In the wonderful world of boating, you’ll find that various shapes, lights, signs, and even gestures can all have an assigned meaning to help keep the waters safe for everyone. This knowledge will come full circle when you start learning about markers like moors and buoys, and their colors.
If you’re new to boating, you’ll notice that markers on the water come in a variety of shapes and colors. But did you know what they actually mean? What color is a marker that indicates safe water on all sides, and which ones should you watch out for?
What Does Boat Ed Say?
As the ultimate source of all the legalities of boating, the Boat Ed’s quizlet makes things clear. They state that markers painted with red and white vertical stripes indicate that all the areas around it are safe of any obstructions.
However markers painted black and white vertical stripes indicate that there are hazards and obstructions under the water’s surface. In this case, you shouldn’t pass between the marker and the shore.
The Details on Colored Markers
In the maritime world, markers play a huge role in keeping waterways safe for all of those who pass through. These usually come in the form of a variety of buoys, some of which tell you which side you should pass through, and others telling you not to pass all together.
These markers change color depending on the information they’re trying to transmit. For instance, a red or green buoys will indicate the edge of a channel on either your starboard or port side respectively. Other buoys use a combination of red and green, helping boaters figure out which side to stick to if they’re travelling through a channel with oncoming water traffic.
The markers painted in red and white vertical stripes let you know that the entire area surrounding the marker is clear water. That means there aren’t any obstructions under the water’s surface, and you can pass around the buoys without having to worry about snagging the underside of your boat on a potential danger.
On the other hand, buoys painted black and white vertical stripes let you know that there’s a hidden obstruction under the water. In this case, you’re going to want to avoid the area between the buoy and the shoreline. The rest of the sides of the buoy should be safe, but then again, it’s still not worth taking a risk for especially if you’re new to boating.
The More You Know
Centuries of boating and maritime development have birthed the use of clever techniques such as this. So if you were wondering what color is a marker that indicates safe water on all sides, the answer would be red and white. These intuitive markers tell you a lot about the waters you’re in, and may even help you curb disaster with nothing more than the inherent meanings of their clever colors and patterns.
