Understanding signs and markers on roadways is an essential skill to safe driving. Being able to understand navigational aid is, if anything, an even more important skill for any variety of boater. Lateral Buoy Markings A fundamental rule of thumb is the mnemonic “red, right, returning,” where by returning we imagine that we are a ship returning to port from open waters. Heading upstream or toward dock, red marked buoys should be kept to the right (starboard) side of the vessel. Conversely, green lateral buoys should be kept to the left (port) when headed from restricted waters into open waters. By staying between the red and green marked lateral buoys, you are operating in the safely navigable portion of a channel, away from shoals, bars, and other hazards. At night, lateral buoys may be marked with green or red lights, depending on whether they are to be kept to the port or starboard respectively while a boater is headed upstream or toward port. In addition to color, buoys are distinguished by their shapes. Red lateral buoys are often fitted with a conical top to the cylinder, whereas green lateral buoys are simple cylinders. Sometimes, numbers are affixed to buoys that operate like numerical exits on an expressway. The numbers increase as one passes from open waters up a channel or river. Headed downstream, the numbers conversely decrease as one approaches a river mouth or open waters. So, for example, as one floats from north to south on the Mississippi, the numbers decrease until the river actually empties into the Gulf of Mexico. In this case, even numbers will be affixed to the red buoys that you keep to your right as you pass upstream or away from open water, and odd numbers to the green buoys that you keep to the left as you pass upstream or away from open water. Safe Water Markers These are white with red vertical stripes and indicate safe open water to either side. They are also used to mark the centers of navigable channels and may be passed to port or to starboard. They may be fitted with a white light. Inland Waters Obstruction Markers These give information about hazards. They are white buoys with black vertical stripes. Do not pass between them and the nearest shore. Sometimes they are fitted with lights to indicate in which direction they are best passed. These pole-like structures carry lights that flash depending on which compass point the safest waters lie to an obstruction: • 3 (quick or very quick) flashes indicate pass to East • 6 (quick or very quick) flashes followed by a long flash indicate South • 9 (quick or very quick) flashes indicate West • continual (quick or very quick) flashes indicate North. Consult a navigational chart to learn the nature of the obstruction/hazard. Informational Water Buoy Markers Information water buoy give useful information about the waters other than where it is safe or unsafe to navigate. They may indicate protected or restricted areas, for example, or where there is no wake allowed, or where protected species nest. Mooring Buoys Mooring buoys usually white with blue horizontal bands. You will generally find them off of marinas and other places where boats are permitted to anchor. These are generally the only buoys to which boaters are allowed to tie up. Understanding the language of buoys helps one navigate effectively and safely. Practice your understanding of these aids so that you are prepared when you hit the water.

The right buoys are essential to keep inland waterways safe and to stay on the right side of U.S. Coast Guard and other federal, state and local regulations. Float collar buoys are designed to display a clear message or warning while staying afloat even in rough weather. Specifically, 1428 float collar buoys are designed to convey information to ships and boats about safety or regulatory requirements, preferred channels and other special situations. Functions of Regulatory Buoys Regulatory buoy installations are designed with orange bands at both top and bottom and feature a white background across the middle space, which ensures that ship and boat operators notice and heed the information posted on these buoys. These buoys feature one of four specific shapes that indicate the type of information they deliver:

Keeping people safe as they traverse the open water should never be a guessing game. Those who own and manage marinas, waterways and similar resources need to make the rules clear to everyone. Regulatory buoys give them the power to communicate critical information when it counts. What do people need to know about these critical maritime tools? Here’s why regulatory and navigational buoys are so important and how they’re put to good use. What Is a Regulatory Buoy? Buoys serve a range of purposes – These floating devices can handle all kinds of jobs from collecting weather data to aiding search and rescue efforts. Regulatory flotation devices lay out the rules of the road in unambiguous language. For instance, they can mark fairways to give boaters a heads-up about where they’ll find safe water. Others indicate the presence of fresh wrecks to prevent further mishaps. Vessel captains of all kinds depend on these floating signals to know how to adjust their speed, heading and position for safe travel in close quarters. Where Are These Buoys Most Often Found? Regulatory buoys are common sights in marinas and highly transited waterways. For instance, the iconic ringing-bell floater is a classic example that shows how simple technology can go a long way towards making various kinds of maritime activity safer — In this case, the ringing bell lets ships know something about the choppiness of the water. Modern buoys take these concepts even further. Thanks to their high-visibility colors, well-known symbols and easily readable lettering, they make it possible to facilitate travel with a far lower likelihood of incidents. They’re also designed to resist fading, withstand tough weather and stay upright – Some don’t even need tackle, making them appropriate for use around industrial facilities, natural water resources, public recreation spaces and shipyards alike. Finding the Right Buoys for Any Job Different situations call for different maritime hardware, which can be confusing when you’re trying to select equipment for a given location or purpose. Walsh Marine Products makes your choice as straightforward as possible by offering a variety of markers and regulatory buoys designed to keep vessels in line. Good buoys do their jobs consistently. Our seamless designs, chemical-resistant fabrication and U.S. Coast Guard-compliant foam fillings make it effortless to establish boundaries that boaters can depend on. What’s more, our marker products store and handle easily, so it’s simple to adapt them to however you prefer to work. We make it simple to get more out of your regulatory buoys and channel markers. Whether you use one of our standard models or a custom design, we’re happy to help you identify the best solution to any waterway management challenge. Explore the options by getting in touch with a Walsh Marine Products expert today.