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Safety information
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Contact the U.S. Coast Guard, the National
Association of State Boating Law Administra-
tors, or your local Power Squadron for a com-
plete set of rules governing the waters in
which you will be using your boat.
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Boating organizations
The following organizations provide boating
safety training and information about boating
safety and laws.
United States Coast Guard
Consumer Affairs Staff (G-BC)
Office of Boating, Public, and Consumer Af-
fairs
U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters
Washington, D.C. 20593-0001
Boating Safety Hotline: 1-800-368-5647
www.uscgboating.org
United States Power Squadrons
1-888-FOR-USPS (1-888-367-8777)
www.usps.org
Boat Owners Association of The United
States
1-800-336-BOAT (1-800-336-2628)
www.boatus.com
National Association of State Boating Law
Administrators (NASBLA)
1500 Leestown Road, Suite 330
Lexington, KY 40511 859-225-9497
www.nasbla.org
National Marine Manufacturers Associa-
tion (NMMA)
200 East Randolph Drive
Suite 5100
Chicago, IL 60601
www.nmma.org
Marine Retailers Association of America
155 N. Michigan Ave. Chicago,
IL 60304
www.mraa.com
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Basic boating rules (Rules of
the road)
Just as there are rules that apply when you
are driving on streets and highways, there are
waterway rules that apply when you are driv-
ing your boat. These rules are used interna-
tionally. (For USA: and are also enforced by
the United States Coast Guard and local
agencies.) You should be aware of these
rules, and follow them whenever you encoun-
ter another vessel on the water.
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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 that
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 main-
tain your direction and speed, the other vessel
will be able to determine how best to avoid
you.
Give-way vessel
The vessel that 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
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