Right of Way Rules on Water - A Practical Guide for Boaters

Always yield when unsure and slow to a safe speed; stopping may be the safest option, then re-evaluate passage. In water, the right-of-way rules are designed to prevent collisions and keep security for everyone aboard. Keep a familiar following distance and be prepared to alter your course if another boat might not see you.

Know the core rules and stay engaged with other vessels. On lakes and in calm bays, power-driven vessels typically must yield to non-powered craft; at night, keep lights visible and monitor other craft. Being familiar with these obligations reduces risk and keeps everyone’s security on board.

In practical terms, remain aware of common situations: crossing paths with boats from the starboard side, meeting approaching vessels, or passing near dredge operations that may be conducting work along the channel. When you see lights ahead or on the opposite vessel, slow down and prepare to perform a controlled manoeuvre to give way. If you are unsure, reduce speed to a stop rather than taking a risky doing of a dangerous pass.

Keep your boat's security gear ready, to avoid abrupt changes. Always be aware of your environment: other boats might be engaged in fishing, towing, or dredge operations, so adjust your course early. If you are stopping, let others know by reducing speed gradually and using sound signals, then resume doing a controlled manoeuvre only when the path is clear. You have time to verify there are no hazards in the lakes or near boats before proceeding.

Being aware and engaged makes safety a habit. Keep a simple checklist: know the right-of-way, ensure proper lighting for night runs, and be prepared to alter your plan if another craft is used in the area or if visibility drops. Remember, staying predictable with clear manoeuvre and stopping decisions protects everyone on the water and preserves the sense of security for all.

Operator Responsibilities

Always state your intentions early and keep yourself in a predictable position to others.

Speed control matters: slow down most quickly when a potential crossing appears; this increases visibility and gives the other vessel time to respond. Vessels designed for open-water use can be forgiving, but you cant rely on that–be sure to adjust your actions to the moment.

Basics include knowing the regulations, staying familiar with common signals, and recognizing what is deemed safe under prevailing conditions. Your decision should be clear and deliberate, not rushed, to maintain security for everyone onboard.

Yourself and your crew must keep a ready lookout for changes in traffic, wind, or current, and adjust position and speed as needed to keep space. This discipline reduces risk and supports predictable maneuvering.

There is much to learn, and consistent practice keeps you prepared.

Determine stand-on vs give-way roles in head-on, crossing, and overtaking maneuvers

Recommendation: In a head-on encounter, both vessels alter course to starboard and pass on the other’s port side; there is no stand-on role. Maintain a proper lookout and a steady, smooth turn; time, current, and seas shape the maneuver. If drifting occurs, ease the wheel rather than making abrupt corrections. Everyone on deck should know the basics and responsibilities involved, and comply with the requirements for collision avoidance, shown by early, predictable actions.

Crossing maneuvers require timely decisions: the give-way vessel is the one with the other boat on its starboard side. If you are the boat on the other vessel’s starboard, slow or adjust course to pass behind, while the stand-on boat keeps its course and speed unless risk increases. Be familiar with the size and speed differences, and account for current and wind. In canadian waters, apply the same rules across seas and channels, with attention to local traffic patterns and the practical realities of mixed fleets.

Overtaking requires clear separation: the overtaking vessel must keep clear of the vessel being overtaken and may pass on either side, provided it does not cut into the other boat’s path. The vessel being overtaken is the stand-on and should maintain its course and speed until the overtaking vessel cleares the area. Plan for wide wakes and the risk of drifting, and avoid closing the gap too quickly. Time, distance, and the relative size of the towed or motorized craft matter especially when sailboat wake interacts with engines.

Practical steps you can take: before departure, review the basics and responsibilities, and confirm a simple plan for each scenario. Maintain nets on VHF to coordinate with nearby vessels when traffic is heavy, and announce intentions clearly to reduce ambiguity. Use proper speed adjustments and gradual course changes to minimize surprise maneuvers; periods of low visibility demand reduced speed, increased lookouts, and extra margin. In all cases, stay familiar with the rule set, and practice specific responses to head-on, crossing, and overtaking conditions.

Bottom line: the understanding of stand-on versus give-way roles helps everyone react appropriately under varied circumstances, reducing collisions in seas that include motor and sailboat traffic. Apply these requirements consistently, keep a wide berth when needed, and give priority to the vessel with the right-of-way while remaining ready to adjust for current, time, and wind. This approach serves everyone aboard can improve safety across canadian waters and beyond, wherever the seas are wide and conditions change with time and size.

Maintain safe distances and execute predictable evasive actions

Keep a safe distance from crossing vessels and choose predictable evasive actions early.

Apply these steps in meet, crossing, and overtaken situations. Use signals to communicate intentions, be aware of the shapes of approaching craft, and stay within known channels and routes. If you doubt another vessel’s intent, reduce speed and increase separation. When trolling gear is active, give extra space to avoid entanglement. Adhere to international rules and the local requirements that govern the water you’re on, to keep everyone aboard safer.

1. Meet on a collision course: decrease speed, steer to a broad angle that opens space between you and them, and use signals to indicate your intended maneuver. If needed, take a controlled tack to pass aboard with ample margin, ensuring you’re not cutting across their path.
2. Overtaken: maintain your course and speed; allow the overtaking vessel to pass safely. Do not accelerate or turn into their path. If you are operating in a confined channel, adjust gradually to maintain a comfortable gap between both vessels.
3. Crossing situations: identify the other vessel’s path and adjust early. Either alter your course to starboard or reduce speed to create a safe gap; use a wide angle of approach to avoid a tight squeeze and keep your maneuver predictable.
4. Signals and communication: rely on clear day shapes, lights, and sound signals to convey intent. If visibility is limited, hail on an appropriate international channel and confirm mutual understanding before proceeding.
5. Commercial traffic and channels: keep extra space when near lanes used by commercial vessels. Be aware that commercial operators may have limited maneuverability; let them pass aboard when needed and make your own actions easy to anticipate.
6. Awareness and planning: stay aware of paths you’re following and potential meeting points with other vessels. Plan your tack and speed well in advance, so your crew knows what you’re doing and can follow your intentions without doubt.

Communicate intent with signals: sound, lights, and horn blasts

Begin with a concrete sequence: switch on the correct navigation lights for the time and traffic, then give a short horn blast to announce your presence before turning or altering course.

In river and marina traffic, visibility is critical. Use both lights and sound signals to keep others aware of your intentions; daytime signals accompanied by a flag can help smaller vessels spot you sooner, and this approach is more reliable than relying on eye contact alone.

Be proactive in tight situations by communicating early: state your plan for maneuvering so vessels following or approaching can adjust before conflicts arise.

Basics of right-of-way shape how you respond: stand-on vessels maintain their course unless rules indicate otherwise; give-way vessels slow, alter course, or stop as needed to avoid collision; both parties should be avoiding simultaneous maneuvers that create risk.

Lights at night convey status: powered vessels display a white stern light plus red and green sidelights; sailing craft show different configurations; confirm you fit the correct mode to improve visibility and reduce surprises. For crossing situations, a clear horn pattern communicates intent to yield or to pass, and the other vessel should respond with a matching acknowledgment.

Regulations and means: follow the rules that apply where you operate, especially in busy corridors, near a marina, or on a river with heavy traffic; always verify signals with a quick reply if safe. When maneuvering from lines or docks, signals help other vessels plan their approach and stay out of your wake and planned path.

Practical tips: use smaller vessels to practice signals, confirm with the other vessel, and maintain safe distance; most incidents occur when signals are delayed or missed, so make signals a habit before turning or crossing; signals are smoother with practice, stronger with consistency, and critical to the safety of every yacht or powered boat.

Navigate in restricted visibility: reduce speed, use radar and AIS, and maintain lookout

Rule: reduce speed to the minimum safe speed so you can stop within the distance you clearly observe, hear, and respond to signals. Understand that restricted visibility raises risk; especially in current conditions, your engine should run at a steady, controllable pace. Then move the vessel with smooth, deliberate actions rather than abrupt changes in course. Operate the engine in a manner that minimizes wash and keeps control. Reduce speed sooner than you would in clear water to maintain margin.

Activate radar and AIS: set radar range to 2-6 nautical miles depending on traffic density and channel width, and keep a constant watch on echoes ahead and to the sides, including in wide channels. Adjust gain so you see targets without clutter; use AIS to identify vessels, their position, course, and speed, then compare with radar data to confirm movements. In addition, filter out false echoes and look for green markers and green channel signals that mark safe passages. Avoid actions that restrict radar view; keep the screen clean and unblocked.

Maintain a continuous lookout, with one crew member scanning 360 degrees and another monitoring the radar and AIS alerts. This approach helps you detect situations that radar alone might miss, such as a fishing vessel moving between channels or a craft crossing from a restricted lane. Stay aware of the position of every nearby vessel; if a lead ship slows, you must adjust your speed accordingly and be prepared to stop.

Communication and procedures: use VHF to report your position and intentions in restricted visibility, and acknowledge other craft when they respond. This is part of your overall safety plan. Complete your situational picture by combining lookout, radar, and AIS data, and work with a standard operating procedure for every shift. In addition, your notice should mention business channels and the need for extra space in busy western approaches where channels narrow and currents run strong.

In limited visibility, favor cautious maneuvering: stay between marked channels where possible, keep the engine ready to move if a risk appears, and watch for the green light of safety buoys that indicate secure passages. Remember security of the vessel and crew depends on making predictable moves, avoiding aggressive passes, and maintaining a clear position in the traffic pattern.

Approach moored, anchored, or fishing vessels with clear passage and caution

Reduce speed to idle and hold a wide, clear passage past moored, anchored, or fishing vessels in the marina or along the shore.

• Maintain at least 50 m of clearance from unmarked gear, lines, and the hulls of small vessels; travel at a gentle pace to avoid wakes that could drag ropes or tangle gear.
• Approach on a shallow angle from the front quarter, keeping the engine ready for quick adjustments and watching for any gear or nets in the water.
• Stay in the center of the travel lane and avoid crossing behind a vessel; if you are unsure, refer to the captain's command and proceed with caution while keeping a steady rate of travel.
• Use lights appropriately to signal your position; if another vessel's lights are unclear, slow down and avoid closing the distance while you assess the situation.
• Pass with a wide angle and, if necessary, pass ahead of the stern instead of the bow to minimize risk of catching lines or gear; do not approach from the side where a dock or ropes may be rigged.
• Be alert for drifting gear, nets, or lines; changing conditions – wind, current, or traffic – can require you to adjust course through the water and maintain safe distance.
• If you approach a dock or marina, refer to shore references and communicate with the captain or marina staff for confirmation; do not rely on guesswork.
• Keep movements predictable and smooth; doing so helps other operators and crew maintain safety, especially in prevailing conditions where visibility may be limited.
• In difficult or crowded situations, slow further or hold until you have a clear, safe path; you could be sure to avoid any close encounter with vessels at anchor or moored.