Being in his 50 ’ randomness, Joe has had a driver ’ randomness license for longer than he can remember and a screaky houseclean drive record. Never an accident or a rush ticket for this guy ! All this to say that Joe feels confident as the captain of his newly pontoon boat .
Joe has been driving a car for 30 plus years now and knows merely how easy it is to get behind the wheel and go. He doesn ’ triiodothyronine feel the want to take a boatman ’ south course or explore the option of obtaining a boat license because, again, he ’ s a ace driver .
If you think this all sounds kosher so far, we need to talk .
equitable because Joe can drive a car better than most does not mean he ’ mho disposed to operate his pontoon boat safely. I can not stress this adequate, if you ’ re in the lapp boat as Joe, please take the time to educate yourself on navigation rules and boating safety .
There are tons of navigation rules to know, but these are the most authoritative for safe boat .
hera are the main seafaring rules that you should know before ever stepping foot behind the helm of a boat .
What to do When Meeting Another Boat frontal
When approaching another vessel head-on, you should navigate your course starboard, meaning you will pass each other on the port english. If you ’ ra diffident of what these terms mean, check out the article on boating terms below .
An index of a head-on suffer at night is if you see both slope lights, green and crimson, of the opposing vessel at the lapp clock .
Related reading: Top 20 Boating Terms Every Boater Should Know
Which Boat has the Right of Way When Crossing Paths ?
When two vessels are in a site where they are crossing paths, it ’ randomness critical to know who has the right of manner. The vessel that has the opposing boat coming up on its starboard side is called the give-way vessel. The gravy boat coming in from the starboard side is called the stand-on vessel .
The stand-on vessel has the correct of way, and it is up to the give-way vessel to maneuver in a way that will avoid a collision. You will know this at night if you see the loss port light crossing from proper to left in front of you. In that event, you are the give-way vessel and should maneuver to avoid collision .
If you see the green starboard light crossing from left to right in front of you, you are the stand-on vessel and should continue your course.
What Does it Mean to Overtake Another Boat ?
To overtake another vessel means to approach the stern of the opposing boat and evanesce by on either side, continually moving forth. The boat who is overtaking is the give-way vessel and should maneuver in a way to avoid collision with the stand-on vessel .
If you were to overtake another vessel at night, you would only see the stern fall of the stand-on vessel and not the red and greens navigation lights. It is up to the give-way vessel to safely maneuver around the stand-on vessel. This rule even applies to a vessel that ’ mho under sail .
Do Vessels Under Sail Have the Right of Way ?
Vessels under sail refer to any gravy boat that is operating without the use of a motor. typical boats that operate in this direction are sailboats .
A vessel under sail has the right of way over a gravy boat utilizing a drive. The exception to this is if the vessel under cruise is overtaking a motorboat .
operate in a Narrow Channel
When operating your gravy boat in a specialize channel, you must always give direction to the pass vessel if they have difficulty maneuvering due to size or there ’ randomness a potential they could run aground. This is typically the case for boastfully vessels that have a more unmanageable prison term operating in narrow, shallow spaces .
When entering and exiting little channels such as those found on inland lakes, you should give right away to the gravy boat that is exiting the duct. On the Great Lakes and Western River system, vessels going downriver are stand-on ; vessels going upstream must give room according to Boat U.S. Foundation .
Know how to Navigate
once you know the rules of the body of water, operating a gravy boat is much easier. Knowing how to navigate is a critical step in educating yourself on boaters safety. If every boatman took the prison term to learn this data, we ’ d all be better off on the urine .
That said, always keep in judgment that good because you know how to navigate, doesn ’ metric ton mean the other boater does. Stay argus-eyed and take manage when passing other boats in any situation. even if you ’ re the stand-on gravy boat, it ’ randomness critical to be aware that the give-way gravy boat may not know the guidance they ’ re supposed to go .
A dependable boater is a felicitous boater. That ‘s why I powerfully suggest taking a course and getting your boating license at any historic period. There are a short ton of resources online that can help steer you in the right direction for boaters education .
OTHER HELPFUL ARTICLES :
How to get a Boating license
Pontoon Boat Safety
Read more: Maritime search and rescue – Documentary
