A motorboat is approaching a sailboat head-on. what should the motorboat do?

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Neither power-driven vessel A nor power-driven vessel B gives way or stands on in a head-on encounter. Therefore, some communication is needed between vessels A and B.

The most common response in a head-on meeting between power-driven vessels is to signal an intention to pass port-to-port. This action is initiated by one of the vessels sounding one short blast.

In short, vessel A must blow one short blast, indicating its intention to pass port-to-port, and then alters its course to starboard. Vessel B must return one short blast—to indicate agreement and understanding—and alter its course to starboard, thereby, leaving room on each vessel's port side for passing.

Starboard-to-Starboard

If it is not possible to pass port-to-port due to an obstruction or shoreline, a starboard-to-starboard pass should be signaled with two short blasts.

In short, vessel A must blow two short blasts, indicating its intention to pass starboard-to-starboard, and alter its course to port. Vessel B must return two short blasts to indicate agreement and understanding and alter its course to port, thereby, leaving room on each vessel's starboard side for passing.

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Note that the following illustrations are not drawn to scale. The boats are shown closer to each other than they should be when actually encountering another vessel on the water.

Meeting Head-On: The power-driven vessel is the give-way vessel. The sailing vessel is the stand-on vessel.

Paths That Cross: The power-driven vessel is the give-way vessel. The sailing vessel is the stand-on vessel.

Overtaking: The vessel that is overtaking another vessel is the give-way vessel, regardless of whether it is a sailing vessel or a power-driven vessel. The vessel being overtaken is always the stand-on vessel.

If operating a power-driven vessel, you must always give way to a sailing vessel unless the sailing vessel is overtaking your vessel.