Boating, Water Safety and Navigation Markers

As we enter into the close of our summer’s safety article series, which has been centered around water safety, it is important that we add an article about understanding navigation markers when boating. These myriad shapes, sizes and colors of boating signs, markers and buoys become the road signs and painted lines on water for a boater. They can be confusing to a new boater, but these aids are the traffic signals that guide boaters safely along waterways. All the different “road signs” of the water are called “aid to navigation (AIS).” Those aids to navigation identify dangerous or controlled areas and give directions and information. There are many AIS and they can be confusing to read and understand. These AIS will include fixed markers on poles and pilings as well as a variety of floating buoys that are anchored to the bottom. Why the variety you may ask? The answer is simple, mostly, it is a matter of physical geography.” The two main types of AIS are buoys and beacons. Buoys float on top of the water and are anchored to the bottom. (Adobe Stock) Knowing the basic AIS is a good idea and will keep you and other...