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Official online boating safety course for Wisconsin Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

Boating Basics: On the Water

Safe navigation on Wisconsin waterways is everyone’s responsibility. All operators are equally responsible for taking action necessary to avoid collisions.

Navigation Rules

There are two terms that help explain these rules.

  • 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)

Both vessels giving way to the right
Power vs. Sail:
The powerboat is the give-way vessel. The sailboat is the stand-on vessel.

Powerboat giving way to (going right of) the sailboat
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.
Powerboat on the port (left) gives way to the vessel on the starboard (right)
Power vs. Sail:
The powerboat is the give-way vessel. The sailboat is the stand-on vessel.


Powerboat gives way to the sailboat
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.

Powerboat giving way while overtaking another 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.

Sailboat giving way while overtaking powerboat

Note: Powered vessels and sailing vessels should give way to unpowered vessels.

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The Handbook of Wisconsin Boating Laws and Responsibilities
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Online boating safety handbook last modified: April 22, 2008
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