Boating Basics: On the Water

Safe navigation on Wisconsin waterways is everyone’s responsibility. All operators are equally responsible for taking action as 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

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.

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