Navigation Aids - Regal 3760 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
specific information. They form a continous system of
charted markers for accurate piloting on paper and on the
water.
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 roadmap to keep the skipper on course
and to avoid hazards. Buoys are identified 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.
Also, there are GPS devices along with plotters that use
various cards to show the geography of waterways.
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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