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

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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



White markers and or bouys with an orange boarder, diamond, circle, or square can be used to provide informatin or regulations such as a no wake zone or a shoal area. As with all other aids to navigation, they should be given a wide berth to avoid possible damage to your vessel.