Aids to navigation found
on federal waters, commonly known as bouys, are designed, built and maintained by the
United States Coast Guard. While some ATONS (Aids to Navigaions) are bouys, many others
may be daymarkers, ranges, or many other types of marks that provide the boating public
with a "since of direction" while on the water.
While coming into or leaving a port or
harbor (generally speaking) green markers are kept to the RIGHT when leaving a harbor and
red markers are kept to the RIGHT when returning to harbor, thus coining the phrase,
"Red, Right ,Returning".
A Can Bouy marks
the RIGHT side of the channel leaving a harbor. It will be GREEN and have odd numbers on
it. Green daymarkers are oftern used in shallow areas for the same purpose.
If the green marker has several pilings supporting it, it will be
called a dolphin. Green bouys with lights will usually be found in deeper water. The light
will be green. Larger bouys may also have bells or other sound producing devices attached.
A Nun
Bouy marks the LEFT side of the channel leaving a harbor. It will be RED and have even
numbers on it. Red daymarkers are oftern used in shallow areas for the same purpose.
If the red marker has several pilings supporting it, it will be
called a dolphin. Red bouys with lights will usually be found in deeper water. The light
will be red. Larger bouys may also have bells or other sound producing devices attached.
Preferred channel
markers are a combination of red and green. Years ago, this marker was known as a junction
marker. The preferred or better channel is usually marked by having the top color of the
marker indicate the way it should be treated. That is, if the top color is red, treat it
as a red marker. Just as with red and green markers, they may be found as daymarks or
floating bouys. They will nave the same color light at the top color of the marker and
they may have letters but not numbers.
The Safe Water
marker, years ago called the mid-channel marker, is red and green. If it has a light, it
will be white and it may have a red ball on the top. It may have a letter but not a number
displayed on it.
Special Purpose
markers are yellow and may serve a wide range of uses, including but not limited to things
such as dredging, fish trap areas, spoils areas or military exercises.
Range markers are
found in pairs with one higher than the other. Range markers indicate the center line of a
channel by haveing them lined up as you pass through the channel. They will have vertical
colored panels to assist in lining them up.
Some markers will
have no lateral significance. They are not designed to indicate the channel but rather, to
help you know where you are.
White markers and
or bouys with an orange boarder, diamond, circle, or square can be used to provide
informatin or regulations such as a no wake zone or a shoal area. As with all other aids
to navigation, they should be given a wide berth to avoid possible damage to your vessel.
