Signaling

I describe things more simply on this page than they are stated in the regs. For example, some levels of jurisdiction would say that a certain whistle signal means "I intend to overtake you on your port side," and another might say (regarding overtaking), "I am altering course to port." I call all these "overtaking to port." Using this simplified scheme (for my own personal sanity), I don't need to list the few Canadian modifications regarding the Great Lakes Basin.
A short "blast" means a duration of about one second, and a long (or "prolonged") blast lasts four to six seconds.

The rules also go into more detail than presented here about what kind of vessel may or must sound which signal under what circumstances. This list that I've concocted is more a "recognition" aid.

The Collision Regulations make barely any reference to the term "right of way," and I rarely use it when discussing collision avoidance. One vessel is "privileged" (or "stand-on"), and the other is "burdened" (or "give-way"), but both vessels have obligations, and I again refer to the privileged boat maintaining course and speed. I have another article called Privilege and Burden, which deals with this more fully.

A small personal peeve: if it is quite clear that two vessels are in no risk of collision and are going to pass free and clear, then a collision situation does not exist, and none of the procedures for collision avoidance are necessary - although I am a firm believer in "maintaining course and speed," without unnecessary changes (if possible), when other vessels in the area might need to know your intentions.

The regulations are quite clear that every vessel must keep a proper lookout, using all means available (sight and hearing at a minimum) at all times. You must operate your boat prudently at all times, and the most frequent violation I see is excessive speed in congested waters (or poor visibility) - being the privileged vessel will do you no good if you are in a collision, in terms of damage, injury or legal liability. The so-called "general avoidance principle" can be inferred from the regulations, and states that boaters must always do whatever is required to avoid collision - being the privileged vessel is no excuse if you could have done something.