NAVIGATION AIDS
Navigation aids are placed along coasts and navigable waters as a
guide for mariners in determining their position in reference to land
and hidden danger. Each aid provides speci c information. ey
form a continuous system of charted markers for accurate piloting
on paper and on the water.
Nautical charts are provided by the National Ocean Service (NOS)
and are distributed nationwide through marinas and outlet stores.
ese charts show the geography of the coast, water depth, landmarks,
navigation aids (buoys and markers), marine hazards, and port
facilities. Use only up-to-date charts for navigation. We recommend
when purchasing a chart to look for the weather resistant ones.
Buoys provide a road map to keep the skipper on course and to avoid
hazards. Buoys are identi ed by light, shape, color and in severe
weather conditions by sound.
Buoys or beacons called lateral markers indicate the port and
starboard sides of the waterway to be followed. U. S markers follow
the buoy system known as Red Right Returning. When returning
from sea or traveling upstream, the green markers are to port (on your
le ) and the red markers are to the starboard side (on your right).
When traveling downstream or out to sea the marker color would be
reversed. e Intercoastal waterway uses a di erent system of lateral
markers for port and starboard. Before operating your vessel, learn to
identify the various navigational aids such as lateral aids, mid-channel
markers, information and regulatory markers.
SKIPPERS MUS NOT RELY ON BUOYS ALONE TO MARK
THEIR POSITION. SEVERE WEATHER CONDITIONS
AND WAVE ACTION CAN ALTER A BUOYS POSITION.
NEVER TIE UP TO A BUOY.
IT IS ILLEGAL AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS.
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