Have you ever wondered what all those different colored buoys and markers mean on your favorite lakes and rivers? You’re not alone! With no formal training or licensing requirements currently in place for recreational boaters in the United States, there is a severe lack of understanding when it comes to these invaluable navigation tools.
If you’re thinking about buying your first boat (or want to improve your boating knowledge), here is a quick guide to understanding these different navigational buoys and markers that make up the Uniform State Waterway Marking System (USWMS).
The USCG created this uniform marking system to ensure boaters could travel from one state to another and abide by the same navigation system. Being familiar with this navigation system will not only improve your safety, but the safety of others around you.
The following chart shows the basic structure of the Coast Guard’s recommend aids to navigation standard.
Channel Markers: Channel markers are often used to define a path of safe passage were boats should stay within when traveling in an area with navigational hazards. When entering a channel from a main body of water, or when you are traveling upstream, you shall keep the red buoys on your right hand side and the green buoys on your left. The easiest way to remember this is “Red, Right, Returning” or keep the red, to the right, when you are returning from open water.
Regulatory Marker Buoys: These buoys are typically white and orange and may symbolize a variety of official information such as a slow water area, no wake zone, danger area, or distances to (or from) a point of interest.
Milfoil Buoys: In Maine, Milfoil buoys are yellow in color and warn boaters of heavy vegetation in the area that may affect the operation of their vessels.
Safe Water Marker: Safe water markers are marked with red and white vertically striped buoys. These buoys can be passed closed on either side and generally care used to mark the center of a channel.
Mooring Buoys: Mooring buoys are white with a single blue band around them. In some cases they may have a white light or reflector.
Remember, not every navigational hazard is marked. In fact, most lakes in the United States are not marked at all. Use extreme caustion when boating in areas that you are not familiar with.
For more information on Navigational Aids or other boating laws, contact your state’s department of recreation.
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I use to go a summer camp called Camp Tohkomeupog in New Hampshire. All we did was hike, canoe trips, biking trips, etc. Time of life…
That’s awesom! I remember those care free summer camp days myself! I went to Camp Jordan on Branch Lake near Bar Harbor, ME! Those were some quality times!!