New to boating...shocked safety course not mandatory!

[SIKSUKR]

Originally Posted by Woodsy

Boating navigation is pretty simple, and just requires you to remember a few simple rules...

1. If you are getting passed, you are the stand on boat. it is the other boats responsibility to pass you safely. However, while he is overtaking you, you are required to not make any sudden course corrections. It is recommended you hold steady on your course.

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Woodsy,for this reason only,is why the 150 ft violation worries me much more than ROW.I almost always yield to any boat that has a chance of intersecting with my course.Maybe that's because I'm on a smaller craft( PWC) and figure I'm sometimes a target.I can see them coming so I can take corrective action.The yow-yow that overtook me Sunday at 40Mph+,30ft from my port side gave me no warning he was there.Thank God I didn't start to turn to the left.The reason we have 150 ft rule is for exactly a scenario I encountered.On roads we have lanes that we all must stay in.The water is one big canvas to head any direction we like.I am not the usual PWC rider that always going in circles and hard to figure out where they are going.Those riders actually bug the heck out of me cuz it's hard to judge what course to maintain.I always look over my shoulder before I change course abrutly but what if something was suddenly observed in front of me(log,swimmer) and I had to make a quick turn.I would have been toast.No,for me the 150 ft violation is scarier.