Final answer:
Both boat operators are legally responsible for taking precautions to avoid a collision. Maritime law dictates proactive measures to prevent accidents, and the actions of each operator will be scrutinized if a collision occurs.
Step-by-step explanation:
When two boats are about to collide, both operators are legally responsible to take every precaution to avoid the collision. It is required by maritime law that when a collision is imminent, all parties involved must do their utmost to avoid it. This means that both skippers must be aware of their surroundings, adhere to navigational rules, and take proactive measures to prevent an accident. If an accident occurs, the investigation will consider the actions of each operator to determine if they were adequate and within the confines of maritime safety regulations.