Page 36 - 2017 LAKE ST CLAIR GUIDE

WHO HAS THE
RIGHT OF WAY?

Any change in course
well in advance to let the
oncoming captain know
your intentions is safe

and courteous.

Taking the
online Coast
Guard Auxil-
iary Course is
the best way to
answer these
questions,
however, Chap-
mans’ Piloting,
Seamanship,
& Small Boat
Handling has
100’s of pages of
info. The “basic
purpose of any
nautical rule of
the road is to prevent collisions”. The rules exist so no two
boats should get so close that a risk of collision should ever
materialize.
So, who has the right of way? Not in every circumstance, how-
ever in general, think of a 4-way stop with your car. The per-
son to your right may proceed first. There are a few exceptions
such as for sailboats and for boats fishing, and... you cannot cut
across the North Channel into traffic for example and expect
everyone to stop.... however, under most “open water“ situa-
tions this rule would apply for power boats and waverunners.

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