OK her we go
Rules of the Road, Right of Way
All of us on land have had the experience upon walking down the street of meeting another pedestrian, turnning the the right and having him turn to his left, then turning to the left and having him turn to his right and finally bumping into him. To the pedestrian on the sidewalk, such action and such a colision is comical but between two boats in the water, it is serious, yet boats often behave like human beings and do that very thing.
Besides in the case of pedestrians on the siedwalk and even in the case of automobiles in the street, it is a fairly simple matter to keep clear of such approaching danger as both pedestrians and motor cars follow fairley well defined paths or channels and by keeping to their own right, the danger of collision is eleminated. However, on the water it is a far different matter. Except in a very limited number of cases, there are no narrow paths or channels to follow. Boats as a rule have a wide expance of water on which to navigate, with their paths or courses constantly crossing those courses of many other craft which may be in the immediate vicinity. Therefore, the caution which must be obseved on the water, even if traffic may be much more limited than it is on land, is far more seriose and important than on the sidewalks and streets.
To prevent such t hings and collisions, very carefully considered rules have been laid down so that of the skipper in charge of any boat under any meeting, overtaking or crossing situation is pretty definitley prescribed. The rules which prescribed such duties and actions are of three general classes: First, there are the international Rules of the Road adopted at conventions among maritime nations. The second, type is the Inland Rules of the Road. These rules are enacted by the Congress of the United States are law. The Inland Rules authorized the Commandant, U.S. Coast Gaurd, to issue regulations based upon the Inald Rules and these regulations are issued in what is commonly known as the Pilot Rules. The Pilot Rules are not necesarily laws but are more in the form of interpritations by the proper officials and regulations issued to make the Inland Rules of the Road effective. Such Regulations can be upset in proper court proceedings and the courts have not hesitated to upset certain pilot rules as being unwaranted by the Inalnd Rules passed by the Congress of the United States.