BOATsmart! Base de connaissances du Canada 

The types of craft approaching each other determine which operator has the right of way:

• Emergency craft always have the right-of-way and all pleasure craft operators should steer clear and yield to emergency craft
• Never pass between a tug and its tow (as it may be using a submerged towline)
• Keep clear of docked ferries, ferries in transit and cable ferries which operate with a submerged tow cable from the bow and stern (listen for large ship horns blasting one prolonged blast, which indicates departing a dock)
• Both power boats and sailboats must take early and substantial action to keep well clear of vessels engaged in fishing activities (those vessels operating with fishing nets and trawls)
• Power-driven vessels must keep out of the way of any vessel that is not under command
• Non-powered craft including sailboats, canoes, paddleboats, sailboards and racing shells generally have the right-of-way over power-driven pleasure craft
• All motorized boats and sailboats under 20 m in length must steer clear of larger, less manoeuverable vessels
• ‘Sport’ fishing boats and waterski boats are considered manoeuverable craft and operators of these craft must follow the same rules as all pleasure boats