Boating Basics: On the Water

Navigation Rules

Delaware law requires that operators obey the rules of the road. There are two terms that help explain the rules of the road:

• Stand-on vessel: The vessel that should maintain its course and speed
• Give-way vessel: The vessel that must take early and substantial action to avoid collision by stopping, slowing down, or changing course.

Rules: Powerboat vs. Powerboat	Rules: Powerboat vs. Sailboat
MEETING HEAD-ON Power vs. Power: Neither vessel is the stand-on vessel. Both vessels should keep to the starboard (right).	MEETING HEAD-ON Power vs. Sail: The powerboat is the give-way vessel. The sailboat is the stand-on vessel.
CROSSING SITUATIONS Power vs. Power: The vessel on the operator's port (left) side is the give-way vessel. The vessel on the operator's starboard (right) side is the stand-on vessel.	CROSSING SITUATIONS Power vs. Sail: The powerboat is the give-way vessel. The sailboat is the stand-on vessel.
OVERTAKING Power vs. Power: The vessel that is overtaking another vessel is the give-way vessel. The vessel being overtaken is the stand-on vessel.
OVERTAKING Power vs. Sail: The vessel that is overtaking another vessel is the give-way vessel. The vessel being overtaken is the stand-on vessel.