7 basic rules for people returning to boating

That’s okay, you think you know the basic rules. But as you head out of the marina towards the open water, another boat is approaching and all of a sudden you’re not sure how to pass it.

Yep, over time, you have forgotten the basics needed to head out on the water and have a good, safe day.

Not to worry, though, because here’s the boatsales.com.au refresher on the basic rules for navigating a powerboat on the water.

The right-hand, or starboard side of the boat is where most of the rules apply about avoiding a collision on the water.

A good test for whether or not you have right of way is if you need to look right to see the other boat, you will need to give way. If you have to look left, you will have right of way but must still keep a close watch to avoid a collision just in case the other boat doesn’t see you.

Believe you me, it happens more often than you think. 

If you’re heading up a river or a channel, stick to the right-hand side so that oncoming boats pass on the left. The same goes for two boats approaching each other, both boats must veer right to pass each other.

For boats travelling at right angles to each other, if you have to look right at the other boat then you’re going to have to turn behind the other boat’s stern rather than cross in front of it.

Always show your intent to the other boat early and deliberately, particularly if you’re the boat that is going to have to give way. This can be as simple as a significant change of course that points your bow away from the approaching vessel.

The ultimate aim is to avoid a collision at all costs, so if you need to break the rules to prevent one, then do so if it’s the only way out of the situation.

When leaving shore, always keep the red buoys to your left and the green ones to the right – so as the saying goes there’s “no more red port left” as you’re heading out.

Reverse that on the way in, keeping the green buoys to the right and the red ones to the left.

If you’re travelling over ground cut with deep channels, bear in mind that channels rarely make a dramatic change in direction. 

So instead of pointing the nose of the boat directly at the next mark as soon as you round a buoy, map out a long, gentle arc that doesn’t cut corners over the shallows.

There’s nothing like heading out on the water for a few hours and finding yourself stuck out there for most of the day.

Even if you’re planning a short trip, ensure there is enough food and water to keep everyone happy.

If you run aground at high tide and have to wait for the next one before you can float off again, the experience will be all the better for a bit of grub in your stomach.

Whenever anything goes wrong, ensure everyone onboard is wearing a lifejacket and knows how to use it.

These are not mandated rules, but they are something that’s always good to keep in the back of your mind. 

One of the rules of lifejacket use is that everyone on the boat needs to wear one whenever there is a heightened risk out on the water.

Usually this can mean when boaters are experiencing everything from high winds to big seas or bar crossings, night, heavy rain, fog and so on.

However, if you’re reading this story primarily as a refresher because you’re not clear on the road rules of the water, doesn’t that represent a heightened risk?

Make sure everyone dons a lifejacket while you build confidence with your boating abilities – and not before.

Children on boats must wear lifejackets. If you choose not to wear one, there must be at least a suitably sized lifejacket for everyone on board – you’re not going to squeeze an adult into a child’s jacket.

The idea of keeping a proper lookout runs much deeper than just avoiding other boats as you drive along. You will also need to have situational awareness.

By this, it means you will need to do more than just look at other boats on the water. Is an anchored boat you’re about to pass showing a dive flag? There’s one jet ski pulled up in the water ahead, but are there any more lost in the swell?

Are there swimmers in the water at the beach where you want to nose in the boat? 

Slow right down to walking speed and make an assessment if you need to before picking up the throttle again.

Always keep plenty of open water between you and a boat on the water that’s not moving. 

Most times it will be a courtesy thing; blasting at high speed through a group of boats clustered around a popular fishing hotspot will not win you any friends back at the boat ramp.

Steer well clear of sailboats under sail, too, as they can change course suddenly and unexpectedly, and because they’re wind-powered they always will have right of way.

There is nothing worse than loading your boat on the trailer at the end of the day and some rooster comes flying back into the boat ramp at warp speed, kicking up a huge wake that washes over your boat just as you’re lining up for the trailer catch.

The lower speed limits, usually capped at a fast walking pace or sometimes specifying that you can’t show a wake, apply close to shore, around marinas and typically in narrower waterways.

Always ensure you know what is an appropriate speed for the water you’re navigating. A good test for how fast you should be travelling in an area is how fast other boats around you are moving. If you’re the fastest, there’s something wrong.

No one was ever pinged for going too slowly on the water.