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4
cies. You should be aware of these rules,
and follow them whenever you encounter
another vessel on the water.
Several sets of rules prevail according to
geographic location, but are all basically the
same as the International Rules of the Road.
The rules presented here in your Owner’s
Manual are condensed, and have been pro-
vided for your convenience only. Consult
your local U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary or De-
partment of Motor Vehicles for a complete
set of rules governing the waters in which
you will be using your boat.
EMU25510
Steering and sailing rules and sound
signals
Whenever two vessels on the water meet
one another, one vessel has the right-of-
way; it is called the “stand-on” vessel. The
vessel which does not have the right-of-way
is called the “give-way” or “burdened” vessel.
These rules determine which vessel has the
right-of-way, and what each vessel should
do.
Stand-on vessel
The vessel with the right-of-way has the duty
to continue its course and speed, except to
avoid an immediate collision. When you
maintain your direction and speed, the other
vessel will be able to determine how best to
avoid you.
Give-way vessel
The vessel which does not have the right-of-
way has the duty to take positive and timely
action to stay out of the way of the Stand-On
vessel. Normally, you should not cross in
front of the vessel with the right-of-way. You
should slow down or change directions brief-
ly and pass behind the other vessel. You
should always move in such a way that the
operator of the other vessel can see what
you are doing.
“The general prudential rule”
This rule is called Rule 2 in the International
Rules and says,
“In obeying and construing these rules due
regard shall be had to all dangers of naviga-
tion and collision, and to any special circum-
stances, which may render a departure from
the above rules necessary in order to avoid
immediate danger.”
In other words, follow the standard rules ex-
cept when a collision will occur unless both
vessels try to avoid each other. If that is the
case, both vessels become “Give-Way” ves-
sels.
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Rules when encountering vessels
There are three main situations which you
may encounter with other vessels which
could lead to a collision unless the Steering
Rules are followed:
Meeting:
(you are approaching another ves-
sel head-on)
Crossing:
(you are traveling across the oth-
er vessel’s path)
Overtaking:
(you are passing or being
passed by another vessel)
In the following illustration, your boat is in the
center. You should give the right-of-way to
any vessels shown in white area (you are the
Give-Way vessel). Any vessels in the shad-
ed area must yield to you (they are the Give-
Way vessels). Both you and the meeting
vessel must alter course to avoid each other.