To the uninitiated, cruising can look like an exercise in aquatic anarchy. Unlike roads and highways, waterways don't seem to have marked lanes, directional or informational signs, or even posted speed limits. As a result, it might seem like a boater can do just about anything he or she wants at any time. Not quite. Although it's true that you won't see white stripes or solid yellow lines running down the center of the ICW, or exit signs letting you know that the next right is Boggy Creek, there are definitely rules of the road and plenty of signs on the water to keep things running smoothly and safely.
It's also true, however, that it's entirely possible for someone to operate a boat without knowing the basic rules of the road because few places require any kind of training or licensing for boaters. Whether that's good or bad can be debated another time, but that potential lack of training on the part of other boaters makes it all the more important for you to know and follow the rules of the road so you can operate your boat as safely as possible.
The official rules of the road are the U.S. Coast Guard's Navigation Rules, which are available
online at
www.navcen.uscg.gov/mwv/navrules/navrules.htm.
You don't have to memorize the whole book to be a safe boater, but you do need to know three of the
most important rules:
Rule 8: Action to Avoid Collision
Boiled down, this rule says that you should alter your course and speed enough to allow any
other vessel to pass safely. This means GIVE WAY. You may technically have the right of way, but
you have to be ready to give way to avoid a collision.
Rule 6: Safe Speed
Rule 15:
Crossing Situation
"When two power-driven vessels are crossing ... the vessel which has the other on her
starboard side shall keep out of the way and shall (if possible) avoid crossing ahead of the other
vessel." If you see the crossing boat to your right, give way.
Those six rules will help you get from port A to port B safely, but to get there without
getting lost, you'll also need to know how to recognize and read the road signs of the water. These
signs aren't as clear as those on the interstates, but once you learn to read them, you'll see that
the signs of the water are every bit as useful as those of the asphalt.
On-water
navigation markers can be buoys or signs, and they may also have flashing lights and make sounds.
The most important of these markers are the regulatory markers, which are easily identified
by their orange bands at the top and bottom of each buoy. There are four types of regulatory
markers. Pay close attention to these markers - they indicate special situations, dangers and
directions (see sidebar).
Regulatory markers help you safely navigate risky areas, but there are other markers that help you find your way through channels and inland waterways. These navigation markers are red, green, white, black, or a combination, and on the ICW, the markers will also feature yellow squares (on red markers) or triangles (on green markers). The basic rule to follow is "red, right, return." This means that when you're returning from sea (heading toward land), you want to keep the red buoys to starboard (your right). If you're on the ICW, "return" means heading south; many of us find it easier to simply remember that on the ICW, the red buoys mark the land side of the ditch and the green buoys mark the ocean side.
There are two special navigation markers - red and white, and black and white - that all boaters who venture offshore must be familiar with. The red and white markers are mid-channel or safe water markers, and may be passed on either side. They're usually the first markers you see when returning from sea. The black and white markers indicate isolated dangers. Black and white markers are erected or moored on or near dangers, and while they may be passed safely on any side, they should be given a fairly wide berth for safety.
The navigation markers have another purpose - they tell you exactly where you are. Every navigation marker not only has a color, but also a number or letter. Red markers have even numbers, while green markers are odd numbered. These numbered markers are shown on the nautical chart for those waters so you can quickly determine your exact location.
Once you've learned the rules of the aquatic road and how to read those seemingly random buoys and signs floating about, you can see how cruising may seem anarchic but is really a well-regulated system, not unlike the roads and highways where we drive our cars. OK, the waters are still a little less regulated, but if you learn and follow the rules and markers, you'll be able to cruise smoothly and safely from port A to port B like the oldest of salts.