What are the laws for traveling by private boat?

Question

What are the laws for traveling by private boat?

Answer 1

In what way on what waters.  In general a boat should yield the right of way to a boat to starboard (right) or ahead of it, a motorboat should yield to a sailboat, and a small boat should not linger in the path of a larger less agile boat or ship.  When travelling at night you should have red light on port (left), green light on starboard (right), and white light farther back or on stern.  Basically you should be skilled enough to try not to run into anything.

Answer 2

Check with coast guard if on restricted border waters or seaboard. Otherwise check with your local marine agencies.

Answer 3

If someone dies you have to report it when you come into port...    I think that's it.

Answer 4

not too clear on what you really are asking but, if it's pleasure travel like skiing or several hours for fishing vs travel like sailing down the coast or to ohhh, Brazil there are many things to know about handling  your vessel you need as basics, compared laws for safety equipt. life jackets, passengers limits based on boat size etc. Check at the Dept. of motor Vehicles or at the boat stores/ marinas you plan on sailing from.

Answer 5

As you can see there are a variety of possible answers to your question, depending on your perspective.  If you are travelling to another country by private boat, you also have to follow the "clearing in" procedures of that country - you have to contact customs and immigration in that country.  Sometimes you have to advise the authorities of that country when you enter their coastal waters.

There are rules for radio operation that you need to observe.  For example, no chatting on the official channels.  Use proper procedures when contacting other vessels or the Coast Guard, or bridge operators.  Know the channels to use for different things.  Know how and why to declare "Pahn, pahn, pahn" or "Mayday, mayday, mayday".  Know the safety equipment you need to have on board, and how to use it properly.  Practice your "Man overboard" procedure frequently enough that it becomes automatic.  

Know how to anchor in all kinds of places and with different kinds of sea bottoms - learn where you can anchor and where you cannot.  Learn how to tie up to a dock "stern to", or Mediterranean style.  Know about coral and sea grass and the conservation laws of the areas you intend to visit.

Many seasoned sailors say that this is the prime rule:

"Red is right.  Give right.  Big is right.  And no one's right."

Hope this is of some help.  Best of luck.

Answer 6

The "rules of the road"  are the international and US Waters navigation rules, which you can find at your public library or many other places on the net.   In your own boat you are free to go anywhere in the US, as all the seashore and associated waters are not private property  up to the high water mark.   There may be local ordinances regarding where you can anchor and many 'exclusion zones'  around public security areas like the UN, or a power plant,  where you must be careful to avoid the restricted area,  but in general you are free to go where you like.   Some states license boaters,  so a good place to start is your state's Motor Vehicle website.  

If you leave US waters,  then there are documents and procedures for entering a foreign port and returning to the US.

On an inland lake or river,  there are usually speed limits and of course,  no driving while drinking.     but boating  is still one of the last great freedoms anyone can enjoy.

Answer 7

Call ur local coast guard office or police agency.

Answer 8

Varies by Country, sometimes municipality, body of water.

Fore sure...don't pollute, hit anybody or hurt anybody.