As far as Common Sense not everyone has that.

yeah that was bad

I uuuusssssuually give way to the boat to starboard.....I always give way to a capt. who's head is "up and locked" (in his rectum).....better safe than having to file an insurance claim

What ever it takes to avoid a 'Head On'.

I agree with common sense prevailing first. I try to always give way, no matter what boat I'm in, just because if you're proactive w. regards to a potential situation, the outcome will be far better. But when I was sailing, this was obviously harder to do.

Common sense (as well as knowing your boat's capabilities) will always prevail!

Navigation rules state that you should give way to another vessel approaching from your starboard side, but I have to agree with the others that you give way to anyone not watching or of greater tonnage. You also give way to a sailing vessel not under power from any direction.
I have also learned that you must give way to everyone boating in lake Charlevoix, MI!
A rule of thumb that the US Power Squadron teaches is if you see the approaching vessels port light (red) it means give way, and if you see the starboard light (green) it means stand on, but once again, it doesn't matter if that green light is buried in the side of your hull!

This is the actual radio conversation of a US naval ship with Canadian
authorities off the coast of Newfoundland in October 1995. Radio
conversation released by the chief of naval operations,10-10-95.

CANADIANS: Please divert your course 15 degrees to the south to avoid a collision.

AMERICANS: Recommend you divert your course 15 degrees to the north to avoid a collision.

CANADIANS: Negative. You will have to divert your course 15 degrees to the south to avoid a colision.

AMERICANS: This is the captain of a US Navy ship. I say again, divert your course.

CANADIANS: No, I say again, you divert YOUR course.

AMERICANS: This is the Aircraft Carrier US LINCOLN, the second largest ship
in the United States Atlantic Fleet. We are accompanied with three
Destroyers, three Cruisers and numerous support vessels. I DEMAND that you
change your course 15 degrees north. I say again, that's one-five degrees
north, or counter-measures will be undertaken to ensure the safety of this ship.

CANADIANS: This is a lighthouse. Your call, Rambo.

-----

I know the guys in the light house they have this on tape!

Sorry. It's fake.
http://www.navy.mil/navydata/navy_legacy.asp?id=174

http://www.snopes.com/military/lighthse.htm

But if you can get your hands on that tape from your friend, it would be worth a pretty penny.

I follow the rules, but the problem is when you encounter a boater who is clueless and just doesn't take the sport serious . The weekend warriors are just plain dangerous. I agree with the mandatory boating courses. A number of times I've seen another boater cross a channel and cut off another boat at full speed. ( Coast Guard was there and did nothing)
As far as the Give way / Stand On, I back off if the possibility of an accident exist, even if I have the right of way. The "better to be safe than sorry" attitude seems to work. However, I remember reading a case where a boat had the right of way, Sound his horn, made his intentions clear, followed the rules and killed the passengers on the other boat and he was found "not guilty".

Give Way!