Boating Basics: On the Water

Navigation Rules

Delaware law requires that operators obey the rules of the road. There are two terms that help explain the rules of the road:

• Stand-on vessel: The vessel that should maintain its course and speed
• Give-way vessel: The vessel that must take early and substantial action to avoid collision by stopping, slowing down, or changing course.

Types of Boating Situations	Rules: Powerboat vs. Powerboat	Rules: Powerboat vs. Sailboat
Meeting Head-On	Power vs. Power: Neither vessel is the stand-on vessel. Both vessels should keep to the starboard (right)	Power vs. Sail: The powerboat is the give-way vessel. The sailboat is the stand-on vessel.
Crossing Situations	Power vs. Power: The vessel on the operator's port (left) side is the give-way vessel. The vessel on the operator's starboard (right) side is the stand-on vessel.	Power vs. Sail: The powerboat is the give-way vessel. The sailboat is the stand-on vessel.
Overtaking	Power vs. Power: The vessel that is overtaking another vessel is the give-way vessel. The vessel being overtaken is the stand-on vessel.	Power vs. Sail: The vessel that is overtaking another vessel is the give-way vessel. The vessel being overtaken is the stand-on vessel.