Navigation Rules (Paperback)

~ US Coast Guard (Author), U.S. Coast Guard (Author) "(d) Traffic separation schemes may be adopted by the Organization for the purpose of these Rules..." (more)
Key Phrases: approximate position latitude, required minimum intensity, sailing vessel underway, United States, Inland Rules, Coast Guard (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

This Navigation Rules book contains a complete copy of the Inland and International Navigation Rules as presented by the United States Coast Guard. In addition all Notice to Mariners updates to date, 4/1/09 are incorporated within the text. The Coast Guard requires that an up-to-date copy of Navigation Rules such as this one be carried on all vessels 12 meters (39 feet) or more in length at all times. We have also included detailed instructions on how to log on to the NIMA website to monitor Notice to Mariner notifications so you can keep your book up-to-date. This book also includes an annotated table of contents to help the reader find the rule they seek; no such feature is found in the government edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 220 pages
• Publisher: Paradise Cay Publications; Reprint edition (April 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0939837498
• ISBN-13: 978-0939837496
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #4,887 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #1 in	Books > Nonfiction > Transportation > Reference
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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Essential for Every Boat Owner, but only a starting point, March 2, 2005

By	Matthew Wall (Monterey, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The official navigation rules are something that every boater should own. If your vessel is large enough or operating in international waters, you are legally required to have it aboard and understand its contents. Regardless of whether you have to have it aboard, if you go out on the water you have to understand what the rules are and what your obligations are to avoid collisions.

Think you don't need it? Collisions are the most serious boating accident, and virtually every collision is later determined to be avoidable by later investigation, had the operators been closely following the Nav Rules.

Here's the problem, though, if you rely on the Official Navigation Rules as your only reference: this edition of the rules is technical, and illustrated, but is often incomprehensible. The diagrams are schematic by necessity, but they are not useful if you're trying to decide what to do out in the real world. New boaters will be easily confused by the situations, since there's no perspective on what is a typical or atypical scenario. Experienced boaters will be perplexed by the eccentricities of the wording. It is not a tutorial on the rules, and as a reference is decipherable basically if you already know the rules.

So what are you to do, if you have to know the Navigation Rules? You have to own this book. And then you have to learn the rules. There are numerous other sources for the knowledge. You should have a basic seamanship reference, such as Chapman's or the Annapolis Seamanship book. You should probably also take a boating safety class at your local US Coast Guard Auxiliary or US Power Squadron, both of which cover the navigation rules. If you want to be sure about knowing the rules in detail, there are a number of self-study books (such as for Six-Pack exams) that do a much better job at going through a tutorial.

Buy this book; but to understand the basics, and to get to know the details that may save your life and your boat, make sure you extend that knowledge beyond the bare minimum.

Update: I would now recommend Charlie Wing's "One Minute Guide" to the rules of the road in addition to the official Nav Rules (ISBN 0070710945) for recreational boaters.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nav Rules of the Road, January 17, 2007

By	Janina Eddinger (Yokosuka, Japan) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I was looking for the latest copy of the Rules of the Road and I found them; exactly what I wanted. This is a must-have for Navigators, Naval deck watchstanders and 3rd Mates.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Navigation Rules, current version with changes noted., August 9, 2009

By	R. H. Niblack "Captharv" (Vero Beach, FL USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

This book satisfies the requirement for Coast Guard Auxiliarists to have a current copy of the Nav rules on their boat. I especially liked the way the changes in the update were identified for easy reference.