Boat Right of Way Rules: Who Gives Way

Free guide

Who has the right of way on the water?

There are no stop signs out there. One boat stands on and the other gives way. Here is how to tell which one you are, for powerboats and sailboats, plus the horn signals and night lights that tell you what the other skipper is doing.

Start hereDownload PDF
Three sailboats converging, seen from above, with the stand-on boat circled in green

5 right of way puzzles

Guess first, then tap for the answer. Wind always blows from the top of the picture.

Two powerboats meeting head-on
Two powerboats meet head-on. Who has to turn?
Tap for the answer

Both. Head-on, neither boat is the stand-on boat. Each one turns to starboard (right) and they pass port side to port side, like two cars on a road. If you are not sure whether it is head-on, treat it as head-on. Rule 14. More below

Gear for this step

Air Horn 1.4ozAir Horn 1.4ozA compact handheld air horn for the one short blast that says "passing port to port" in U.S.View productSee current price at betterboat.com
Powerboat A heading up, powerboat B crossing from A's left
Two powerboats cross. B is on A's left and holding course. Who gives way?
Tap for the answer

B gives way, because A is on B's starboard side. A is the stand-on boat and holds its course and speed. But stand-on does not mean stand still. If B is not giving way, A sounds five or more short blasts, and if it gets close, A must act to avoid the collision. A powerboat in that spot should not turn left toward a boat on its left. Rules 15 and 17. More below

Gear for this step

Air Horn 3.5ozAir Horn 3.5ozThe larger handheld air horn canister for the five short blast danger signalView productSee current price at betterboat.com
Faster powerboat A coming up behind powerboat B on B's right side
Fast boat A comes up behind B, on B's right side. Who gives way?
Tap for the answer

A, the boat doing the passing. Overtaking beats the crossing rule, even when you come up on the other boat's right side. You are overtaking when you come up from more than 22.5 degrees behind the other boat's beam. At night, that means you can see its white stern light but neither of its sidelights. Rule 13. More below

Gear for this step

Boat Stern Lights LED Dome DesignBoat Stern Lights LED Dome DesignAn all-round white LED stern and anchor light in fixed, folding and pole versionsView productSee current price at betterboat.com
A large ship in a marked channel with a small powerboat on its right
In a narrow channel, a small boat is on a big ship's right. Who keeps clear?
Tap for the answer

The small boat. A boat under 20 meters (about 65 feet), and any sailboat, must not get in the way of a ship that can only use the channel. That holds even when the small boat is on the ship's right side. Wait outside the channel and cross behind it. Rule 9. More below

Gear for this step

Air Horn RefillsAir Horn RefillsTwo replacement canisters for the 1.4 ounce horn so a spare is aboardView productSee current price at betterboat.com
Three sailboats A, B and C converging with the wind from the top
Wind from the top. Which sailboat is stand-on to both others?
Tap for the answer

C. A has the wind over its port side (port tack), so it keeps clear of both. B and C both have the wind over their starboard side, and B is to windward (upwind), so B keeps clear of C. The rules work one pair of boats at a time. Rule 12. More below

Gear for this step

Air Horn 1.4ozAir Horn 1.4ozA compact handheld air horn small enough for a cockpit bagView productSee current price at betterboat.com

Jump to a topic

This guide is for recreational boaters in U.S. waters. It follows the U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Rules, which are the same in substance for inland and international waters on everything below unless noted. The Great Lakes and Western Rivers add a few extra rules for powerboats on rivers and in narrow channels. Your state's boating rules, the conditions on the day and your own judgment come first.

1. Stand-on or give-way

When two boats could collide, the rules give each one a job. Nobody "has" the right of way. One boat holds its course, the other gets out of the way, and both stay ready to act.

  1. Stand-on holds course and speed. Keep doing exactly what you were doing, so the other skipper can predict you. Rule 17.
  2. Give-way acts early and makes it obvious. Slow down, stop, or turn enough that the other boat can see the change. A small, late turn looks like no turn. Rules 8 and 16.
  3. Stand-on does not mean stand still. If the give-way boat is not doing its job, the stand-on boat may act, and once a collision cannot be avoided by the other boat alone, it must act. Rule 17.
  4. Not sure? Assume the harder job. In doubt whether you are overtaking, assume you are. In doubt whether it is head-on, assume it is. Rules 13 and 14.
Powerboat A gives way to powerboat B crossing from A's right

2. Powerboat rules

These cover two powerboats meeting in open water. A sailboat with its engine running counts as a powerboat, even with the sails up.

  1. Head-on, both turn right. Neither boat stands on. Each turns to starboard and they pass port side to port side. Rule 14.
  2. Crossing, the boat on your right stands on. If the other boat is on your starboard side, you give way. Slow down, or turn right and pass behind it. Try not to cross ahead of it. Rules 15 and 16.
  3. Crossing, the boat on your left gives way. You hold course and speed, watch it, and act if it does not. Avoid turning left toward a boat on your left. Rule 17.
  4. Overtaking, the passing boat keeps clear. On either side, until it is past and clear, even if it comes up on the other boat's right. You are also responsible for your wake. Rule 13.
  5. Narrow channels, keep right and stay out of the way of big ships. Keep to the starboard side of the channel. A boat under 20 meters (about 65 feet) must not get in the way of a vessel that can only use the channel, and nobody should cross a channel ahead of one. Rule 9.

Gear for this step

Air Horn 1.4ozAir Horn 1.4ozA compact handheld air horn small enough for a console or a life jacket pocketView productSee current price at betterboat.com

3. Sailboat rules

Between two boats under sail, the wind decides. Look at which side the wind comes over, or at the boom. The boom swings out on the side away from the wind.

Sailboat A on port tack gives way to sailboat B on starboard tack
  1. Port tack gives way to starboard tack. Wind over your port (left) side, boom out to starboard, means you are on port tack and you keep clear of a boat on starboard tack. Rule 12.
  2. Same tack, the windward boat gives way. When both have the wind on the same side, the boat upwind keeps clear of the boat downwind. Rule 12.
  3. Can't tell the other boat's tack? If you are on port tack and see a boat upwind of you whose tack you cannot make out, keep clear of it. Rule 12.
  4. Windward side means the side opposite the mainsail. That is how the rule settles it when you are running downwind and it is hard to say. Rule 12.
  5. Overtaking still beats tack. A sailboat coming up from behind keeps clear, even on starboard tack, and even when passing a slow powerboat. Rule 13.
  6. Racing is different. Boats racing each other follow the Racing Rules of Sailing, which differ in places, including overtaking. This guide covers everyday boating under the Navigation Rules.
  7. Engine on means powerboat. Under sail alone you are a sailing vessel. Motoring, sails up or down, you follow the powerboat rules.
Two sailboats on starboard tack, the windward boat A gives way

4. Who yields to whom

Outside of overtaking and narrow channels, the less able a boat is to get out of the way, the more the others yield to it. Rule 18.

  1. A powerboat gives way to a boat under sail, a boat engaged in fishing, a vessel restricted in its ability to maneuver (a dredge, or a tug whose tow keeps it from turning), and a vessel not under command (broken down).
  2. A sailboat gives way to a boat engaged in fishing, a vessel restricted in its ability to maneuver, and a vessel not under command.
  3. "Engaged in fishing" means nets, trawls or lines that limit how the boat can move. A boat trolling a couple of lines is not engaged in fishing under the rules.
  4. The exceptions win. The overtaking boat always keeps clear, and in a narrow channel small boats and sailboats stay out of the way of ships that can only use the channel. Rules 9 and 13.
Powerboat A holds back while sailboat B under sail crosses ahead

5. Reading lights at night

At night you see lights, not boats. A red light is on the port side, green on starboard, and a white light at the stern. Each sidelight shows from dead ahead to just behind the beam on its own side. Rule 21.

  1. You see a red sidelight crossing ahead. That boat is on your right, showing you its port side. You are the give-way boat. Red means stop and think.
  2. You see a green sidelight. That boat is on your left and should give way to you. Hold course and speed and keep watching it.
  3. You see red and green together. It is pointed right at you. Treat it as head-on and turn right.
  4. You see only a white light ahead and you are gaining on it. You are probably overtaking, so you keep clear. It could also be a boat at anchor.
  5. A sailboat under sail shows red and green sidelights and a white stern light, with no white masthead light above them. Rule 25.

Gear for this step

Boat Stern Lights LED Dome DesignBoat Stern Lights LED Dome DesignAn all-round white LED stern and anchor light in fixed, folding and pole versionsView productSee current price at betterboat.comBoat Stern Light BaseBoat Stern Light BaseA 2 pin base to replace a corroded stern or anchor light socketView productSee current price at betterboat.com

6. Horn signals

A short blast lasts about one second. A prolonged blast lasts 4 to 6 seconds. Rule 32.

  1. Five or more short, rapid blasts means danger, or "I don't understand what you are doing." Use it the moment you doubt the other boat is giving way. Rule 34.
  2. One prolonged blast when you come up on a blind bend, where boats on the other side cannot see you. Anyone who hears it answers with one prolonged blast. Rule 34.
  3. U.S. inland waters, powerboats in sight within half a mile. One short blast means "I intend to leave you on my port side." Two short blasts means "on my starboard side." Three short blasts means "I am backing (operating astern propulsion)." The other boat answers with the same signal if it agrees, or five short blasts if it does not. Rule 34.
  4. International waters. One short blast means "I am altering course to starboard," two means "to port," three means "operating astern propulsion." Rule 34.
  5. Leaving the dock. In U.S. inland waters a powerboat sounds one prolonged blast when leaving a dock or berth. Rule 34.
  6. Small boats still need a horn. A boat under 12 meters (39.4 feet) does not have to carry a whistle and bell, but it must have some other way to make an efficient sound signal. Check your state's rules for what that means on your boat. Rule 33.

Gear for this step

Air Horn 3.5ozAir Horn 3.5ozThe larger handheld air horn canister for a boat that spends a lot of time on the waterView productSee current price at betterboat.comAir Horn RefillsAir Horn RefillsTwo replacement canisters for the 1.4 ounce hornView productSee current price at betterboat.com

7. Cheat sheet

Screenshot this or print it for the helm.

Situation Who gives way Rule
Two powerboats head-on Both. Turn right, pass port to port 14
Two powerboats crossing The boat with the other on its right. Slow, or turn right and pass behind 15, 16
Any boat passing another The boat doing the passing, until past and clear 13
Narrow channel with a ship Boats under 65 feet and sailboats. Stay out of its way 9
Powerboat and sailboat under sail The powerboat 18
Two sailboats, opposite tacks Port tack (wind over the left side) 12
Two sailboats, same tack The windward (upwind) boat 12
You are the stand-on boat Hold course and speed, but act if the other boat does not 17
Not sure what the other boat is doing Five or more short blasts, and slow down or stop if you need time 34, 8

Gear for this job

Air Horn 1.4ozAir Horn 1.4ozA compact handheld air hornView productSee current price at betterboat.comAir Horn 3.5ozAir Horn 3.5ozThe larger air horn canisterView productSee current price at betterboat.comAir Horn RefillsAir Horn RefillsTwo replacement canisters for the 1.4 ounce hornView productSee current price at betterboat.comBoat Stern Lights LED Dome DesignBoat Stern Lights LED Dome DesignAn all-round white LED stern and anchor lightView productSee current price at betterboat.comBoat Stern Lights LED Lighthouse DesignBoat Stern Lights LED Lighthouse DesignA lighthouse style LED anchor light in fixed, folding and pole versionsView productSee current price at betterboat.comBoat Stern Light BaseBoat Stern Light BaseA 2 pin base for a stern or anchor light poleView productSee current price at betterboat.com

Sources

Summarized from the U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Rules (33 CFR Part 83 for inland waters, and the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea). Rule numbers match in both sets. Read the full text before relying on a summary.

  • U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Center, Navigation Rules and Regulations Handbook (navcen.uscg.gov).
  • 33 CFR Part 83, Inland Navigation Rules, including Rule 8 (action to avoid collision), 9 (narrow channels), 12 (sailing vessels), 13 (overtaking), 14 (head-on), 15 (crossing), 16 (give-way), 17 (stand-on), 18 (responsibilities between vessels), 21 and 25 (lights), 32 to 34 (sound signals).
  • Better Boat guides, including the Boat Tips Guide, Boat Safety Checklist, Docking Guide.