Stand on Boat Question

[Coastal Laker]

This link is one of my favorite for explaining right of way to people (note that the NH rule book makes mention of "right of way" though there is truly no such thing when each boat has a duty):
http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/mwv/navrules/Arcs.htm

If a boat is approaching you in your "green" zone, then you are the give way vessel because the other boat has the green light to go (and therefore it must maintain course and speed).

Likewise, if a boat is in your "red" zone, it has the red light and must give way to you. You are then the stand-on boat and must maintain course and speed.

If a boat is approaching you from the remaining arc (encompasing the stern light in the diagram), then you are being overtaken. In an overtaking situation, the boat being passed must maintain course and speed (stand-on); the boat doing the overtaking must give way.

Hope that helps.

[JayDV]

I learned to do what the oncoming boat's light told me. If I saw the green light, that meant I GO. If a red light, well, then STOP. If both red and green, then I was being approached head-on so slow down and proceed with caution. I would try to pass starboard to starboard to starboard. This would give both helmsmen the GREEN light. I found it confusing to try to figure out if the oncoming craft was in MY green zone that means slow down because they have right of way, etc.

Is this over simplified? And potentially a dangerous assumption?

[Kamper]

Originally Posted by JayDV

... I would try to pass starboard to starboard to starboard. This would give both helmsmen the GREEN light. ...

The standard for passing on-coming traffic is Port-to-Port. Green-to-Green means neither vessell has primary responsibility for avoiding and accident. Red-to-Red means they are both responsible.

I know it's actually just semantics but that's the mnemonic that I was taught. Additionaly, when you are in a channel you are expected to stay to the right. Your action would require crossing a channel and possibly going too far to the edge for your own safety.

Of course, in open waters nobody should force a meneuver to pass to either side if there is ample clearance to avoid an accident no matter what their relative headings. After all, R-O-R only really applies between vessels only when the possibility of a collision exists or may arise.

Good luck!

[SIKSUKR]

I'm with Kamper on passing port to port.If it was the opposite,then everyone is on the wrong side in the Weirs channel.

[JayDV]

I forgot about the channel logic. I always passed port to port in a channel, but also at headway speeds so not a big problem. But I'll keep the red to red in open waters and be responsible. Thanks

[Irrigation Guy]

Originally Posted by JayDV

I learned to do what the oncoming boat's light told me. If I saw the green light, that meant I GO. If a red light, well, then STOP. If both red and green, then I was being approached head-on so slow down and proceed with caution. I would try to pass starboard to starboard to starboard. This would give both helmsmen the GREEN light. I found it confusing to try to figure out if the oncoming craft was in MY green zone that means slow down because they have right of way, etc.

Is this over simplified? And potentially a dangerous assumption?

I Agree except its Port to Port when approaching head-on.

Originally Posted by SIKSUKR

I'm with Kamper on passing port to port.If it was the opposite,then everyone is on the wrong side in the Weirs channel.

Me Too.

Originally Posted by Kamper

That's a lot like saying a driver coming to a green light should stop and let the other car go through the intersection because theymight have been planning on jumping the light.

Safety on the water is enhanced when eveybody uses the same rules. The skipper you wave past on your boat may be happy with you but the one behind you may have been planning their next move on your correct response as the stand-on vessel. Unexpectedly backing down could lead to confusion among the other boaters around you and someone else could be in jeopardy.

You should learn the Rules and get your Safety Certficate if you have not already done so. Always try to be alert for those who arent following the Rules but dont assume that everybody else is going to be ignorant.

Good luck!

Good advice, as Stand-on is a rule too, and doing something else would make you at least partially liable in the case of a collision.