Took the boater safety class with my son this year so I can let him legally
operate my boat. In Louisiana, it is legal to over take on either side.
The instructor did state that if possible, try to follow the rules of the
road when passing someone just like you would in your auto. The stand on
vessel has the right away and the over taking vessel should use proper audio
signal and maintain proper distance away from stand on vessel while passing
regardless of what side they pass on.

See this link for USCG rules.

http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/mwv/navru...s/Rule0405.htm

See this site also:

http://www.cyberseayc.com/safety/nav_rules.html

Sarge

Inland and International Rules (COLREGS) allow for overtaking on either
side...the overtaken; stand-on or privledged vessel (vernacular has changed
over the years) shall maintain course and speed and the give-way or
burdened vessel shall maneuver so as not to imped the former....sound
signals may be used for announcing intentions
Rule 13

Overtaking

(a) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Rules of Part B, Sections I
and II, any vessel overtaking any other shall keep out of the way of the
vessel being overtaken.

(b) A vessel shall be deemed to be overtaking when coming up with a
another vessel from a direction more than 22.5 degrees abaft her beam, that
is, in such a position with reference to the vessel she is overtaking, that
at night she would be able to see only the sternlight of that vessel but
neither of her sidelights.

(c) When a vessel is in any doubt as to whether she is overtaking another,
she shall assume that this is the case and act accordingly.

(d) Any subsequent alteration of the bearing between the two vessels shall
not make the overtaking vessel a crossing vessel within the meaning of these
Rules or relieve her of the duty of keeping clear of the overtaken vessel
until she is finally past and clear.

http://www.boatsafe.com/nauticalknow...g/colregs.html
http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/mwv/navrules/navrules.htm

Rule 2

Responsibility

(a) Nothing in these Rules shall exonerate any vessel, or the owner,
master, or crew thereof, from the consequences of any neglect to comply with
these Rules or of the neglect of any precaution which may be required by the
ordinary practice of seamen, or by the special circumstances of the case.

(b) In construing and complying with these Rules due regard shall be had
to all dangers of navigation and collision and to any special circumstances,
including the limitations of the vessels involved, which may make a
departure from these Rules necessary to avoid immediate danger.


.....said Huck, the 20 year Navy Shipdriver

"Ronnie Garrison" wrote in message
...
Bob La Londe wrote:

I posted this in several forums, and in one it was pointed out to me
there
was an error in my post. In USCG regulated waters you are supposed to
overtake on the right and give a blast on the horn before overtaking.
My
mistake in saying the person was overtaking on the wrong side except I
think
in inland waters where traffic is counter clockwise you are supposed to
overtake on the left. I'm not 100% certain on this since most folks
overtake and pass on the left around here. Its been over 20 years since
I
took my USCG Aux small craft certification. I suppose we could all use
a
refresher course.

This is what the Coast Guard says online "a) Notwithstanding
anything contained in the Rules [of Part B, Sections I and II / 4
through 18], any vessel overtaking any other shall keep out of the way
of the vessel being overtaken.

Sounds like you can overtake the vessel on either side but they have the
righ of way. In Georgia , the state safety rules say pass on either side
but pass safely with plenty of room between the two boats.


There is no boat with "Right of Way"! There is stand-on or privileged, who
used to to the boat with right of way. The one that is being passed. He
also has an obligation to continue straight and not make any moves to
endanger the other vessel.
Bill