10 Things to Consider When Buying Marine Buoys

Buoys in general are floating markers that provide information and navigational aid to boaters on the water.  Buoys serve as the equivalent of floating road signs, communicating information to all those on and around the water with the goal of safety for all.  Buoys come in several categories with specific purposes including mooring buoys, channel marker buoys, and regulatory buoys.  Here we explore the latter, and go into depth on what regulatory buoys are, the messages they convey, and how to interpret them.

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What is a Regulatory Buoy?

Regulatory buoys are buoys designed to communicate a range of information to boaters, ship captains, and others on and around the water.  Through a combination of symbols and words, regulatory buoys can convey warnings, indicate locations, and spell out rules and regulations.  Typically, a regulatory buoy is white with orange symbols and bands, and black text.  These buoys are approved and universally used by local, state, and federal agencies to ensure water safety.   They are appropriate for government and private applications. 

Characteristics of a Regulatory Buoy

• White with an orange horizontal band at both top and bottom.
• Black text within or around an orange square, circle, or diamond; or black text outside a diamond with an orange cross.
• Can be buoys or beacons.
• If lit, the light will be white and may have any light rhythm except quick flashing, flashing (2), or Morse code “A.”
• Chart symbol indicating regulatory buoy location: 

Regulatory Buoy Designs

Regulatory buoy designs can vary depending on the location they are deployed and the conditions that the buoy must operate in over the course of time.  The size and shape of the buoys range greatly, particularly with heavy-duty offshore and open water regulatory buoys.  For nearshore, inshore, and protected water regulatory buoys, the typical designs are shown below. 

Can Buoy

Can Buoy with Collar

Spar Buoy

Regulatory Buoy Symbols and Messaging

There are four (4) basic categories of messages conveyed on regulatory buoys in the U.S.  The message types are Hazard Warning, Controlled Area, Restricted Area, and Information.  The symbols used for each of these types of regulatory messages are shown in the image below.

Regulatory Buoy Symbols

Message Examples

Hazard Warning:  ROCK, DANGER, RAPIDS, SHOAL, STUMP, SHALLOW AREA, HAZARD AREA, DANGER DAM

Controlled Area:  SLOW 5 MPH, SLOW NO WAKE, SKI AREA, NO SKI, SPEED ZONE, NO WAKE IDLE SPEED

Restricted Area:  SWIM AREA, KEEP OUT, NO BOATS, BOATS KEEP OUT, CLOSED AREA, NO BOATING, DANGER DAM

Information:  RESTROOM 1 MILE, STATE PARK AHEAD, MARINA ENTRANCE, FISH ATTRACTOR

Who Uses Regulatory Buoys?

With the public’s safety in mind, many government agencies purchase and deploy regulatory buoys in waterways across the country.  These agencies can range from local parks departments to state game and wildlife agencies to the US Coast Guard and US Army Corp of Engineers. 

Private citizens can also deploy regulatory buoys after gaining the appropriate government approvals.  It is important to note that proper approval is required, as individuals are not authorized to set rules that impact the public on navigable waterways.

Where are Regulatory Buoys Used?

It is common to see regulatory buoys in and around marinas, ports, harbors, recreational areas, commercial areas, and waterways with heavy boat traffic.  Regulatory buoys can be found in navigable bodies of water including oceans, bays, rivers, lakes, and reservoirs.  If boats are operated in an area, it is typical to find regulatory buoys as well.  Communicating critical information with boaters to ensure safety is the goal when these types of buoys are used. 

How to Select the Proper Regulatory Buoy?

There are several factors that should be considered when selecting the type of regulatory buoy to deploy.  The size of the buoy impacts both the visibility of the buoy and the ability of the buoy to remain afloat in different water and weather conditions.  The strength of currents and running tides must be considered when choosing a buoy size.  Extreme winds and wave conditions are other factors to keep in mind.  These same factors not only affect the decision on the size of the buoy, but also the desired anchor point on a buoy.  As an example, buoys deployed in strong currents may be better anchored with a side eyelet instead of an eyelet centered on the bottom of the regulatory buoy.   Exposure to ice can also dictate buoy selection as well as the ability to leave buoys out year-round.  Ice spar buoys are designed to withstand the rigors of use in frozen waters. 

Buoy with Side Anchor Point 

Contact us to discuss your requirements of Marine Buoys. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.

Buoy with Bottom Anchor Point 

The water conditions should also factor into buoy selection.  Buoys being used in saltwater environments may hold up longer if stainless steel hardware is selected over galvanized hardware.  While the initial investment may be greater with stainless steel hardware, the life of the product can be extended, and the overall value provided improved.  Regardless of the material chosen, the quality and size of the hardware should also be reviewed. 

The construction of the buoys should also be a consideration when choosing the right buoy for a particular application.  All buoys are not equal.  Durable materials like ABS or HDPE are good choices to avoid wear and tear issues like dents, chips, cracks, peeling, and rust.  Adequate ballast must be included in the design of the buoy, and filling buoys with urethane foam can make them virtually unsinkable.  The quality of the graphics also plays into buoy life, as fading and peeling symbols and text can reduce the effective life of regulatory buoys. 

Additional Regulatory Buoy Options

As mentioned, hardware can be upgraded from galvanized steel to stainless steel on many buoy designs.  Pickup eyes can be added to the top of most buoys as well, allowing for the use of a crane or winch to deploy or remove buoys from the water.  Custom messaging can usually be accommodated as well, beyond the commonly used phrases mentioned previously.  Agency or name identification can also be added to regulatory buoys.  Solar lights can also be added to many regulatory buoys to increase nighttime visibility and attract attention. 

Solar Buoy Light

Buoy Anchors

Anchoring buoys in place is another consideration.  In general, buoys should be connected to anchors with marine-grade cables or chains, as ropes are not a good option for long-term deployment.  Anchor selection is another factor.  Concrete anchors with loops for connection are a common choice.  Augers can also be deployed depending on installation resources.  Heavy pyramid anchors are another choice.  The conditions on the bottom can impact the effectiveness of an anchor's ability to maintain a buoy in place.  Extreme conditions can shift buoys from their original locations, so they should be regularly monitored and relocated as needed. 

Concrete Buoy Anchor

If you're new to boating, you may find yourself asking, "What do all those red channel markers and green buoys mean?"

Well, there may not be any road signs or painted lines out on the water, but fortunately as boaters we have plenty of channel markers, buoys, and aids indicating everything from channels to no wake zones. But for someone who hasn’t spent years on the water, all those red markers and green buoys can be confusing.

Never fear, new boaters—we’re here to help.

Boating Regulatory Zones: What is a 'No Wake' Zone?

Channel Markers vs. Buoys

All the different “road signs” of the water are called “aids to navigation.” These include fixed markers on poles and pilings as well as a variety of floating buoys that are anchored to the bottom. Why will you see a mix of fixed channel markers on poles, and floating buoys? Mostly, this is a matter of physical geography.

In deep water, it’s difficult to drive a piling, so putting a buoy there makes more sense. In other places, channels may shift and change over time, so again, utilizing a buoy (which can be moved and re-anchored at a later date) is the norm. But in areas where the bottom composition doesn’t change much over time and the water is shallow enough to drive a piling, a fixed marker (which doesn’t require as much regular maintenance) is often a better option.

The bottom line? What’s important to remember is that boaters should treat fixed markers and buoys exactly the same.

Also remember that some, but not all, markers and buoys will be lighted. Those that are lighted will blink at a specific frequency. These frequencies are marked on charts and chartplotters. So if you see a red one blinking every three seconds, for example, you can look at your chart, find the nearest red marker that blinks at that frequency, and easily identify the marker you’re looking at.

Channel Marker Colors: Understanding Red and Green Markers and Navigation Buoys

Most of the markers and buoys you’ll see will be either red or green, and these colors help identify which side you’ll want to pass them on to remain in a channel.

• As a general rule of thumb, when you’re heading from open water to inland water, or heading upstream in a river, you’ll want to keep the red markers to your right and the green ones to your left.
• So, when you’re heading from the ocean into a bay, or from a bay into a creek, harbor, or port, the red markers belong on your right side.

Hence, the old saying “red right returning.” Sometimes you’ll see an aid to navigation that has horizontal bands of both red and green. These mark the junction between two channels. In this case, the color that’s highest on the marker indicated the preferred or primary channel.

Another aid to navigation you may see are called “non lateral” aids to navigation. Each of these has their own specific use and meaning as follows:

• Diamond-shaped Dayboards – These are used to help you determine your location, more or less like the “you are here” marks on a map.
• Safe Water Marks – When you see an aid with white and red vertical stripes, you know there’s unobstructed water on both sides.
• Danger Marks – Look out for red and black horizontal bands, which indicate an isolated danger that can be passed on either side.
• Range Markers – These are pairs of markers, often with non-blinking lights. When you’re in the middle of the channel, the two markers and/or lights line up vertically. The colors on range markers are related to how well they stand out versus navigation, so when you see their three vertical stripes remember that you don’t have to worry about what color they are.

• Information and Regulation Markers – Orange and white aids are used to indicate various regulations like speed zones and fisheries regulations. These will have an orange diamond shape on them if they mark a hazard, a circle if they indicate regulations related to how you operate your boat, a diamond with a cross through it if boats are prohibited from the area, or a square when they are used for informational purposes.
• Special Aids – Solid yellow markers are called special aids, and they mark things like anchorages, traffic separation, areas with cables underwater, and other unique situations.
• State Waters Obstruction Marks – Don’t pass between one of these black and white vertically striped buoys, because they indicate an obstruction from shore to their position.

In addition to all of these aids to navigation, you may also come across white buoys with a blue stripe. These don’t actually relate to navigation but keep your eyes out for them because they’re mooring buoys that people secure their boat to in harbors and anchorages. Remember that most are private and you need permission to use them.

Driving a Boat: Step-by-Step Guide

How to Read Channel Markers & Aids to Navigation

Okay: now that you know what all those red markers and green buoys mean—as well as the yellows, blacks, whites, and oranges—you can effectively navigate your boat through most waterways. Of course, there’s more to getting where you’re going than just understanding the navigational aids. Be sure to read Marine Navigation: How to Navigate a Boat to get the complete scoop.

Marine Navigation: How to Navigate a Boat

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