California Boating
A Course for Safe Boating
43
Chapter 2
u
Boating Law, Navigational Rules and Navigational Aids
Lateral Markers and Safe Water Aids (Federal)
The lateral markers guide navigation
on coastal waterways spanning more
than one state.
The marking system includes:
Lateral aids
marking the sides
of channels that boaters can see
when entering from seaward.
Port-side markers are green with
odd numbers, and starboard-
side markers are red with even
numbers. They include red and
green lighted buoys, red nun and
green can buoys, and red and
green daymarks.
»
A green can buoy marks the left
side of the channel when you’re
returning to port.
»
A red nun buoy marks the right
side of the channel when you’re
returning to port.
Safe water aids
mark mid-
channels and fairways. These
range markers are red and white,
exhibit no numbers, but may be
lettered. They include white-lighted
buoys, spherical-unlighted buoys,
and daymarks. Ships line up
these markers to stay on course in
mid-channel. In recent years, these
markers have been equipped with
radar reflectors so that large ships
can navigate at night.
»
A red-striped spherical buoy
marks the center of the channel.
“Red, Right, Returning” is a saying
to help you remember which side of
a channel the red and green buoys
are found. When you are returning
from seaward to a port or harbor, the
red buoys should be on your right
side. This will ensure that you’re in
the middle of a designated shipping
lane or channel.
2
1
Can buoy
(unlighted)
Marks the
center of the
channel
Spherical buoy
(unlighted)
Daymark
Nun buoy
(unlighted)
Daymark
SG
G “1”
G
C “7”
G “9”
Fl G 4 sec
TR
R “2”
R
N “6”
RW “A”
MR
R “8”
Fl R 4sec
Starboard Side
Even Numbers
Lighted buoy
(red light only)
Port Side
Odd Numbers
Lighted buoy
(green light only)
OR
OR
G
G
CF
A
A
Lighted
(white light)
OR
RW “G”
MO (A)
LATERAL MARKERS
SAFE WATER AIDS
RW
SP “G”
No Numbers,
May Be Lettered
Daymark