When approaching another boat head on you should steer to starboard and sound How many blasts?

Sound signals must be audible for at least one-half mile. Some common sound signals that you should be familiar with as a recreational boater are as follows.

Table of Contents Show

Changing Direction
Restricted Visibility
General notes

A short blast lasts one second.
A prolonged blast lasts 4–6 seconds.

Changing Direction

One short blast tells other boaters, “I intend to pass you on my left (port) side.”
Two short blasts tell other boaters, “I intend to pass you on my right (starboard) side.”
Three short blasts tell other boaters, “I am operating astern propulsion.” For some vessels, this tells other boaters, “I am backing up.”

Restricted Visibility

One prolonged blast at intervals of not more than two minutes is the signal used by power-driven vessels when underway.
One prolonged blast plus two short blasts at intervals of not more than two minutes is the signal used by sailing vessels.

Warning

One prolonged blast is a warning signal (for example, used when coming around a blind bend or exiting a slip).
Five (or more) short, rapid blasts signal danger or signal that you do not understand or that you disagree with the other boater’s intentions.

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Indiana law requires that scuba divers or snorkelers display a diver-down flag to mark the diving area. The diver must stay within 100 feet of the flag. Vessels must stay at least 150 feet away from the flag unless directly involved in supporting the diver.

Scuba divers and snorkelers should not place a flag in an area already occupied by other boaters or where their diving operation will impede the normal flow of waterway traffic. Divers also should follow all of the water safety rules themselves.

Two types of flags are used to indicate diving activity.

Divers Flag: A rectangular red flag, at least 12 x 12 inches in size, with a white diagonal stripe is used to indicate the presence of a submerged diver in the area. Indiana law requires that divers display this flag prominently and stay within 100 feet of the flag.

Alfa Flag: A blue-and-white International Code Flag A (or Alfa flag), at least 3.3 feet (one meter) high and visible from all directions, must be displayed on vessels on federally controlled waters. This flag indicates that the vessel is involved in a diving activity.

Federally controlled waters are waters on which vessels must observe federal requirements. These waters include:

Coastal waters
The Great Lakes
Territorial seas
Bodies of water connected directly to one of the above, up to a point where the body of water is less than two miles wide

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The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requires some vessels equipped with VHF radios to have a Ship Station License.

As of 1996, most recreational vessels no longer need an FCC license if operating domestically. “Domestically” means not traveling to foreign ports or transmitting to foreign stations, including Canada and Mexico.
Recreational vessels that are still required to carry an FCC Ship Station License include power-driven vessels over 65.6 feet (20 meters) in length and any vessel on an international voyage.

For FCC information, call 1-888-225-5322 or visit their website.

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Major organized boating activities to be conducted on public waters require a permit. If you plan to host an event that involves 15 or more watercraft as participants or an event that will draw 50 or more boats as spectators, you will need this permit. Also, if you conduct an event on public waters that will disrupt normal boat traffic, you will need to apply.

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The USCG Auxiliary and U.S. Power Squadrons will perform a Vessel Safety Check (VSC) of your vessel and equipment free of charge. This inspection covers federal and state requirements. If your vessel meets all VSC requirements, you will receive a VSC decal. If your vessel fails to meet all requirements, no report is made to any law enforcement agency.

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In addition to adhering to all boating laws, PWC operators have requirements specific to their vessels.

Each person riding on or being towed behind a PWC must wear a USCG–approved PFD. Recommended are PFDs designed to withstand the impact of hitting the water at high speed.
PWC must either be equipped with an engine cut-off switch or have a self-circling feature in case the operator falls off. An operator of a PWC equipped with a lanyard-type engine cut-off switch must always attach the lanyard to his or her person, clothing, or PFD.

engine cut-off switch (ECOS) A safety device that is designed to shut the engine down if the operator is thrown from the proper operating position

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PWC may be operated during daylight hours only unless equipped with the appropriate lighting.

It is illegal to operate a PWC while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

A PWC must be operated in a responsible manner. It is illegal to endanger human life, safety, or property. You may not:

Weave through congested traffic.
Follow a vessel that is towing other individuals.
Jump the wake of another vessel.
Cut between a vessel and an individual being towed.
Cross paths with another vessel when vision is obstructed.
Steer toward an object or person in the water and turn sharply at close range.
Operate while facing backward.

As an owner of a PWC, you are legally responsible if you allow anyone else to operate your PWC in violation of Indiana law.

Many collisions between vessels result from a lack of understanding of the rules of safe navigation.

The information on this page is based on the requirements of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (1972) - COLREGs, and Victorian marine legislation.

When each has the wind on the same side, the vessel which is to windward shall keep out of the way of the vessel which is leeward.

When a sailing vessel with the wind on its port side sees another sailing vessel to windward and cannot determine with certainty whether that sailing vessel has the wind on its port or its starboard, it shall keep out of the way of that other sailing vessel.

Power-driven vessels shall keep out of the way of sailing vessels and rowing boats;

Power-driven vessels meeting head-on or nearly head-on so as to involve risk of collision shall alter course to starboard so that each may pass on the port side of the other.

When two power-driven vessels are crossing, the vessel with the other on its starboard side shall keep out of the way and avoid crossing ahead of the other vessel. The other vessel must maintain its course and speed until it is apparent that the vessel required to give way is not taking appropriate action.

The master of a vessel under way in a channel or fairway must ensure that the vessel keeps to the right of the centre of the channel or fairway.
The master of a vessel under way in a channel or fairway must ensure that the vessel keeps out of the way of a vessel that can only safely navigate within the channel or fairway.
All vessels in narrow channels shall keep, as far as practicable, to the starboard side of the channel.
A vessel engaged in fishing shall not impede the passage of any other vessel navigating within a narrow channel or fairway.
A vessel shall not cross a narrow channel or fairway if such crossing impedes the passage of a vessel that can safely navigate only within such a channel or fairway. The latter vessel may use a permitted sound signal if in doubt as to the intention of the crossing vessel.
Any vessel shall, if the circumstances of the case permit, avoid anchoring in a narrow channel.
A sailing vessel and a vessel under 20 m in length shall not impede the passage of any vessel which can safely navigate only within a narrow channel or fairway.

All vessels, whether sail or power, overtaking another vessel when the boats are in sight of one another shall keep out of the way of the vessel being overtaken. If a vessel is coming up with another vessel from any direction, which is more than 22.5 degrees (in the shaded arc of the diagram below) abaft her beam, it shall be deemed to be the overtaking vessel until finally past and clear.

General notes

If in doubt, assume that you are the overtaking vessel and keep clear. Alteration of course by either vessel does not relieve the overtaking vessel of the responsibility of keeping clear.
If overtaking or approaching a vessel engaged in water-skiing always keep at least 50m from the skier and vessel combination.

The vessel giving way shall take early and positive avoiding action; make course/speed alterations obvious to the other vessel; avoid crossing ahead of the vessel with right of way; if necessary stop or reverse.
A series of five or more short and rapid blasts on a whistle or horn should be used to indicate that insufficient action is being taken to avoid collision.
The vessel with the right of way shall keep its course and speed. It should take avoiding action only if that taken by the giving-way vessel is insufficient. If necessary it should take whatever action is available to keep clear and avoid a collision.
If a power-driven vessel is taking action to avoid a collision with another power-driven vessel, it shall, if possible, avoid altering course to port.
This action does not relieve the vessel operator of handling obligations.

In restricted visibility, reduce to minimum speed. When hearing the fog signal of another vessel ahead, proceed with caution until danger of collision is over or stop until you have ascertained the danger.

Read about navigation lights.