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a light, note its color and pattern or timing of flashes,
and compare it to your chart to find its location.
D. The Uniform State Waterway Marking System
This.section.discusses.three.kinds.of.markers.in.this.
system:..Regulatory,.Informational,.and.Lateral.
Regulatory.markers.in.this.system.are.either.signs.or.
buoys..Signs.are.square.with.orange.borders..Regula-
tory.buoys.are.white.and.shaped.like.cylinders..They.
have.horizontal.orange.bands.near.their.tops.and.
just.above.the.water's.surface..An.orange.circle.on.a.
marker.means.a.controlled.area..A.message.such.as.
"No Wake, Idle Speed, No Skiing, or 5 M.P.H." may .
appear.on.a.marker..An.orange.diamond.means..
danger..If.a.diamond.has.an.orange.cross.inside.it,..
do.not.enter.the.area..The.reason.you.should.stay.out,.
such as "Swim Area" may be printed in black on .
the.marker.
Informational.Markers.are.white.signs.with.orange.bor-
ders..They.give.information.such.as.direction,.distance,.
and.location.
Lateral.markers.in.the.USWMS.system.are.either.num-
bered.red.or.black.buoys..Black.buoys.may.have.green.
reflectors or lights. They are the equivalent of green
buoys.in.the.IALA-B.system..Red.buoys.may.have.red.
reflectors or lights. They are the same as red buoys
in.the.IALA-B.system..Red.or.black.buoys.are.usually.
found in pairs – pass between them.
E.
A Special Sign
In.Florida,.you.may.see.a.special.sign:."Caution,.
Manatee Area". When you see this sign, slow down .
to.idle.speed..Manatees,.an.endangered.species,.are.
passive,.large,.slow-moving.mammals..Many.mana-
tees.are.seriously.injured.or.killed.each.year.by.boat.
propellers.
F.
Noise
Always.be.aware.of.local.laws.on.noise.limits..Noise.
means.engine.noise,.radio.noise.or.even.yelling.by.
people.on.your.boat..Good.seamanship.demands.that.
you.operate.your.boat.quietly.so.as.not.to.infringe.on.
the.rights.of.others..Do.not.use.thru-hull.exhaust..
unless.you.are.well.offshore.
Basic Seamanship - Section C
C - 3
RECOMMENDED READING
We.recommend.that.you.read.the.boating.literature.
published.by.your.state.boating.agency.and.the.US.
Coast.Guard..Other.suggested.reading.includes.the.
following:
Damford,.Don..Anchoring..(ISBN.0-915160-64-1)...
Seven.Seas.
United.States.Coast.Guard.Auxiliary..Boating.Skills..
and.Seamanship..LC74-164688.(illus.)...
(ISBN.0-930028-00-7)..US.Coast.Guard.
Bottomley,.Tom..Boatman's.Handbook,.(illus.)..316.
p...
(ISBN.0-688-03925-1,.Hearst.Marine.Book)..Morrow.
Whiting,.John.and.Bottomley,.Tom..Chapman's.Log.
and.Owner's.Manual..192.p.(ISBN.0-686-96737-2)..
Hearst.Marine.Book.
Chapman,.Charles.F..and.Maloney,.E.S..Chapman's..
Piloting,.Seamanship.and.Small.Boat.Handling...
(illus.)..62.p..(ISBN.0-87851-814-2,.Pub..by..
Hearst.Bks.);.deluxe.ed..(ISBN.0-87851-815-0)...
Morrow.
National.Fire.Protection.Association..Fire.Protection.
Standard.for.Pleasure.and.Commercial.Motor.Craft...
(ISBN.0-317-07388-5,.NFPA.302)..National.Fire.
Protection.Association.
Brotherton,.Miner..Twelve-Volt.Bible...
(ISBN.0-915160-81-1)..Seven.Seas.
C - 4
CONTACTS
There.are.many.good.boating.publications.that.have.
information.about.your.area.and.what.other.boats.are.
doing,.such.as.clubs.and.other.activities..Educational.
programs.are.sponsored.by.publications.and.organi-
zations.such.as.the.US.Power.Squadron,.US.Coast.
Guard.Auxiliary.and.the.American.Red.Cross..See.
your.dealer.about.special.courses.available.in.the.
area..For.detailed.information.contact:
American.Red.Cross
Local.address.(see.local.telephone.directory)
website:.www.redcross.org
Boat.US.Foundation.for.Boating.Safety
1.800-336-BOAT
Owner's Manual Page
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