Supra COMP 20 - Basic Boating Rules

15 —
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Basic Boating Rules
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you encounter another vessel on the water.
The rules presented in this manual are condensed and have
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tor Vehicles (DMV) for a complete set of rules governing the
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Review and understand all local and state laws.
Any time two vessels on the water meet one another, one
vessel has the right-of-way. It is called the stand-on vessel.
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These rules determine which vessel has the right-of-way, and
accordingly, what each vessel should do.
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
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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
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cross in front of the stand-on vessel. Slow down or change
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always move in such a way that the stand-on operator can
see what you are doing.
This rule is called Rule 2 in the International Rules and
says,
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to all dangers of navigation and collision, and to any special
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Encountering Other Vessels
There are three main situations in which you may encounter
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- Meeting (you are approaching another vessel head-on)
- Crossing (you are traveling across the other
vessel’s path)
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vessel)
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center, you should give right-of-way to all vessels shown in
the white area. In this instance, you are the give-way vessel.
All vessels in the shaded area must yield to you as you are
the stand-on vessel. Both you and the meeting vessel must
alter course to avoid each other.
If you are meeting another power vessel head-on, and you
are close enough to run the risk of collision, neither of you has
the right-of-way. Both of you should alter course to avoid an
accident. You should keep the other vessel on your port (left)
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Section IV
Boating Rules