Buoys and Markers

It is very important to know the the meaning of the different markers used in a boating environment.  These different signs can help to keep you, your passengers, and your boat out of danger.  

Regulatory Markers - These are white with black letters and have orange warning borders that will come in different shapes depending on the situation.  

Square: Information  

Danger: Rock

Circle: Restricted Are

Crossed Diamonds:
Prohibited Area

Mooring Buoys - Mooring buoys are white with a blue horizontal band and can be placed in public waters. It is illegal to moor or attach your vessel in any way to other buoys or navigational aids.  

Mooring Buoys

Lateral Markers - These are used to indicate the outer edges of a channel .  Safe navigation can be done between any two sets of green and red markers.  

 - Green colors and lights should be on your right when HEADING OUT TO OPEN WATER

 - Red colors and lights should be on your right when HEADING TOWARD THE CHANNEL. Remember the saying "Red-Right-Returning" or the lengthened version, "Red on the right when returning from sea". 

 - Red and white vertically striped markers, sometimes with a red top mark or a white light on top indicate the middle of a channel or the "fairway". You can proceed past these markers on either side as long as you are following safe navigational rules.  

 - Red and green markers signify a primary channel.  If the green horizontal band in on top, the primary channel is to the right, if the red band is on top, then the primary channel is to the left.  

 - Generally, green port side buoys in the main and secondary channels are "can" or square-shaped markers and odd-numbered.   

 - Red starboard side buoys in these channels are "nun" or triangular-shaped markers and even-numbered.

Other Markers

 - These markers will mark obstructions in the water.  

For other information on different markers and buoys, click here.