Boating Basics: On the Water
Navigation Rules

There are two terms that help explain these rules.

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

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).	MEETING HEAD-ON 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.	CROSSING SITUATIONS 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.
OVERTAKING Power vs. Sail: The vessel that is overtaking another vessel is the give-way vessel. The vessel being overtaken is the stand-on vessel.

One way to remember who has the right-of-way in a crossing situation is to think about your vessel's danger zone. This zone covers the area from straight ahead of your vessel to the point that is 22.5 degrees beyond the middle of the vessel on the starboard (right) side (the same area covered by your green sidelight). A vessel in your danger zone is the stand-on vessel.