One of the Colregs the 500 pound gorilla of the regulations says othere regs not withstanding do anything that needs doing to avoid a collision including violate all the other rules. In the event of a collision the senior individual on board is just as liable as is a licensed deck officer. There is about zero leeway. Since the rights of way go from sailing vessel under sail to powered vessel under power which covers motor sailing to Sea planes if nothing else and given the definition of a vessel - which includes among other things paddle boards and surf boards, would be nothing less than a powered vessel. regardless of draft or depth.

The ColRegs or Collision Regulations carry the force International Law, National Law and the laws of most States but even if they have none covers all navigable waterrs for example Mississippi to Twin Cities, Sacramento to Sharpe Army Depot on the San Joaquin. The priorities of right of way which puts the three I mentioned at the bottom have one unable to manuever due to nature of work. Aircraft carriers to work boats

RNTONRCFSBS or Rotten Nets Tear Only New Reels Catch Fish So Buy some. translates Responsibility, Narrow Channels, traffic separation schemes, Overtaking, Not under Command, Restricted in Ability to Manuever, constrained by draft, engaged in trawling, under sail only, under power, seaplanes. Sailboats do not always have the right of way and mostly don't. and at the end vesels under and sea planes upon touching down.

The submarine would automatically be vessel under power unless doing one of the manuevers up the list and when submerged would be restricted in ability to manuever. The status from 1 Responsibility and Prudent Seamanship to 10 determines the responsibilty often called Privileged and Burdened Except Rule 2 sort of reverses that and puts the gorilla on the back of anyone that could have avoided the collision regardless of the rules.

There is one other called the Law Of Inverse Proportions. I had the right of way but he was bigger. Tonnage always wins.

So until the USCG says different those are the rules to follow and that ColRegs Manual covers use of radar, night time all sorts of other variations.

So following the first two rules especially 2A and 2B

There will be surprise pop quiz anytime you are boarded by LEA or the Coast Guard.

One question. Boats do NOT come under the same rules as houses etc. for requiring warrants to board or search and USCG has jurisdiction anywhere in the world over any US Flagged or registered vessel of any size unless you are in the waters of another nation - since Washington crossed the Delaware. Can anyone state why? No.. living aboard full time doesn't count.

Really i'm enjoying this. How many does it sleep? I'm a vagabundo crucero these days. Edit added Now that's a beauty built for comfort and fun. Only missing one needed part. I see the radar but do not see the anti-capsize device something cats are famous for doing. That's a sort of air bag that keeps it from rolling completely. or if a forward flip causes it to roll to one side or the other and not go completely under. Shouldn't be hard to add though. I like the speed potential but one must always consider seaworthiness aspects. Chief among them is the capsize ratio. On balance though the rest of it s TonyThe Tiger GREAT!