Power gives way to sail unless the sailing vessel is overtaking.

Power boat give way rules. Ad Hall of Fame boat dealer with a full line of Cobalt Boats offering salesservice storage. Passing and Navigation Rules for All Vessel Types. The action you take depends on what you and the other vessel are doing.

Power-driven vessels must keep out of the way of any vessel that is not under command Non-powered craft including sailboats canoes paddleboats sailboards and racing shells generally have the right-of-way over power-driven pleasure craft All motorized boats and sailboats under 20 m in length must steer clear of larger less maneuverable vessels. Powerboat versus powerboat head-on. The most basic boating right of way event occurs when two powerboats are approaching head-to-head.

Once this is established the rules are then broken down by size. General give way rule Keep to starboard. The different sizes to consider are boats shorter than 394 feet boats sized between 394 and 656 feet and boats greater than 656 feet.

When a sailing vessel is overtaking a power vessel this is the only time the sailing vessel will have to give way. Learn the basic rules of the road and learn what to do when you meet other boats out on the water waysFor more boating safety awareness tips and to learn ho. Alternatively if you are a Sailboat under sail and the other boat is a power boat then you are the stand-on boat.

Sailing vessels should avoid sailing in a narrow channel. Both sailing vessels and power vessels must keep clear of any vessel they are overtaking. These sets of rules are broken down based on whether the boat is a sailboat or a powered boat.

There are however a few exceptions. If you are a power boat and the other boat is a sailboat under sail you must give way. Each should steer to their starboard right side meaning that the boats safely pass each other port to port.