What is the 3 R rule in boating? It is the three word memory aid "Red, Right, Returning": when you are returning, which on a river means heading upstream, keep the red channel markers on your right side. Head downstream and it flips, so the red markers belong on your left.
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission teaches red right returning in its guide to channel markers, and approved boating safety courses cover it too. Below we explain how the rule works on Pittsburgh's rivers, what the other markers mean, and the horn signals and right of way rules that go with it. If you are planning a pontoon boat rental in Pittsburgh, this is the navigation basics you will use the moment you leave the dock.
The three R's stand for Red, Right and Returning. Channel markers come in two colors, red and green, and together they show the edges of the safe channel. The rule tells you which side of your boat each color belongs on.
On the coast, "returning" means heading in toward a harbor. On a river, returning simply means traveling upstream, against the current. That is the direction the markers are laid out for, according to the Fish and Boat Commission's aids to navigation page.
You may run into other "three R" lists online. Some boating blogs use Recognize, React and Recover as a safety mindset: spot a hazard early, respond calmly, then learn from what happened. Boater education study guides also borrow Reduce, Reuse and Recycle for keeping trash and fuel out of the water.
Both are good habits. But when a boating course, an instructor or another boater mentions the 3 R rule, they almost always mean red right returning, because it is the one that keeps you in the channel.
The Ohio River begins at the Point, where the Allegheny and Monongahela meet, and flows west past McKees Rocks. Our dock at Vic's Boat Park sits on the Ohio, downstream of downtown. That makes the rule easy to picture.
Our rivers use the Coast Guard's Western Rivers marking system, where buoys are not numbered the way they are on the coast. Go by color and shape, and watch the current to tell which way is upstream.
.webp)
Red and green markers are not the only signs on the river. The Fish and Boat Commission describes several others every renter should recognize.
Pennsylvania law requires slow, no wake speed within 100 feet of the shoreline, docks, launch ramps, swimmers, and anchored or drifting boats. On a pontoon, that means idle speed with barely any wake behind you.
Red right returning keeps you in the channel. Right of way rules tell you what to do when you meet another boat in it. The Coast Guard navigation rules cover every situation, but a few matter most on Pittsburgh's rivers.
Boats talk to each other with short and long horn blasts. You will not need to sound many signals on a rental pontoon, but you should know what you are hearing. Under the Coast Guard navigation rules for inland waters:
If a towboat sounds five blasts anywhere near you, assume it means you. Ease off the throttle, look around, and give it room.
You do not need to memorize a chart before your trip. A few habits cover most of it.
Arrive 5 to 10 minutes early on your first rental for our safety briefing, and ask any navigation questions before you head out.
Red right returning is part of every approved Pennsylvania boating course. Drivers born on or after January 1, 1982 need a Boating Safety Education Certificate to operate a boat over 25 horsepower, and every pontoon we rent is over that line. The course covers markers, right of way and signals in more depth, and you can finish it online.
Want to see what else trips up first time renters? Read what not to do on a pontoon boat and our guide to what you can and can't do on Pittsburgh's rivers. Would you rather skip the driving? Ask about a captain when you book.
On a river, returning means traveling upstream. When you head upstream, keep the red channel markers on your right and the green markers on your left. When you head downstream, the colors switch sides. On Pittsburgh's rivers, cruising from our McKees Rocks dock toward downtown is upstream.
It is a fuel planning rule: use one third of your fuel to go out, one third to come back, and keep one third in reserve. On a rental, the practical version is to plan a route that gets you back to the dock on time with room to spare. Fuel details for your rental are covered when you book.
Port is the left side of the boat when you face the front, and starboard is the right. A common trick: "port" and "left" both have four letters. Red right returning works the same way, since red markers go on your starboard side when you head upstream.
Three short blasts mean "I am operating astern propulsion," so the boat sounding them is backing up. Give it room and do not pass close behind it. Five or more short blasts mean danger or doubt about your intentions, so slow down and get clear.
You should. Drivers born on or after January 1, 1982 need a Pennsylvania boating safety certificate for our pontoons, and the approved courses teach channel markers. Even if you are exempt, knowing which side of the markers to stay on keeps you in safe water and away from shallows.
Ready to put red right returning into practice? Book your pontoon rental and cruise the Ohio, Allegheny and Monongahela rivers.
Join our community and enjoy incredible savings while embarking on unforgettable boat rentals. Whether you're looking to cruise along the iconic Three Rivers, host a special event on the water, or simply unwind with a relaxing day of boating, Subscribe and Save 15% off your next rental is your ticket to more fun and less cost.
