A study magazine for the Rules of the Road

Preview Deck Pass $1.95 a month or $19.50 a year, free during preview. Nothing is charged. Pricing

MarinaMagazine Logbook

Pocket card · Deck Pass

No. 3 Buoys and marks: pocket card

A study card to print and fold: it summarises; the official rules govern.

Deck Pass $1.95 a month or $19.50 a year · Free during preview · what it buys

2
Red cone-topped (nun) buoy numbered 2

Heading in from sea (the Conventional Direction of Buoyage), you meet this red, cone-topped buoy numbered 2. Where do you keep it?

On your right (starboard) side

33 CFR 62.25(b)(2) and 62.43(a)

3
Green flat-topped (can) buoy numbered 3

Heading in from sea, a green, flat-topped buoy numbered 3. Where do you keep it?

On your left (port) side

33 CFR 62.25(b)(1) and 62.43(a)

Round buoy with red and white vertical stripes

A round buoy with red and white vertical stripes. What does it tell you?

Safe water: navigable water all around it (fairway, mid-channel or the seaward end of a channel)

33 CFR 62.27

Black buoy with a broad red band and two black balls on top

Black with a broad red band and two black balls on top. What is it?

An isolated danger with navigable water around it: do not approach closely

33 CFR 62.29

Solid yellow buoy

A solid yellow buoy. What is it for?

A special mark: a special area or feature shown on the chart (anchorage, cable area, and so on)

33 CFR 62.31

Can buoy with green and red horizontal bands, green on top

Heading in, a can buoy with green and red horizontal bands, GREEN on top. What is it?

A channel junction: for the preferred channel treat it as a green mark and keep it on your left

33 CFR 62.25(c)

White marker with an open orange diamond

A white marker with an open orange diamond. What does it mean?

Danger (for example rocks or a shoal)

33 CFR 62.33(a)(1)

White marker with an orange diamond and a cross inside

A white marker with an orange diamond that has a cross inside. What does it mean?

Boats keep out: vessels are excluded from the area

33 CFR 62.33(a)(2)

5
White marker with an orange circle

A white marker with an orange circle. What does it mean?

Operating restrictions apply in the area (speed limit, no wake, and so on)

33 CFR 62.33(a)(3)

White buoy with a blue horizontal band

A white buoy with a blue horizontal band. What is it?

A mooring buoy

33 CFR 62.35

Buoy with black and white vertical stripes

On state inland waters, a buoy with black and white vertical stripes. What does it mean?

An obstruction runs from the nearest shore to the buoy: do not pass between the buoy and the shore

33 CFR 62.32

flashing
Night: a channel buoy showing a flashing green light

Heading in at night, a channel buoy shows a flashing GREEN light. Where do you keep it?

On your left (port) side

33 CFR 62.45(b)-(c)

Marina Magazine study aid; the official rules govern. marinamagazine.info