Yamaha XF375 Owner's Manual page 8

Safety information
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Boating organizations
The following organizations provide boating safety training
and information about boating safety and laws.
In the U.S.A.
United States Coast Guard
Consumer Affairs Staff (G-BC)
Office of Boating, Public, and Consumer Affairs
U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters
Washington, D.C. 20593-0001
http://www.uscgboating.org/
United States Power Squadrons
1-888-FOR-USPS (1-888-367-8777)
http://www.usps.org/
Boat Owners Association of The United States
1-800-336-BOAT (1-800-336-2628)
http://www.boatus.com/
National Association of State Boating Law Administra-
tors (NASBLA)
1500 Leestown Road, Suite 330
Lexington, KY 40511 859-225-9497
http://www.nasbla.org/
National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA)
200 East Randolph Drive
Suite 5100
Chicago, IL 60601
http://www.nmma.org/
Marine Retailers Association of America
155 N. Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL 60304
http://www.mraa.com/
In Canada
National Marine Manufacturers Association Canada
14 McEwan Drive
Suite 8
Bolton, ON
L7E 1H1
http://www.nmma.org/
In Australia
Boating Industry Association of Australia
http://www.biaa.com.au/
In New Zealand
NZ Marine Industry Association
http://www.nzmarine.com/
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Basic boating rules (Rules of the road)
Just as there are rules that apply when you are driving on
streets and highways, there are waterway rules that apply
when you are driving your boat. These rules are used inter-
nationally. (For U.S.A.: and are also enforced by the United
States Coast Guard and local agencies.) You should be
aware of these rules, and follow them whenever you encoun-
ter another vessel on the water.
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Steering and sailing rules and sound signals
Whenever two vessels on the water meet one another, one
vessel has the right-of-way; it is called the "stand-on" ves-
sel. The vessel that does not have the right-of-way is called
the "give-way" or "burdened" vessel. These rules determine
which vessel has the right-of-way, and what each vessel
should do.
Stand-on vessel
The vessel with the right-of-way has the duty to continue its
course and speed, except to avoid an immediate collision.
When you maintain your direction and speed, the other ves-
sel will be able to determine how best to avoid you.
Give-way vessel
The vessel that does not have the right-of-way has the duty
to take positive and timely action to stay out of the way of the
Stand-On vessel. Normally, you should not cross in front of
the vessel with the right-of-way. You should slow down or
change directions briefly and pass behind the other vessel.
You should always move in such a way that the operator of
the other vessel can see what you are doing.
"The general prudential rule"
This rule is called Rule 2 in the International Rules and says,
"In obeying and construing these rules due regard shall be
had to all dangers of navigation and collision, and to any
special circumstances, which may render a departure from
the above rules necessary in order to avoid immediate dan-
ger."
In other words, follow the standard rules except when a col-
lision will occur unless both vessels try to avoid each other.
If that is the case, both vessels become "Give-Way" vessels.
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Rules when encountering vessels
There are three main situations that you may encounter with
other vessels which could lead to a collision unless the
Steering Rules are followed:
Meeting: (you are approaching another vessel head-on)
Crossing: (you are traveling across the other vessel's path)
Overtaking: (you are passing or being passed by another
vessel)
In the following illustration, your boat is in the center. You
should give the right-of-way to any vessels shown in white
area (you are the Give-Way vessel). Any vessels in the shad-
ed area must yield to you (they are the Give-Way vessels).
Both you and the meeting vessel must alter course to avoid
each other.