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SportsBoat_F4A14.book Page 17 Monday, May 17, 2021 1:01 PM

Safety information

Rules of the road Give-way vessel
Your Yamaha boat is legally considered a The vessel which does not have the right-of-
powerboat. Operation of the boat must be way has the duty to take positive and timely
in accordance with the rules and regula- action to stay out of the way of the stand-on
tions governing the waterway on which it vessel. Normally, you should not cross in
is used. front of the vessel with the right-of-way. You
Just as there are rules that apply when you should slow down or change directions brief-
are driving on streets and highways, there are ly and pass behind the other vessel. You
waterway rules that apply when you are oper- should always move in such a way that the
ating your boat. These rules are used interna- operator of the other vessel can see what you
tionally, and are also enforced by the United are doing.
States Coast Guard and local agencies. You The General Prudential Rule regarding the
should be aware of these rules, and follow right-of-way is that if a collision appears un-
them whenever you encounter another vessel avoidable, neither boat has the right-of-way.
on the water. Both boats must avoid the collision.
Several sets of rules prevail according to In other words, follow the standard rules ex-
geographic location, but are all basically the cept when a collision will occur unless both
same as the International Rules of the Road. vessels try to avoid each other. If that is the
The rules presented here in this owner’s/op- case, both vessels become give-way ves-
erator’s manual are condensed, and have sels.
been provided for your convenience only. Rules when encountering vessels
There are three main situations that you may
Consult your local U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary
encounter with other vessels which could
or Department of Motor Vehicles for a com-
lead to a collision unless the Steering Rules
plete set of rules governing the waters in
are followed:
which you will be operating your boat.
Meeting: you are approaching another vessel
Steering and sailing rules
Whenever two vessels on the water meet one head-on.
another, one vessel has the right-of-way; it is Crossing: you are traveling across another
called the “stand-on” vessel. The vessel that vessel’s path.
does not have the right-of-way is called the Overtaking: you are passing or being passed
“give-way” or “burdened” vessel. These rules by another vessel.
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
maintain your direction and speed, the other
vessel will be able to determine how best to
avoid you.

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