A boat operating in a narrow channel must keep safely close to which side of the channel?

In a narrow channel, a boat should generally keep safely close to the right side of the channel. This practice aligns with the navigation rules that are designed to prevent collisions and maintain safe passage for all vessels in the waterway. Staying to the right aids in the orderly movement of boats and helps to ensure that vessels traveling in opposite directions can pass each other with minimal risk.

The concept of keeping to the right is particularly important in channels that might not have sufficient room for navigational maneuverability, where straying towards the center or the outer edge of the channel could increase the risk of running aground or encountering other vessels. Following this guideline allows for safer navigation and helps ensure that vessels can predict one another's movements in a commonly used pathway.