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The Basics of the Navigation Rules for Boaters

Posted By Kim Perry, Wednesday, February 9, 2022
Updated: Monday, February 7, 2022

Every child can likely tell you that green means go and red means stop. This signage is ingrained in us at an early age. However, rules on the water are not common knowledge. The colors don’t have the same meaning that they do on land, so it can be very confusing for a new boater and even the most experienced boater can be puzzled at times.

To help you and your crew avoid wrong turns and accidents on the water, the Sea Tow Foundation has prepared the following list of boating navigation basics. While this list is not a substitute for all the rules that you should know (and would learn about in a boating safety course – which we suggest you take), it provides a good start.  

Some Definitions to Help Get Started  

Port - The left-hand side of the boat when facing forward. The port side of the boat must show a red light at night. An easy way to remember this is that LEFT and PORT have the same number of letters and RED is the shorter of the two color names to go with the shorter name of the two sides.  

Starboard - The right-hand side of the boat when facing forward. The starboard side of the boat must show a green light at night.  

Bow – The front of the boat when facing forward. At night, a white light and the edges of the red and green lights should be visible from the bow.  

Stern – The back of the boat when facing forward. The stern must show a white light at night.  

Buoy - An anchored float serving as a navigational marker. Buoys come in various shapes and colors, and each design has a different meaning. A buoy will also have colored lights on it so that it can be seen at night.

  • Green Buoys are square-shaped or have a squared-off top, have odd numbers, and are referred to as “cans” - an easy way to remember this is that the green soda brand with a certain odd number in its name comes in a can.
  • Red Buoys are triangle-shaped or pointed at the top, have even numbers, and are referred to as “nuns.”
  • If a buoy is both red and green, the shape of the buoy or the top color tells you the preferred channel to take your boat.
  • White Buoys or Signs with orange markings are informational or regulatory. They can tell you about a danger ahead like a rock, mark a swim area where you can’t take the boat, provide a speed limit, or mark a no wake notice.
  • White Buoys with a blue marking are for mooring or tying up the boat in the middle of the waterway.
  • Yellow buoys are used for special purposes to mark pipelines, cables, or other areas to avoid.    

 

“Red, Right, Returning”  

This is a common boating navigation phrase, but with red lights on the left (port) side of a boat and red buoys marking the channel, it can get confusing. In this case, the phrase is talking only about the buoys. When you are returning to your port, you should keep the red buoys on your starboard (right) side; the even numbers on the red markers will increase as you go upstream.  

 

The Navigation Rules, Simplified  

  1. The Rule of Responsibility has two points: first, a boat’s operator is required to comply with rules and practice responsible seamanship that shows thought. Second, the boat’s operator must do everything possible to avoid a collision – even if that avoidance means breaking a rule.
  2. Every boat is required to have a person whose only job is to keep a look-out around the entire boat. This job includes listening and looking for things in the way. If a boater is heading out on the water alone, this responsibility is something to be aware of.
  3. Boats should be operated at a safe speed that allows plenty of time to avoid collision or stop before a dangerous situation develops. The safe speed may change due to the weather, other boating traffic, the type of boat, and time of day.  

The Navigation Rules are much more detailed and there are many more rules than just these three that boaters are required to know and follow. We encourage you to take a boating safety course to learn more and suggest taking the new interactive, online course iLearntoBoat.

Did you know all of these rules or did you learn something new? What did we forget that you think we should have included? Let us know in the comments!

To continue providing these blogs, please consider a donation to the Sea Tow Foundation today to help us continue our efforts to educate boaters and keep them safe on the water. You can donate securely online at www.boatingsafety.com/donatetoday or by clicking on the DONATE tab at the top of the page.

Tags:  boating safety  boating safety course  bow  buoys  ilearntoboat  navigation basics  navigation rules  navigation rules for boaters  port  red right returning  sea tow foundation  starboard  stern 

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