Can Bouy
Green Day Beacon
Green Dolphin
Green Bouy
Aids to Navigation
Updated 06 January 2001
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 Navigations) are
bouys, many others may be daymarkers, ranges, or many other types
of marks that provide the boating public with a "sense of
direction" while on the water. 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".
|
|
|
|
|
|
Can Bouy |
Green Day Beacon |
Green Dolphin |
Green Bouy |
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 often 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.
|
|
|
|
|
Nun Bouy |
Red Day Beacon |
Red Bouy |
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 Day Beacon |
Preferred Channel Day Bouy |
..............
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 have the same color light at the top color of the marker
and they may have letters but not numbers.
|
|
|
Safe Water Buoy |
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 Bouy |
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 |
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.
|
|
|
No Lateral Significance |
Some markers will have no lateral significance. They are not
designed to indicate the channel but rather, to help you know
where you are.
|
|
|
State Regulatory Marker |
