Page 30 - LIT-18626-13-92

UF3X14E0.book Page 21 Monday, July 11, 2022 11:31 AM

Safety information

the International Rules. Vessels with trolling state. The Uniform State Waterway Marking
lines are not considered fishing vessels. Fish- System has been devised for these waters.
ing vessels have the right-of-way regardless This system uses buoys and signs with dis-
of position. Fishing vessels cannot, however, tinctive shapes and colors to show regulatory
impede the passage of other vessels in nar- or advisory information. These markers are
row channels. white with black letters and orange borders.
Sailing vessel right-of-way They signify speed zones, restricted areas,
Sailing vessels should normally be given the danger areas, and general information.
right-of-way. The exceptions to this are:
(1) When the sailing vessel is overtaking the
power-driven vessel, the power-driven
vessel has the right-of-way.
(2) Sailing vessels should keep clear of any
fishing vessel.
(3) In a narrow channel, a sailing vessel
should not hamper the safe passage of a
power-driven vessel that can navigate
only in such a channel.
Reading buoys and other markers
The waters of the United States are marked
for safe navigation by the lateral system of
buoyage. Simply put, buoys and markers
have an arrangement of shapes, colors, num-
bers, and lights to show which side of the
buoy a boater should pass on when navigat-
ing in a particular direction. The markings on
these buoys are oriented from the perspec-
tive of being entered from seaward (the boat-
er is going towards the harbor). Red buoys
are passed on your starboard (right) side
when proceeding from open water into the
harbor, and black buoys are to your port (left)
side. An easy way to remember the meaning
of the colors is the phrase “red right return-
ing”. When navigating out of the harbor, your
position with respect to the buoys should be
reversed; red buoys should be to port and
black buoys to starboard.
Many bodies of water used by boaters are
entirely within the boundaries of a particular

21