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Safety information

EJU30962 Give-way vessel
Rules of the Road The vessel which does not have the right-of-
Your Yamaha watercraft is legally consid- way has the duty to take positive and timely
ered a powerboat. Operation of the water- action to stay out of the way of the stand-on
craft must be in accordance with the rules vessel. Normally, you should not cross in
and regulations governing the waterway front of the vessel with the right-of-way. You
on which it is used. should slow down or change directions brief-
Just as there are rules that apply when you ly and pass behind the other vessel. You
are driving on streets and highways, there are should always move in such a way that the
waterway rules that apply when you are oper- operator of the other vessel can see what you
ating your watercraft. These rules are used are doing.
internationally, and are also enforced by the The General Prudential Rule regarding the
United States Coast Guard and local agen- right-of-way is that if a collision appears un-
cies. You should be aware of these rules, and avoidable, neither boat has the right-of-way.
follow them whenever you encounter another Both boats must avoid the collision.
vessel on the water. In other words, follow the standard rules ex-
Several sets of rules prevail according to cept when a collision will occur unless both
geographic location, but are all basically the vessels try to avoid each other. If that is the
same as the International Rules of the Road. case, both vessels become give-way ves-
The rules presented here in this owner’s/op- sels.
erator’s manual are condensed, and have Rules when encountering vessels
been provided for your convenience only. There are three main situations that you may
Consult your local U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary encounter with other vessels which could
or Department of Motor Vehicles for a com- lead to a collision unless the Steering Rules
plete set of rules governing the waters in are followed:
which you will be operating your watercraft. Meeting: you are approaching another vessel
Steering and sailing rules head-on
Whenever two vessels on the water meet one Crossing: you are traveling across another
another, one vessel has the right-of-way; it is vessel’s path
called the “stand-on” vessel. The vessel that Overtaking: you are passing or being passed
does not have the right-of-way is called the by another vessel
“give-way” or “burdened” vessel. These rules In the following illustration, your watercraft is
determine which vessel has the right-of-way, in the center. You should give the right-of-
and what each vessel should do. way to any vessels shown in the white area
Stand-on vessel (you are the give-way vessel). Any vessels in
The vessel with the right-of-way has the duty
the shaded area must yield to you (they are
to continue its course and speed, except to
the give-way vessels). Both you and the
avoid an immediate collision. When you
maintain your direction and speed, the other
vessel will be able to determine how best to
avoid you.

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