Boating collision regulations. an important part of being a smart boater is realizing your right-of-way when you’re out on the water. the collision regulations govern the rules that prevent collisions on oceans and inland waterways.these rules apply to all vessels and to all waters in canada.. Right of way rules. whenever two boats try to occupy the same water at the same time, a right of way situation exists. when this happens, one boat is obligated to give way to the other.. The rules of the road in navigation are often similar to the rules on land. the collision regulations contain many rules pertaining to navigation; however, four rules are basic to navigation. a boat that is overtaking another must steer clear of the overtaken vessel's path. a vessel approaching from the port side must give way..
If the boats are on the same tack, the leeward (downwind) boat is the stand-on vessel, and the windward boat must give way. in sailboat races, there are additional rules about the start line, rounding marks, and so on, but the basic rules above apply when boats meet in open water.. You need to stay out of its way,” says fogarty, who suggests staying to the right of the boat you are overtaking, if possible. rule 14, head-on: “each vessel is supposed to turn to starboard and leave the other boat on its port side,” says fogarty..
