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crossing the river. The illustration depicts a situation in which you are
the boat in the center and you are the privileged vessel. You must
hold course and speed. All vessels approaching your vessel from the
directions depicted by the red vessels must yield to your boat.
Conversely, the illustration depicts a situation in which you
are the boat in the center and you are the burdened vessel. You
must give right-of-way to all vessels coming towards you from the
directions shown in green.
Meeting Head-On
When meeting head-on, neither vessel has the right of way. Both
boats should decrease speed, turn towards their right (starboard
side) and pass on their left sides (port-to-port). However, if both
boats are clearly on each other's right (starboard) side then, each
vessel should sound two short blasts and pass on their right sides
(starboard-to-starboard).
Overtaking
The boat that is overtaking one ahead of it is the burdened boat
and must make any adjustments necessary to keep out of the way of
the privileged boat, until the burdened boat is well ahead and clear of
the vessel being overtaken.
The General Prudential Rule
The General Prudential Rule regarding right of way, is that if
a collision appears unavoidable, neither boat has right of way. As
prescribed in the Rules of the Road, both boats must act to avoid
collision.
Rule 2 in the International Rules says, "In construing and
2019 Malibu Boats, LLC Owner's Manual • Page 24
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complying with these Rules due regard shall be had to
all dangers of navigation and collision and to any special
circumstances, including the limitations of the vessels involved,
which may make a departure from these Rules necessary to
avoid immediate danger."
Other Rules of the Road
When navigating in narrow channels, you should keep to the
right when it is safe and practical to do so. If the operator of a power-
driven vessel is preparing to go around a bend that may obstruct the
view of other water vessels, the operator should sound a prolonged
blast on the whistle or horn—four to six seconds.
If another vessel is around the bend, it too should sound the
whistle or horn. Even if no reply is heard, however, the vessel should
still proceed around the bend with caution.
If you navigate these type of waters, you should carry a portable
air horn, which are available from local marine supply stores.
Aids to Navigation
Learn to recognize the
different buoys and day
markers; they are the signposts
of the waterways. The United
States Aids to Navigation
System (USATONS) is the
primary marking system used
on inland water, coastal waters
and rivers in the United States.
This system is maintained by
the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG).
There are two primary
marking systems in use in the U.S.: the Uniform State Waterway
Marking System (USWMS), used on inland waters and maintained
by each state, and the Federal Waterway Marking System (FWMS),
used on coastal waters and rivers and maintained by the USCG. In
addition, the FWMS has two modified systems: the Western River
Buoyage, and the Intracoastal Waterway Buoyage. Be sure to check
with local authorities on the buoyage system in use in your boating
region.
The type of hazard/warning buoys and markers depends on the
area of jurisdiction. Check with local boating authorities.
USWMS System
In the USWMS Lateral System, well-defined channels are
marked with red and black buoys, and the boat should pass between
them.
The USWMS Cardinal System is used when there is no well-
Spherical Safe Water Marker
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