ATX 22 Type-S, Owner'S Manual

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BOATING SAFETY | 41
Aids to Navigation
Learn to recognize the different buoys and day markers; they are the signposts
of the waterways . The United States Aids to Navigation System (USATONS) is the
primary marking system used on inland water, coastal waters and rivers in the
United States . This system is maintained by the U .S . Coast Guard (USCG) .
There are two primary marking systems in use in the U .S .: the Uniform State
Waterway Marking System (USWMS), used on inland waters and maintained by
each state, and the Federal Waterway Marking System (FWMS), used on coast-
al waters and rivers and maintained by the USCG . In addition, the FWMS has two
modified systems: the Western River Buoyage, and the Intercoastal Waterway
Buoyage . Be sure to check with local authorities on the buoyage system in use .
The type of hazard/warning buoys and markers depends on the area of juris-
diction . Check with local boating authorities .
USWMS System
In the USWMS Lateral System, well-defined channels are marked with red and
black buoys . Lateral means the sides of the channel are marked and the boat
should pass between them . The USWMS Cardinal System is used when there
is no well-defined channel or where an obstruction may be approached from
more than one direction . With the cardinal system:
• Pass north or east of BLACK-TOPPED WHITE buoy .
•
Pass south or west of RED-TOPPED WHITE buoy .
• RED and WHITE VERTICALLY STRIPED buoy indicates boat should pass
outside of the buoy (away from shore) .
FWMS System
The FWMS Lateral System is for use on navigable waters except Western Riv-
ers and Intercoastal Waterways . The markings on these buoys are oriented from
the perspective of being entered from seaward (the boater is going toward
the port) . This means that red buoys are passed on the starboard (right) side
of the vessel when proceeding from open water into port, and green buoys to
the port (left) side .
The right side (starboard) of the channel is marked with RED,
even numbered buoys .
The left (port) side of the channel is marked with GREEN, odd numbered buoys .
The middle of the channel is marked with RED and WHITE vertically striped
buoys; pass close to these buoys .
Obstructions, channel junctions, etc . are marked with RED and GREEN hori-
zontally striped buoys . A RED band at the top means the preferred channel is to
the left of the buoy; a GREEN top band means the preferred channel is to the
right of the buoy .
Day markers are colored and numbered the same as buoys . RED, triangular day
markers with even numbers mark the starboard side of the channel . GREEN,
square day markers with odd numbers mark the port side of the channel .
Lights, bells and horns are used on buoys for night or poor visibility conditions .
Buoys with unique light flashing characteristics are identified on nautical charts
with the specific flashing pattern .
Types of Buoys
There are several types and shapes of buoys . Buoys may be unlighted, lighted,
with sound or may have both an audible and a visual signal . Lights, bells and
horns are used on buoys for night or poor visibility conditions . Different shapes of
buoys are shown below .
UNLIGHTED
BELL BUOY
SPAR BUOY CAN BUOY LIGHTED
BUOY
NUN BUOY SPHERICAL
SAFE WATER
MARKER