Understanding River Navigation Markers

Boating on the River is a wonderful way to spent your leisure time enjoying one of natures most beautiful offerings. To insure you have a safe enjoyable time you will need to know and understand a few things about navigating a river. Most navigable rivers are either federal or state controlled waterways, typically rivers that support commercial traffic will be federal waterways, both are navigated in the same manner.

The river channel will be marked with navigation markers, these come in several different forms depending on the situation, there are floating buoys, fixed markers mounted on posts, pilings, bridge piers in the water, and fixed markers mounted on land, sometimes on a post, tower or natural rock or tree. There are two basic colors of channel markers, red and green. These markers are sometimes lighted with flashing lights that are the same color as the marker, if the marker is not lighted it will be highly reflective as to be easily found at night.

Generally speaking you will only find markers when there is a hazard, generally shallow water, or rocks just below the waters surface. Both of these conditions can end your boating day and cause very significant damage to your boat and or outdrive.

Below are a few basic terms you will need to know to properly navigate the river.

• Bow = the front of your boat.
• Stern = the rear of your boat.
• Starboard = the right side of your boat while facing the bow.
• Port = the left side of your boat while facing the bow.
• Red Markers have a corresponding shape = triangle (pointed up)
• Green Markers have a corresponding shape = rectangle
• Descending Bank = the banks of the river while traveling down stream 

If you are new to boating on the river the channel markers can be a little confusing. There is a old maritime phrase "Red Right Return" that will help you remember which side of the marker you need to be on. This phrase means that you keep the red to your right when returning from sea, or to translate that to an inland river setting you would keep the red marker on your right (starboard) side when traveling upstream. Simply reverse this rule for downstream travel keeping the red marker to your left (port) side.

If you encounter a set of markers; meaning a red and a green simply boat between the two markers as close to the center of the marked channel as possible. If the marked channel is narrow and another boat is approaching from the other direction, both boats should slow to a no-wake speed while in the marked channel to keep from swamping each other.

If you encounter a string of markers of the same color draw an imaginary line from marker to marker and treat that as you would a line on the highway, and stay a safe distance off the line.

If the markers are on shore you would again draw a imaginary line between markers and follow the route, like connecting the dots.

There also are danger markers that you need to watch for, these are near dams, around designated swimming areas, around marines, these markers are white in color with orange stripes and different shapes depending on what the danger is. Generally speaking you need to steer clear of the marked area or proceed at idle speed (no-wake)

That is the basics of using the markers to help you navigate the river, I hope this helps you have a safe boating experience. Boat safe and Boat often.

Please don't hesitate to post your questions or comments