Navigation Aids - Regal 53 SC Owner's Manual

NAVIGATION AIDS

Navigation aids are placed along coasts and navigable
waters as a guide for mariners in determining their position
in reference to land and hidden danger. Each aid provides
specifi c information. They form a continuous system of
charted markers for monitoring on the plotter or providing
accurate piloting on paper as a backup.
Your on board plotter provides up to date navigation
aids. Besides coastal maps a complete domestic interior
waterway grid is featured on the plotter.
If desired, there are hand-held GPS devices that are
available as back-up devices. In addition, nautical charts are
provided by the National Ocean Service (NOS) and are
distributed nationwide through marinas and outlet stores.
These charts show the geography of the coast, water depth,
landmarks, navigation aids (buoys and markers), marine
hazards, and port facilities. Use only up-to-date charts for
navigation. We recommend when purchasing a chart to
look for the weather resistant ones.
Buoys provide a road map to keep the skipper on course
and to avoid hazards. Buoys are identifi ed by light, shape,
color and in severe weather conditions by sound.
Buoys or beacons called lateral markers indicate the port
and starboard sides of the waterway to be followed. U. S
markers follow the buoyage system known as Red Right
Returning. When returning from sea or traveling upstream,
the green markers are to port (on your left) and the red
markers are to the starboard side (on your right). When
traveling downstream or out to sea the marker color would
be reversed.
Before operating your vessel, learn to identify the various
navigational aids such as lateral aids, mid-channel markers,
information and regulatory markers.
Rules Of The Road
NOTICE
SKIPPERS MUST NOT RELY ON BUOYS
ALONE TO MARK THEIR POSITION.
SEVERE WEATHER CONDITIONS
AND WAVE ACTION CAN ALTER
A BUOYS POSITION.
NEVER TIE UP TO A BUOY.
IT IS ILLEGAL AND DANGEROUS.
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