Autumn marks the beginning of planning season for many lake associations, agencies, and operators. It’s when another great summer waterway season is behind us, and the lessons learned are still fresh. That makes fall the best time to evaluate what worked this year, what didn’t, and how you can improve for spring installation.
Buoy placement is one of the most important things to plan for safety, compliance, and long-term efficiency. A misplaced or poorly maintained buoy leads to confusion, accidents, regulatory penalties, and extra costs.
At Walsh Marine, we serve a diverse range of markets, including lake associations, hydro operations, marinas, and resorts. The same buoy placement challenges tend to surface time and time again. Here are the most common buoy placement mistakes to help you steer clear.
1. Improper Spacing
A buoy that’s placed too close or too far from its neighbor is like a road sign planted in the wrong lane—it confuses everyone. We’ve seen “no wake” signs ignored because markers were scattered, marinas with slips blocked by tightly packed buoys, and hydro operators dealing with boats that drift dangerously close to intakes.
In government-controlled navigation channels, buoy placement mistakes can create enforcement challenges and potential liability. It’s crucial for safety to get the spacing just right.
How to Avoid It: Start with the guidelines from the USCG (U.S. Coast Guard) and ACOE (Army Corps of Engineers), as well as state agencies. From there, adjust and adapt for your waterway’s actual traffic and visibility.
2. Ignoring Water Depth and Bottom Conditions
Anchoring a buoy depends on more than just dropping it into the water. The depth, currents, and what’s on the bottom (i.e. silt, rock, clay) all play a part in whether that anchor stays put.
For a resort, a drifting buoy in a swim zone can cause chaos. Construction crews have often seen temporary buoys pulled off station by currents if the anchors aren’t properly set. For a lake association, shifting buoys can leave gaps in no-wake boundaries.
How to Avoid It: Survey the depth of water and bottom conditions so you know your anchors and chain lengths match the environment. Keep in mind that certain conditions can change with storms, flooding, or seasonal shifts in water levels. A survey isn’t just a one-time requirement. The survey should be revisited at least annually, or anytime major weather events alter the shoreline or bottom composition.
3. Overlooking Traffic Patterns
Every waterway has its own set of “lanes” just like a highway. And just like a highway, if the lanes are in the wrong spot, you risk misleading boaters or worse—collisions.
Misplaced buoys and channel markers can cause vessels to move dangerously close to docks or shorelines. Poorly planned swim buoys can cut into popular boating paths, causing risks to swimmers and guests.
How to Avoid It: Review traffic studies, consult local knowledge, and observe traffic firsthand during peak season. This lets you plan buoy placement that works with the flow, not against it.
4. Neglecting Regulatory Requirements
Waterways are often regulated by several different entities—federal, state, and local rules may all factor into your buoy placement. Miss a rule and you could face fines and project delays.
State DNRs will order buoys pulled if they don’t meet visibility codes. Construction projects grind to a halt due to missing permits. Because different jurisdictions have different rules, it’s important to pay attention to them all.
How to Avoid It: Familiarize yourself with the full framework of regulations before you begin any projects. Work with a partner who is experienced across all jurisdictions that apply to your waterway so that you can navigate compliance. And don’t be afraid to ask for clarification if you aren’t sure about a rule or regulation.
5. Seasonal Blind Spots
Unlike traffic signs, buoys aren’t static. They’re subject to the rise and fall of water levels. In northern climates, ice and winter weather wreak havoc. With buoy placement, you may have to wrestle with the whims of Mother Nature.
Lake associations often discover that their markers have strayed into unusable spots over the winter. Marinas may experience spring floods that push buoys into slips. Hydro sites are often dealing with sudden water level shifts and changes.
How to Avoid It: There’s not always a way to avoid the weather, but you can certainly plan for it. Select equipment that’s designed to work in your particular climate. Schedule anticipated seasonal adjustments to be ahead of the game and factor in the seasonal variability into your placement decisions.
6. Insufficient Visibility
A buoy that blends into the fog or is hidden by glare is essentially invisible and failing its purpose. Guests who are unfamiliar with the waterways can easily miss faded and degraded markers.
Even a government-run waterway can struggle with visibility. It’s difficult to enforce the rules if markers aren’t up to standards. Poor lighting and too small sizing can result in buoys that don’t do their job.
How to Avoid It: Select buoys that are the right size, color, and reflectivity, and don’t forget to factor in wear and tear. Maintain the reflective surfaces and refresh markings before they dull and fade. Keep an eye on your markers with regularly scheduled inspections.
7. Incorrect Anchoring Systems
Anchor systems are one of the most crucial components of buoy placement. Perfect placement is futile if buoys fail due to their anchor system. Lightweight anchors can drift and move.
In construction areas, lightweight and temporary anchors can move and become confusing to crews and regulators. In hydro operations, strong currents require heavier-duty chains and anchors (compared to their recreational counterparts).
How to Avoid It: Keep buoys from going adrift by matching the anchor type and chain weight to the depth, current, and wave action in your waterway. Skimping on anchoring or failing due diligence can end up costing significantly more down the road.
8. Failure to Document and Map
If it’s not written down, it’s already likely forgotten. Without records, reinstallations turn into guesswork, and inspections can miss key details. Should you end up in a liability situation, compliance is hard to prove without proper documentation.
Government and construction projects are dependent on accurate mapping. In a marina, you need the GPS coordinates to reset your seasonal buoys. Everything becomes easier when you have a record to follow and check.
How to Avoid It: The short answer is: Write. It. Down. Detailed placement maps with GPS coordinates and anchor specs will help you ensure everything is in the right spot. Inspection logs are essential in case any questions arise about placement.
9. Inadequate Maintenance Plans
Skipping maintenance is like skipping upkeep on your car, house, or boat. It only ends up one way (badly). Chains corrode, markings fade, and without a maintenance plan, you may have no way of knowing until it’s too late.
Your first sign of a problem shouldn’t be a buoy drifting ashore. For resorts, lake associations, and public swimming areas, proper marking is an essential part of safety. As with anything, think of it as an ounce of prevention to protect pounds of problems in the future.
How to Avoid It: Keep up a regular maintenance schedule and log everything during inspections. Prioritizing preventative care helps protect you from high costs and reputational damage.
10. Assuming “One Size Fits All”
As you probably know, no two waterways are alike. Applying a copy-paste plan for buoy placement from another site rarely works.
Lake associations are balancing recreation and shoreline protection. Hydro operations are focused on precision for worker and public safety. Marinas and resorts are looking at guest experience. Construction zones need temporary compliance to accommodate changes, and government-run sites must strictly adhere to federal standards. Each is different.
How to Avoid It: You can’t avoid the differences, but you can embrace them and customize every plan to each unique waterway. That means spacing, anchoring, and visibility should be carefully tailored to your exact site and the needs of your particular waterway.
Planning Now Matters for the Future
As we go into the lighter water traffic season, it’s a great time to take stock. Summer challenges are fresh in your mind. You’re looking at budget improvements for year-end. It’s the perfect time to secure the equipment you need ahead of spring demand.
Don’t wait until the next season rolls around, or you’ll have to rush, and rushing can lead to mistakes.
At Walsh Marine, we’ve spent decades helping execute effective buoy strategies on every type of waterway—from helping lake associations, marinas, and resorts, to working with hydro operators, government agencies, and construction partners. We know how to provide end-to-end support from permitting through planning, installation, and ongoing maintenance. Questions? Reach out.
Safety is always first. We want to help you feel confident that your waterways are secure, compliant, and ready for use. We understand the regulatory landscape and site-specific realities that make each project unique.
Explore your buoy options today to plan now and experience success next season!