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other vessel is expected to maintain its
course and speed. You must stay out of its
way until you are clear of it. Likewise, if
another vessel is passing you, you should
maintain your speed and direction so that
the other vessel can steer itself around you.
OTHER SPECIAL SITUATIONS
There are three other rules you should be
aware of when driving your boat around
other vessels.
Narrow channels and bends
When navigating in narrow channels, you
should keep to the right when it is safe and
practical to do so. If the operator of a power-
driven vessel is preparing to go around a
bend that may obstruct the view of other
water vessels, the operator should sound a
prolonged blast on the whistle (4 to 6 sec-
onds). If another vessel is around the bend,
it too should sound the whistle. Even if no
reply is heard, however, the vessel should
still proceed around the bend with caution. If
you navigate such waters with your boat,
you will need to carry a portable air horn,
available from local marine supply stores.
Fishing vessel right-of-way
All vessels which are fishing with nets, lines
or trawls are considered to be “fishing ves-
sels” under the International Rules. Vessels
with trolling lines are not considered fishing
vessels. Fishing vessels have the right-of-
way regardless of position. Fishing vessels
cannot, however, impede the passage of
other vessels in narrow channels.
Sailing vessel right-of-way
Sailing vessels should normally be given the
right-of-way. The exceptions to this are:
1. When the sailing vessel is overtaking
the power-driven vessel, the power-
driven vessel has the right-of-way.
2. Sailing vessels should keep clear of any
fishing vessel.
3. In a narrow channel, a sailing vessel
should not hamper the safe passage of
a power-driven vessel which can navi-
gate only in such a channel.
Reading buoys and other markers
The waters of the United states are marked
for safe navigation by the lateral system of
buoyage. Simply put, buoys and markers
have an arrangement of shapes, colors,
numbers and lights to show which side of
the buoy a boater should pass on when nav-
igating in a particular direction. The mark-
ings on these buoys are oriented from the
perspective of being entered from seaward
(the boater is going towards the port). This
means that red buoys are passed on the
starboard (right) side when proceeding from
open water into port, and black buoys are to
port (left) side. When navigating out of port,
your position with respect to the buoys
should be reversed; red buoys should be to
port and black buoys to starboard.
Many bodies of water used by boaters are
entirely within the boundaries of a particular
state. The Uniform State Waterway Marking
System has been devised for these waters.
This system uses buoys and signs with dis-
tinctive shapes and colors to show regula-
tory or advisory information. These markers
are white with black letters and orange
boarders. They signify speed zones,
restricted areas, danger areas, and general
information.
U68T13.book Page 9 Wednesday, August 8, 2001 12:37 PM