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Around the Reef

Wrong vs. Right (of Way)

By Captain J. Gary “Gator” Hill

Welcome, once again! And thank you for joining us for another episode of Captain Gator’s Not-Ready-for-Primetime Boaters chat! This month we will take a closer look at who has right of way and when this navigational “rule of the road” applies.

To start with, even as cars have certain rules for safe operation, so too do watercraft. Many are straight forward and resemble rules for regular highway driving – for example, when two vessels are approaching one another, both vessels stay to starboard (the right side of the boat when you’re facing the bow), passing port to port and holding a safe distance between one another. This is considered proper passing both in channels and in open bodies of water.

However, we don’t live in a perfect world, and boats (and their helmsmen) sometimes tend to run willy-nilly. If by chance you are making way on what is technically the wrong side and meet another vessel, and it appears safer to pass starboard to starboard, then do so. At a certain point some common sense does come into play. No need to cross in front of each other!

One thing most pleasure boaters fail to practice is proper radio disciplines, but with proper radio usage many problems or questionable intentions could be made simpler. Hailing a vessel if the captain's intentions are unclear, or to announce your own intentions, is perfectly acceptable.

What do you do when you’re traveling and have a boat crossing in front of you? All too often what results is a guess-timation, by which I mean, you hope you’re making the right choice. I’ve witnessed folks simply come to a stop or decrease speed to allow the other vessel to take action. While this may work at times, it isn’t the right way. “Stand on” or “Give way” are terms used to describe which vessel has right of way. As you are going down the water way of life and a boat approaches you from the right with plans to cut across your path of travel, it becomes the “stand on” vessel and you become the “give way” vessel; in other words, they have right of way. (You may also hear or see the term “privileged” being used for the vessel with the right of way.) Conversely, if a vessel is crossing you from the left (you are crossing from his right), then you are the stand on vessel and have right of way. With that being said, ALWAYS watch the other vessel for they may not know the rules.

Now, what to do when a third vessel is thrown into the mix. Easier than you might think. The two vessels that would be passing in a normal port to port passing are stand on, and the crossing vessel gives way.

Again, use common sense and always have your head on a swivel out there, observing everything. If the give way vessel does not give way then take the appropriate action and steer away from potential danger, typically to starboard.

This next one tends to confuse people – overtaking or passing another vessel. Pretty simple once again, when you understand right of way. The lead vessel is the privileged vessel and you are the burdened vessel, meaning they have right of way. The proper way to pass is to angle to your port and pass him on his port side, and to alert him to your intentions. Before the days of radios, whistles and horns were used as communication devices. Two whistles or horn blasts indicates your plan to pass to port. A return of the same indicated the privileged vessel’s compliance. You can also simply

When overtaking a vessel, pass to his port when possible and hail the captain on VHF to let him know your intentions. Photo by Amy Thurman

hail him on the radio and announce your intentions, to which he’ll either tell you that’s acceptable or warn you if there’s some reason you shouldn’t, such as if he’s planning to turn to port himself or there’s an obstruction you can’t yet see. I can’t emphasize how important VHF radio is. Not only having it, but using it.

Also remember that there are sailboats out there, my friends, and at times they get special consideration. If a sailboat is underway using sails, they always have right of way. This is because a boat under sail may not have the quick maneuverability that a boat with a motor may have. If they have no sails up and are motoring, they’re treated as any other power vessel. But also be aware that they may be restricted in their due to the depth of their keel and unable to move into waters that a shallow-draft boat can access. For sailboats meeting other sailboats, the vessel with the wind on their starboard side has right of way.

I personally use what I call "the rule of gross tonnage" which, simply put means any vessel bigger than me has the right of way. But in case of doubt, give any other vessel right of way if you're unsure of their intentions. Just in case the captain doesn't know the rules of the road or isn't paying attention. At the end of the day it comes down to common sense - pay attention, don't assume others know the rules of the road, and take the path that poses the safest route for all involved.

I hope these things have helped to un-muddy the water to some degree. Maybe next time we will deal with lights, buoys and other blinky things.

Until next time, I'll see y'all on the water!

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Lyn McCuen 912.224.0927

lyn@coldwellbanker.com www.lynmccuen.com

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BURNSIDE ISLAND

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