, 10 and 13 require otherwise, power vessels underway must keep out of the way of vessels not under command, restricted in their ability to maneuver, engaged in fishing, or are sailboats under sail power only.

Answers 8, 9, 10, 11 8. The boat that has the wind on the port side keeps out of the way of the other. 9. The windward boat. 10. A sailboat is overtaking a powerboat. But the stand on vessel must hold its course. 11. The sailboat is considered power driven and must adhere to rules that are written for power driven vessels.

Answers 12, 13, 14 12. The navigation rules do not mention human powered vessels. But in practice, sailboats try to give way because oar-driven vessels are usually slow and not overly maneuverable! 13. Vessel Being Towed 14. Boat A

Answers 15, 16, 17 15. Vessel BVessel B 16. Vessel B 17. Yacht A

Answers 18 and 19 18. c. No, if in immediate danger 19. Are Nautical Rules the same under all conditions? • c. No, Rules are different under restricted visibility

Answers 20, 21 & 22 20. Which is correct? In a crossing situation, the vessel which has the other on her own starboard side shall… If the circumstances of the case admit, avoid crossing ahead of the other 21. You are approaching another vessel. She is about one mile distant and is on your starboard bow. You believe she will cross ahead of you. She then sounds a whistle signal of five short blasts. You should ...make a large course change, and slow down if necessary 22. A vessel nearing a bend where other vessels may be obscured shall sound ...one prolonged blast

Resources • https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=navRuleChanges • http://www.usboating.com/ • http://safe-skipper.com/nautical-colregs-rules-road-sailing-power-boating/ • https://www.boatingsafetymag.com/boatingsafety/playing-by-rules • http://www.spinnaker-sailing.com/navigation-right-way-quiz

Understanding Boat Navigation Rules and Right of Way