Boating Basics: On the Water

Safe navigation on Washington waterways is the responsibility of everyone. All operators are equally responsible for taking action necessary to avoid collisions.

Encountering Other Vessels

Even though no vessel will always have the “right-of-way” over another vessel, there are some rules that every operator should follow when encountering other vessels. It is the responsibility of both operators to take the action needed to avoid a collision. If you turn in order to avoid a vessel, make the turn large enough to be clearly noticed by the other vessel.The navigation page shows what to do when you encounter another vessel.

Encountering Vessels With Limited Maneuverability

If operating a power-driven vessel, you must give way to:

• Any vessel not under command, such as an anchored or disabled vessel
• Any vessel restricted in its ability to maneuver, such as a vessel towing or laying cable, or a vessel constrained by its draft, such as a large ship in a channel
• A vessel engaged in commercial fishing
• A sailboat under sail unless it is overtaking

If operating a vessel under sail, you must give way to:

• Any vessel not under command
• Any vessel restricted in its ability to maneuver
• A vessel engaged in commercial fishing