Wait a minute, don't wind/human powered watercraft have the legal right-of-way?

-Blast, who learned long ago the difference between "de jure" and "de facto"

Kayak? What kayak?

Don't worry so much Blast. I spent five years on tugs in NY harbor, and I never knew of one tug captain that used a kayak as a speedbump. However, that might not stop a tug captain from calling a kayak a speed bump.

As far as right of way, the Rules of the Road would normally require a motor vessel to yield to one without a motor. The practicalities are that sometimes it's simply not possible to do anything to do so.

I will admit that I might have sunk a rowing shell once. I was light boat, heading somewhere fast, and when I came through a bridge, there was a rowing shell on the other side, about 1/3 mile away. I was gone by the time my wake reached them, but I bet they swore at me.

De facto. The ancient maritime tradition. . . "Rights of Tonnage."

The Gross Tonnage Rule also has a less well-known portion, "The Relative Hull Strength Collary."

Per the Rules of the Road (1972 COLREGS)

Sailboats do NOT have the right of way, automatically, whether under power (they are at the bottom of heirarchy), under sail they do not have the right of way automatically although they are much closer to the top of the heirarchy (under vessel constrained by draft & vessel restricted in ability to manuever), or under power AND sail, they do not automatically have the right of way (they are at the bottom of heirarchy).

Sailing vessels have the right, when meeting or crossing another vessel to remain upwind of the other vessel so as to prevent the other vessel from "stealing" the sailing vessel's "wind".

In all cases, the overtaking vessel is the burdened vessel and must stay clear of the vessel being overtaken, at all times. The vessel being overtaken is required to maintain it's course and speed until the overtaking vessel is past and clear.

Sailing vessels are required to obey the steering rules as well as the sailing rules at all times!

By the way, I want to find those suckers (salesmen???) who keep telling sailboat owners that they have the Right of Way because they are a sailing vessel......

wildman800, sounds like you pulled out your Farnsworth. You're certainly more current on your knowledge of the Rules than I am.

One rule I advise for all boaters, stay the heck out of the way of commercial traffic. Don't even get near it. You'll both be more comfortable.

Yep, that's pretty much my rule. Anything that can kill me goes first.

Which is why I hold the door for my wife.

-Blast

+1 as usual, Blast!

well put advice to boaters-Dan

well put advice to all of us menfolk-Blast