Boating Tips Episode 8: Understanding Channel Markers

Click here for more boating tips: bit.ly/2LDic1E
In this episode, Captain Keith of MarineMax Clearwater explains how to properly understand channel markers. Many people confuse these markers when out on the water. Knowing how to properly read channel markers is a must when it comes to boating safety. Just remember, RED-RIGHT-RETURN!
Time Stamps
0:00 - Intro
0:10 - Channel markers
0:20 - How to read channel markers
1:20 - Intracoastal waterway channel markers
2:20 - Other intracoastal waterway markers
2:57 - Outro
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*The information provided in this video is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice or training. MarineMax makes no warranty, expressed or implied, about the accuracy or reliability of the information in this video and disclaims all responsibility for any damage or liability resulting from or related to the use or misuse of this information.*

[@MarineMaxOnline]

See more boating tips here: bit.ly/2LDic1E

[@ms.mojo_risin]

MarineMax THANK YOU CAPTAIN!! PeaCe&ReSPeCt, Shelley

[@jahd04]

Gotta say I love the fish 🐟 jumping out of the water 0:18 . It is on the mid right side of red triangle 🔺

[@HitKingSportsLLC]

It never hurts to review. Thanks for posting!

[@edaycock6255]

Finally . . . . . an easy to understand explanation! Been flying for nearly 4 decades and am now interested in sailing. Thanks for taking the time to create this video!

[@QSSCEO]

Crystal clear and to the point!!! Great Video! Thanks for the posting...

[@donzi32boats80]

Thank you Captain, explained perfectly..

[@9carcottrell246]

Knowledge is power. Thanks for these great tips

[@gilbertrobles1374]

Thanks. Always wondered how those things work.

[@mickgrammifications9293]

Straight forward to the point and very easy to learn from. Awesome job guy! Wish all videos were simplified and understandable as this one

[@hectoralers84]

Well explained! I thought i had it in the first 15 seconds but THEN my brain turned to mush after the initial explaination. Lol! Its not you..its me! Ill keep watching! Thank you for posting!

[@fixairplane3624]

Excellent way you explained this thanks! Quick and easy to the point

[@Mr40tt]

Thank You, you made it easy! Captain Carpman

[@thedoman8807]

Thanks so much! Never new! Great information!

[@RMarineJonesRivieraQueensland]

Nice and clear informative video, thank you.

[@tacobob4123]

Thank you for that tip I ask people all the time and no one could tell me. I don't do salt water. but I do run the saint Johns river. Thanks again

[@charlesparr3296]

Very informative, thanks

[@Bansheeboat]

Thanks for the video! I always get confused out there.

[@dockbc]

Great video. Nicely done. Easy to remember.

[@backwatersandbackroads]

Very helpful, thanks for that.

[@buddygreen01]

Great video!

[@FloridaManVal]

Thanks Cptn!

[@robertbeedy3536]

Thank you Captain! I did not know. Ive never been out there but very good to know. Good Teacher 🙂

[@badinmatenoyard]

Well thank you for that!

[@mikewubben2844]

Well done.

[@ironhorse3497]

Short and concise. Thanks !!!!!! :)

[@edwardhugus2772]

Very good to the point. Thank you for your time!

[@MarineMaxOnline]

Glad it was helpful!

[@dougiefresh2521]

Great clear and concise explanation. Thx

[@davidshawkinsrealtor]

Very easy to understand, thanks for the great tip.

[@MarineMaxOnline]

Thank you! We're glad this tip helped.

[@Herb___]

Great video.

[@apackwestbound5946]

The memory trigger "Red Right Return" did not work well for me because I could not remember (after years of not actually boating) if the "return" meant "returning to the sea" which is what ships/boats do, or "returning to the harbor" which is ALSO what ships/boats. Your "big body of water to small body of water" (ocean/sea to channel/marina) example permanently clarified that area of uncertainty for me. Your triangle and square teaching aides were simple, brilliant and effective and as a result I'll be able to remember that variation as well. In my opinion you have here the perfect KZbin video; a knowledgeable "Captain" giving great information in a clear manner without distracting unnecessary other stuff. Thank you "Captain" Keith.

[@tylersnypeful]

I respect the entanglements

[@johnlovescathyforevers6116]

Good video ..thanks

[@MarineMaxOnline]

Glad you enjoyed Captain Keith's Boating Tips!

[@stevefowler2112]

great video

[@drumminsonlive9199]

A trip from Harkers island nc to cape lookout lighthouse is the ultimate test for navigating the changing channel. Try it you will learn pretty fast and you will love the scenery.

[@r.thomasguth2420]

Never had the nerve to try that, even the coast guard avoids it. If we want to go to cape lookout from morehead city, we go out to the open water and up the coast.

[@stevehogan8829]

another 56 times and I'll have it down.

[@Bansheeboat]

🤣

[@imrealyboredbro]

Broo 😆

[@matthewgriffin7570]

facs

[@ray-hj1do]

Thank you it’s interesting

[@MarineMaxOnline]

Glad you think so! Be sure to subscribe for more great content like this!

[@jaketaylor8467]

Thanks

[@gerrylee9677]

Jake Taylor s

[@garydumoulin6318]

Best explanation I have heard to date. Thank you.

[@Specialtyautomotivetreatments]

Hey Marine Max. Is there any scenario in which the red marker would be on the port side ? If so can you give an example . Thanks!

[@ingeniousviralproducts]

Couldn't understand the stickers...until I watched this channel. Triangle stickers are at the land side...and the square are at the open water side.

[@dagator166]

Is it always in regards to "big body of water to little", or does it ever apply to direction water flows?

[@paulsanchez4141]

Thank u

[@mikeyoung6347]

I'm not colorblind but an old sea captain once told me the reason for the square and triangle shapes is for colorblind operators. I've always wondered if that was really true because after he said that, he handed me keys to the sea chest.

[@Bansheeboat]

Makes sense

[@MrPappysCobra]

It would be nice if the Caloosahatchi river in ft Myers Cape Coral had some markers.

[@stevetate6897]

They do

[@futurelink5967]

Right triangle return

[@integr8er66]

This is totally different than the river markers here in the midwest

[@ghosthunter152]

Am I missing something? Is there a yellow marker on both sides of each intracoastal sign?

[@babemary1]

How about low tide the sign of not hitting the sand under the water

[@hyena131]

I bet cap'n keith is right pedantic know it all when out on a boat.

[@greato80]

I saw these right by a launching area on a river..there is a green box on left and a white triangle on right..why would they need those on a boat launch?

[@larryward3692]

You can't believe how many folks just don't know until a 101 happens to late see it all the time Many damaged lower units

[@patony_1288]

Here's another tricky question, How do you know what side of the water to ride your boat, There's no double yellow line in the water?

[@heavenstomurgatroyd7033]

So when I'm going east in the gulf the red triangle is on my left........?

[@VasquezBaltazarFam90]

What does the numbers mean again is it like how deep it is or does that have anything to do with the depth of wherw you are going

[@MarineMaxOnline]

Nope, nothing to do with water depth, just channel identifiers.

[@newstart49]

What if the little yellow stickers fall off? Just kiddin.

[@kirkwilliams4942]

You had me until you stuck on the yellow markers. So nothing changes but the meaning? Still stays the same... RED-RIGHT or starboard. Correct?

[@jamesm6413]

Is this rule similar in other countries?

[@MarineMaxOnline]

Hi there, great question! It is always best to consult with your local harbor/dock master or get local knowledge when traveling to unfamiliar waters. Don't forget to subscribe to our channel for more great boating tips and content!

[@tonywillis6809]

I've had boats for twenty years and still don't understand it :-) Why don't they call it left and right instead of port and starboard, and can't they just have an arrow that says "go this side"? :-)

[@Emyr-vz4oz]

It all is part of history of boats. Say the captain is facing forward and gives the order to turn right , and the guy steering the boat is facing the same way. All is fine the boat turns to the right. How about if the captain gives the same order but he is facing to the rear of the boat? Which way does the guy steering the boat turn ? His right or the captain's? So they named the parts of the boat so all involved is on the same page. Hope this helps

[@tonywillis6809]

Simple answer, you just have a rule that all directional orders assume a forward facing orientation. My main issue with channel markers is once you get into some river systems, the question of whether you're travelling "upstream" or "downstream" becomes murky.

[@jtbassgambler2594]

Exactly might thought the same

[@jasonmiller1499]

@@tonywillis6809 lol I agree, same as aircraft!

[@michaelchase6013]

@@Emyr-vz4oz Ummm, but if the right side of the boat is referred to as "starboard" and that never changes no matter which way you are facing, then why couldn't the term "right" refer to the right side of the boat no matter which way you are facing? (I think you made that explanation up, because its not true)

[@mythicalmoon0642]

Anybody notice the fish jump at 15:00?

[@Yoglawm]

So...the signs aren't for boating traffic? I always thought that the signs are for navigation, “navigation" as in controlling boat traffic. You gotta clarify the signs for dummies like me.

[@tomulator]

Much more complicated than it needs to be...just put arrows on the markers pointing to which side of the marker a boat should stay to. Simple.

[@POOK-E]

Tomulator won’t work, you have to be able to identify what side you need to be on from far away. You can’t wait until you are right on top of a marker to figure out if it should be on your left or right side. Especially for large ships that have minimal maneuverability. Large triangles and squares solve that problem. You can tell which one is which from afar. Also, it would be difficult to see an arrow on a board at night, even if it was reflective material. Again, you would have to be right on top of it to see where the safe water is.

[@Rick-tb4so]

Is it true outside the US its the opposite ??

[@seikibrian8641]

No. It's not "outside the US," because all of north, central, and south America, including the Caribbean countries, as well as Japan, the Philippines, and South Korea follow the IALA Region B system. Europe, Africa, and most of Asia follow the Region A system.

[@athommen1]

Just in case nobody mentioned it. Coming into a marina or channel out of US waters you will find reverse colors meaning = Read is on your left side (the side of your heart = blood) and green starboard side...

[@mumbo1107]

as always the US have everything backwards......

[@seikibrian8641]

Captain Keith keeps saying "InTERcoastal Waterway." It's InTRAcoastal Waterway. It's along the coast, not between the coasts.

[@Its3am]

Great! except it's the opposite elsewhere in the world. Might want to put that in your pin.

[@clivepalmer7494]

Like if you saw the fish break the surface behind him at the beginning

[@MrCurtisass]

it was a mullet

[@debrahinz]

As a brand new boat. There was no explanation as to what the signs meant, why the numbers and what I am suppose to understand from them. Sorry, this was assuming we had some type of knowledge of what the signs mean.

[@kkttss1928]

Everyone is saying that it's the opposite in other countries but if I'm not mistaken it's the opposite on the west coast in US

[@Aro9313]

Nope! Red Right Returning applies on West Coast as well.

[@kkttss1928]

@@Aro9313 I stand corrected. Thanks for the info

[@leesire]

Thank you! Now all I need is a boat load of blonde, brunette and red headed women!!

[@skeetersaurus6249]

Don't complicate matters, and definitely don't boat angry. Your suggestion is incompatible with these two rules. I know...tried for a little Asian stewardess, and my wife would NOT let me hire her...(still don't understand that, but the frying pan convinced me).

[@movinngroovin2104]

Buy the boat...and they will come.

[@kirkwilliams4942]

Women are NEVER the answer..... you want to complicate things? Bring a women, you want a simple nice life.... leave the women be. Especially as you get older.... you're learn the hard way.

[@djtechinics97dj37]

Well I live down in Miami and much like red light 🚦 or a 🛑. Channel markers don’t mean diddly squat 🤣🤣🤣🤣.

[@TiMOThy38478]

Bill Goldberg has taking up boating now

[@markthirkell7056]

These rules are USA only - rest of the world (mostly) the opposite way round

[@walterleedavisjr5631]

It is INTRAcoastal, not INTERcoastal. Look up intra and inter. There is no intercoastal waterway, just even numbered interstate highways.

[@seikibrian8641]

I-5 is "even numbered"?

[@walterleedavisjr5631]

NO, i-5 IS odd NUMBERED BECAUSE IF RUNS NORTH SOUTH, as do all odd numbered interstate highways. It does not go to the east coast! It runs parallel to the west coast in a N-S direction.

[@seikibrian8641]

But that's not what you said. You said "There is no intercoastal waterway, just even numbered interstate highways." Nothing there about direction of travel. You made a mistake; admit it.

[@airgliderz]

@@seikibrian8641 no your clearly wrong.

[@seikibrian8641]

@@airgliderz It's "you're clearly wrong," not "your clearly wrong." YOUR poor grammar shows that YOU'RE poorly educated. And in this case I am not wrong: he very clearly said there are only even-numbered Interstate highways, which is wrong; there are both even-numbered and odd-numbered highways.

[@charlesxix]

In the UK it's the other way round.

[@davidzwicker5662]

charlesxix tell that to a Canadian

[@SwitchbackXThunter]

What’s a UK? 😂

[@thameswater2561]

No...

[@hieveryone3769]

This is stupid. At the beginning he says it's very simple then he makes it confusing.

[@SwitchbackXThunter]

Hi Everyone !! I don’t understand what you could possibly think is confusing if you know anything at all about maritime law and boating in bigger waters.

[@adenovirus.]

This is opposite to other countries.

[@seikibrian8641]

It's not "opposite to other countries," it's opposite to SOME other countries. All of north, central, and south America, including the Caribbean countries, as well as Japan, the Philippines, and South Korea follow the system shown here. Europe, most of Asia, and Africa follow the opposite system. It's called the IALA System, and there are two sets: IALA Region A, and IALA Region B.

[@garyv2196]

now i'm lost lol

[@chrissadyg3109]

Did not understand many terminology that I think would benefit if explained in lament terms

[@vincent7520]

You're talking about System B, not A !…

[@scottnisbet5991]

Not in Europe , green is on the right in a return

[@diastoleny]

Hey piano man, Billy Joel!

[@bee2333]

Wait what? Huh? I thought as long as I stay in between both I’m safe😂

[@amayaperez2876]

2:21

[@kentemple6498]

🤣

[@jackjohn3035]

I still don't get it. lol

[@vermont50]

At 2:25 into the video, Captain Keith says “yellow triangles will be inside these red squares,” while he is pointing the red triangle.I believe the correction should be “yellow triangles will be inside these red triangles.”This is confusing enough, please don’t confuse matter more by giving out incorrect information.

[@chuckkline2970]

Anyone with a brain knew at that point that he made a slip up and understood what he was talking about. You must be easy to confuse so think others are as well.

[@almoemason]

Sorry Captain Keith .... That did not help. Put some photos up to show what you mean

[@bobhaze5324]

“If you’re in New England and you’re going down to Key West and there’s an _imaginary_ intracoastal waterway that ran that whole way…” Oh, but there IS a _real_ ICW that does run from New England all the way down the East Coast. Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut are all New England states and the ICW includes all 3 I’m not sure why there’s a need to imagine anything. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intracoastal_Waterway

[@henrycagle7827]

🥴Confused more how about staying on the right side of things and make it simple.?

[@cameronbarron]

Boating is fucked man. So confusing. I'm glad to live in a rural area never seen a sign in my live on water. Know your water know your pray says mantracker

[@forceline8426]

Everybody is welcome to call stupid, but damn I watch the video 3 times already and still don't get the hole thing 😒

[@johngordon1215]

this only applies to the USA and the territories they conquered and not for the rest of the world please inform all viewers as youtube is international as a serious mistake can be made if you follow these incorrect instructions and would suggest you do some international travel .we are taught about the differences in navigation school and would suggest you do to

[@TheFadingTheory]

My ears are bleeding, not from this guy, but from all I have to learn about boating. Cant some electronic device do all this for me?

[@warchitect73]

only confused things.

[@MarineMaxOnline]

Feel free to drop us a line here for all your boating related questions here: bit.ly/3NjB4kH

[@gabrielcubas5917]

maybe boating isn't for me LMAO

[@skeetersaurus6249]

Probably should have spent an additional 30-seconds, explaining to all the Europeans about IALA Regions A and B...since they don't understand 'Florida' or 'Intracoastal Waterway'. This is the way WE DO IT, Brits! ALL OF THE AMERICAS (north, central and south) do it this way, as well as the Caribbean, Philippines, Japan and South Korea...while most of Europe, some of Asia and Africa follow IALA (either Region A or B)...WAKE UP AND LISTEN!

[@johnperry7534]

Why in America is this rule opposite to every other country in the world? Why doesn't this man talk about the ice in terms of north or south ? Why is the United States so bloody obtuse?

[@lonniestevens7963]

Why do you drive on the wrong side of the road, have a bonet instead of a hood, a boot instead of a trunk and a call a fender a wing. Then you have a windscreen instead of a windshield. Then again what difference does it really make? And most, Just dont care.

[@FSEVENMAN]

clearly you're the kid who never proof read his reports in school usually. D's and d minuses right? That's not a red square it's a red triangle always proofread your work

[@str3tchr]

FSEVENMAN pretty rude comment, not sure why that’s necessary for that.

[@garyv2196]

I would have been better off not watching.

[@williamwaters4506]

Thanks

[@WillemLuntungan]

Thanks