Lakes and rivers have “Rules of the Road” just like the roads do. Knowing what to do when you’re behind the wheel of a boat is just as important as when you’re on the highway. Learning how to navigate inland waters will make you a safer and more confident boater.
Let’s Get Down to Basics
So, you’ve just picked up your new boat from the boat dealer and now your headed to the lake for the day. Hopefully you’ve taken a boat safety course if you’re new to boating, so you know the difference between port and starboard, and bow and stern. If you’re unsure, the port is the left-hand side of the boat, and the starboard is the right-hand side. The bow is the front, and the stern is the back.
What Color is That Buoy?
Buoys play an extremely important role in boating. These floating markers provide information based on their color. When you see a red buoy is should keep the red buoys on the starboard side of the boat.
White buoys with blue markings are used for mooring boats in the middle of a waterway, and yellow buoys mark areas that you want to avoid because they may have things such as cables, pipelines, or other hazards.
Simplifying Navigation Rules
One of the first rules of boat navigation is to always operate the boat at a speed that allows plenty of time to stop or avoid a collision. Waterways also have traffic patterns just like the road. If you are heading toward another boat, the rule is to steer to starboard or to the right. This will keep the other boat on your port side.
Keep in mind that water vessels without motors always have the right of way. This means kayaks, paddleboards, rowboats, and sailboats with their sails up.
Planning Your Route
If you’re planning a day cruising on the water, you’ll want to make sure you plan a route that has inland waters ways that are deep enough for your motor. Some waterways have deeper channels dredged to keep them at a certain depth. These are marked with red and green buoys.
The general rule of thumb when navigating these marked channels is “red and green, stay between.” If you follow this rule, you’ll stay in the deeper water and away from shallow shoals.
Red Right Return
Most boaters have heard of the saying red, right, return. This navigation phrase is not only catchy, but very helpful. When heading back up a channel or upstream, always keep the red markers on your right.
Every boat also has red and green navigation lights. The right lights are always on the port side and green is on starboard. Other boaters will know which side is the port side when approaching in the dark. A white light on a raised pole sits up high so that it can be seen from every direction indicates the stern.
If you follow these general guidelines when navigating inland waterways, you should have a safe and fun day on the water.
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