Hi can anyone help me out im looking for information with regards to the marking and what they mean of buoys.?

Question

i am looking for info on buoy markings and if you could point me in the direction of any sailing fishing information safety etc then i'd really appreciate that.

but any sailing stuff appreciated.

Answer 1

The best publication is the admiralty handbook which will give you all the required info plus a lot more.

Other places to look are listed below. IALA is the governing body for lighthouses and buoys worldwide

Imray publish many "sea" books charts etc.

Answer 2

I think that the RNLI have a publication on the matter, also the RYA who run the yacht master courses would have a similar publication. Failing that the government , through the admiralty, will publish the same but as part of a wider navigation and seamanship book.

Answer 3

Get in touch with the coast guard they should be able to give you a book with all the bouys and what they all mean,or contact your states wildlife association.

Answer 4

Here you go: - http://www.sailtrain.co.uk/Buoyage/intro...

Answer 5

Go to a Nautical supply store and ask for a " Davis 125 " reference sheet.. On one side it has all the navigation rules which includes International Colregs and inland rules of the nautical road (lights, sounds, right of way and distress signals) On the other side it has US aids to navigation which includes, buoyage symbols and lights,  buoyage as it appears on charts and buoyage as it appears in place. Pretty handy reference and waterproof.  $10.00

Answer 6

Just remember "red right returning" indicating if a red marker is on your right side you are headed back to port. There are plenty more though.

This is assuming you are in U.S. waters as I'm looking at this question on Yahoo answers U.S.

Answer 7

Red and green channel markers and your nav lights.  Port side nav light is red, so if entering the harbour or channel, then put the red marker buoy to your red nav light.  Red on red.

When leaving the harbour it would be green on red.  

Then we got cardinals which protect a rock outcrop or shallow water if I can remember correctly:

North Cardinal is yellow base, black top (constant flash with lamp),

South Cardinal is black base, yellow top (6 flashes with long pause),

East cardinal is black base and top with mid yellow stripe (3 flashes with long pause)

and west cardinal is yellow base and top with black mid stripe (9 flashes with long pause).

I think I got it right, but memory can fail, that is why the responsible boater will always carry reference material on the boat to double check.

The RYA do an excellent range of books.

Answer 8

Hi,

Assuming you are asking this question from a UK/Ireland perspective (As this is Answers UK and Ireland)

RE: "Red right returning" - This is worse than misleading - it's totally wrong for UK buoyage (And all other countries using IALA buoyage). Imagine following that advice in <1/4 mile visibility!

It only works in the US and Canada as far as  know.

IALA buoyage has lateral marks laid out 'Correctly' for entering a channel - red/porthand markers should be left to port.

This pdf doc is made for New Zealand but is valid IALA buoyage, and easy to get the info from.

http://www.maritimenz.govt.nz/publicatio...

(No offense intended to well meaning Answerer but, get it right... eh)

Answer 9

royal yacht association  hand book is the bible of seamanship all your info is in there. www.rya.org.uk enjoy your read.