5
Rules Of
The Road
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 continous
system of charted markers for monitoring on the plotter
or providing accurate piloting on paper as a backup.
Your on board plotter provides up to date navigation
aids. Besides coastal maps a complete domestic interior
waterway grid is featured on the plotter.
If desired, there are hand-held GPS devices that are
available as back-up devices. In addition, 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 roadmap 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 buoyage 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.
Before operating your vessel, learn to identify the various
navigational aids such as lateral aids, mid-channel
markers, information and regulatory markers.
SKIPPERS MUST 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 DANGEROUS.
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