Right of Way

mquiet

mquiet

Well-Known Member
Aug 4, 2009
1,500
North carolina
Boat Info
1999 480 Sedan Bridge
Engines
Caterpillar 3196
Here is a question: In a marina, who has the right of way? I have a 480 Sedan Bridge...I was pulling out of my slip and proceeded to spin my boat 180 degrees and was backing down so I could do a starboard side docking against our fuel dock. As I was spinning, a 20ft CC came from their slip and wanted to pass me to exit our marina. The CC was trying to get between me and the dock (why I'm not sure). My first thought was 3 blasts to indicate I was backing down, the second was to ask him to stand down (which I did). Once up against the dock, my harbor master told me that the smaller vessel had the right of way as they were exiting the marina. Is this true? I wanted some guidance.

Thanks.
 
I am not sure that is true. I think inside the marina, the vessel that is the most restricted in maneuverability is the stand on vessel. A vessel leaving the marina has the right of way over vessels entering the marina. If someone has a different interpretation I would be interested in seeing the actual rule.
 
My understanding that the larger boat that sees all clear to leave the dock after signaling has the right of way in the confines of a marina. All smaller traffic must yield.
 
In tight quarters the vessel with limited mobility is the stand on vessel. This would be the same in a narrow channel with a vessel with deep draft. Also, if the other vessel is overtaking you are still the stand on vessel.

Maybe your dock master thought they had the right of way because you were in reverse?
 
When all else fails use the law of tonnage!!! All kidding aside, both vessels are responsible to avoid a collision situation.
 
Agree both vessels are responsible, but my question is what is the exact rule. When I read the USCG rules there is nothing about operations within a marina, just a narrow channel. If anyone knows where to look I would love to know.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I am usually the smaller vessel, it is so easy to give way I find it rude and ignorant not to, especially to a 480 at reversing to a fuel dock. Its just common sense.
 
In a likewise situation rolls reversed would you yield to a smaller boat .Seems to me you were already manuvering when he came up on you making you stand on vessel,did he come from your bow or stern? perhaps the harbor master was thinking the same rules apply as in open water passing.If i see a potential for an accident i stay out of the way if possible.
 
I don't know the exact rule, not sure if there is one for inside a marina - kind of like a parking lot- however, if it had been me I would have stopped an let you get settled at the gas dock. To me this is the same as trying to pass by someone in a fairway while they are in the middle of backing into their slip. You really shouldn't need a rule to act with common sense (big boat, in a docking situation vs small boat trying to exit marina - small boat stop/wait). When I had my bigger boat (290DA) I found that small boats tended to give me right of way, now that I have a small boat (185BR) I find that larger boats expect me to get out of their way - regardless of who has the right of way. On the lake, more often than not I just give way, if you don't you usually get the social finger or the stink eye, plus in the end right of way doesn't fix broken fiberglass. When I had the 290 in a larger marina on the same lake, people just negotiated movement around the marina in a courteous way, although there was the occasional bonehead move.
 
It seems to me that if a boat is already in the middle of a maneuver that would over ride any rule.What are you going to do stop moving so you are not in the way of some one else that came upon you ? We all know that if you do that more then likely you will get out of shape. Common sense,Courtesy, and staying Calm. some people do not posses these three important things when on the water. Not in this case here but any boat that is going to do a maneuver that will block the flow of traffic should wait until other boats have passed if it is a busy marina the Harbor Master should get involved and direct traffic not try to hide behind rules for the open water
 
Last edited:
BillK2632 said:
I don't know the exact rule, not sure if there is one for inside a marina - kind of like a parking lot- however, if it had been me I would have stopped an let you get settled at the gas dock. To me this is the same as trying to pass by someone in a fairway while they are in the middle of backing into their slip. You really shouldn't need a rule to act with common sense (big boat, in a docking situation vs small boat trying to exit marina - small boat stop/wait). When I had my bigger boat (290DA) I found that small boats tended to give me right of way, now that I have a small boat (185BR) I find that larger boats expect me to get out of their way - regardless of who has the right of way. On the lake, more often than not I just give way, if you don't you usually get the social finger or the stink eye, plus in the end right of way doesn't fix broken fiberglass. When I had the 290 in a larger marina on the same lake, people just negotiated movement around the marina in a courteous way, although there was the occasional bonehead move.
Click to expand...

At my marina there would be no way for another boat to pass me while I back into my slip. Our fairways are TIGHT and I have about 10' of clearance between my anchor and the boat across from me when I pull my bow around to back into the slip. For the most part I've never had an issue with anyone in my marina trying to pass.

With that said I find smaller boats coming into our fuel dock rarely know the rules of the road. Our fuel dock is at the entrance to our marina. Most boats wait just outside if the fuel dock is full. However, we see a lot of smaller boats will linger in the water around the dock and it makes it very difficult for larger vessels to get out. They also don't seem to understand we don't maneuver the same way they do.

A few weeks ago I was coming out of my fairway and heading for the fuel dock, bow first, not backing in. A smaller boat decided to cut between me and the dock so they could get in quicker. I've gotten used to this type of behavior. Fuel dock worker was already line in hand waiting to tie me off when the other boat cut in front of me.
 
[FONT=&quot]NO one’s rules address “right of way” regarding entering or exiting a marina – that’s pure BS. Nowhere in the International Rules is the phrase “right of way” even used whatsoever … that Harbormaster needs some schooling.[/FONT]
 
The Bill Collector said:
[FONT=&amp]NO one’s rules address “right of way” regarding entering or exiting a marina – that’s pure BS. Nowhere in the International Rules is the phrase “right of way” even used whatsoever … that Harbormaster needs some schooling.[/FONT]
Click to expand...

+1 IMO, Stand-on and Give-way are about more than semantics - these terms help re-iterate the fact that we're always obligated to to take action to avoid a collision. They simply outline who takes action FIRST.
 
I see three factors at play:

1. Stand-on as defined by the regulations
2. Regulation requirement that we take action avoid a collision
3. Whether or not the operator of the smaller boat knows and understands the regulations

I think the OP took appropriate steps warning the smaller boater. With a larger boat in the middle of a turn, susceptible to wind and current in a closely confined space, communicating with the other vessel was appropriate.


Mark
 
WDCboater said:
A few weeks ago I was coming out of my fairway and heading for the fuel dock, bow first, not backing in. A smaller boat decided to cut between me and the dock so they could get in quicker. I've gotten used to this type of behavior. Fuel dock worker was already line in hand waiting to tie me off when the other boat cut in front of me.
Click to expand...

I would have dropped the fenders and tied up to the boat that cut in front of you and asked to pass the fuel hose over and continued to fill.

No probably not but that's what I would have wanted to do. Your on your boat what's the rush. Enjoy
 
mquiet said:
Here is a question: In a marina, who has the right of way? I have a 480 Sedan Bridge...I was pulling out of my slip and proceeded to spin my boat 180 degrees and was backing down so I could do a starboard side docking against our fuel dock. As I was spinning, a 20ft CC came from their slip and wanted to pass me to exit our marina. The CC was trying to get between me and the dock (why I'm not sure). My first thought was 3 blasts to indicate I was backing down, the second was to ask him to stand down (which I did). Once up against the dock, my harbor master told me that the smaller vessel had the right of way as they were exiting the marina. Is this true? I wanted some guidance.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

"The Pecking Order"
From BoatUS as a simplified explanation of the rules.

You were the stand on vessel.

To determine right of way for vessels of different types. Get very familiar with this list, as it is important to
understand it thoroughly. The uppermost vessel on the list has right-of-way (stand-on vessel) over any vessel (give-way vessel) below it on the list:

  1. Overtaken vessel (top priority)
  2. Vessel not under command
  3. Vessel restricted in its ability to maneuver
  4. Vessel constrained by its draft
  5. Fishing vessel (commercial fishing or trawling but not trolling)
  6. Sailing vessel (engine not on)
  7. Power-driven vessel


 
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