Understanding Channel Markers For Boating: Reading Markers & Buoys

[@Saltstrong]

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[@Rubbernecker]

Great video. The 'aha' moment for me was the Key West home port rule while in the ICW. Thanks!!

[@schebynonya8789]

Great video, however something that you could clarify, if I'm right gets most people confused is when your retrurning how do you tell which way is considered the inland direction? The marker numbers increase on the red as you travel inland. So keep them to your right as the numbers go up. I think this fact would help clarifying alot of basic confusion.

[@Vendingsupplier]

Thank you

[@Fourroux]

And as numbers go down keep it on the left right?

[@kevinboland3305]

Very helpful because it simplifies things. Every waterway is different so i understand sometimes how people can get confused.

[@d_mac]

Red right return... Only if you head south. With the intracoastal, red is always the inland side regardless of north or south direction.

[@robtrevino2179]

Nice video, I like the 'brown brown run aground' it made me chuckle. I fish in Texas and we have the super shallow flats all over the place, I would like it if you would talk about clues for when it isn't as sunny and you can't really see the color as well. Clues like a cluster of white caps in the middle of smooth water, or super smooth water in the middle of wind blown water, things that indicate shallow water.

[@jcdesignsandboat-works8290]

Great basic information! Unfortunately, you could hang a big neon arrow out there on them with a loud speaker blaring left or right and folks would still get it wrong!😂 Thanks for sharing though, maybe a few unknowing folks got it now!👍👍

[@pauloconnor2980]

That's interesting. In Australia, it's Red Left return.

[@JimBobson-r4y]

That's because the toilet water spin is opposite!

[@DavidYarber]

Additionally, the markers in the Intracoastal Waterway are distinguished from local or private markers by a reflective gold decal affixed to the face of the marker. A gold square on the square, green, odd numbered marker and a triangle decal on the triangle, red, even numbered marker. This is especially helpful when other channels intersect the ICW such as near inlets, the St. Johns River, etc.

[@Saltstrong]

Thanks for making time to leave the helpful comment David!

[@tj3988]

Are you saying this is incorrect since the signs in this video are missing the reflective decal?

[@robsimpson3771]

Thank you sir. Just got back from islamorada. Finally completed the Irma repairs at Topsider resort at 75500🎣. Was worth the wait.

[@kirkeric]

Great run down. I found this just to confirm that I was doing things correctly and happy to know I am. :) Excellent!

[@MrLeebooher]

Just got a Pontoon boat and this information is very valuable to me !

[@Arden2886]

Holy crap that stay in between shout at .52 scared the crap out of me. 😆😆

[@jasonlarkin8807]

Miami is not the home port for the ICW but it is a good rule for SW florida. The red markers for ICW is always indicating the side that the mainland is on. FYI 🤷‍♂️😎

[@jelly_fishing]

Always a great refresher

[@Saltstrong]

Thanks Pablo!

[@jcrhodes6478]

I’m totally new to this and I hope this question makes sense. But when it’s a single marker is it always going to be orange? Or could it be green? Which is goin to sea. What is most important to me to know is which side do I pass it on? Let’s say I’m going north. I come up on a triangle I can pass it with it on my left or I can pass it with it to my right. Which side is the channel on?

[@jpvcwby]

Red on right in the direction you were facing... So coming thru the opposite direction, red would be in the left? I understand it it's mostly common sense & reading the water it's most important, but this video instruction seems to only cover one direction???

[@Saltstrong]

Yes, the opposite direction would mean that we were no longer Returning inland, so we would need to make sure to keep the red markers on our left and the green markers on our right.

[@Icutmetal]

Jason Verhine Yes; red right returning, meaning the red channel marker is on your starboard side when returning to port. Conversely, it would be on your port side when on your way out.

[@lucilusi4476]

@@Saltstrong YOU FAILED TO EXPLAIN THAT IN YOUR DUMB VIDEO.. .THANK!

[@darlamiller6152]

@@lucilusi4476 at least they can catch fish unlike you lmao

[@tomdrummy4984]

He didn’t mention that on the intracoastal, the red marker is always on the inland side(opposite of the open ocean) so you would always keep marker on inland side of your boat. In video he is facing south, red marker is inland side(starboard heading south) When traveling north, you would keep red marker to port.......but its still on inland side of boat. Hope that makes sense

[@cmfishing18]

Very important to know... disappointing how many boaters don’t know what markers mean

[@cgirl111]

I guess things could have changed but when I went through the Merchant Marine Academy decades ago red left or right was based on coming or going from a larger body of water to a smaller body of water not home port. Intracoastal markers are a whole nother world where inland side is the base.

[@Saltstrong]

Thanks for the info!

[@cmfishing18]

Great video

[@turtleboy1983]

Awesome for a landlumber.

[@toben42]

When in doubt, throttle out!

[@hcwbw3]

Or you could run on thru "Midnight Pass" between the Arcenikers" in South Biscayne Bay ignore the markers and wait a while. I that Lignumvitae Key in the background?

[@pipersmitty87]

ill be there in 2 weeks - any good recommendations for a 4 some? looking to get some redfish or yellowtail (2 guys 2 girls) we wil be right next. to bud n mary's

[@leonardogranados2733]

BZ Captain. Good video 📹 👍

[@gmoutdoorsandmore7731]

Great info, thanks

[@RichardCHudson]

thank you

[@Saltstrong]

Welcome! Thanks for checking it out!

[@simitaneja6921]

Helloooo! Try chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo it's a life transforming philosophy which I have been practicing for 9 years! I chant to the Gohonzon.

[@ericoakley4388]

If you had that red marker over your right shoulder on your right when you were coming back to port from the sea would you be up in that shallow area you pointed out? I understand on your right going out then you’ll be in the deep channel but if it’s on your right coming back you’re going to be in the shallows won’t you?

[@ReelOne]

If it's on his right as he demonstrates he is returning not going out. Red right return. So when he is going out Red would be on his Left.

[@stevo728822]

Ha ha.....here in England we have green on the right and red on the left when returning to port.

[@steveedlund3218]

White White you just might. Something to add to that list.

[@Gypsyboy932]

Thanks!

[@leonardburroughs9913]

Question, why does the water color means like why water have different colors? I thought all water color are the same.

[@growlith6969]

So he points behind him and points at the red marker that seems to be the direct opposite of what is in front of him: Ummm, doesn't that mean it want's me running through that shallow brown spot?

[@JebDexter]

Yeah it made sense until he showed that 3rd marker.

[@dandonahue4979]

@@JebDexter That was my thought as well, which is why I even bothered to read these responses to see if others noticed that guidance.

[@killerb5726]

So do we really need the return, in red right return? Wouldn’t it always just be red right, regardless of whether you are coming or going? Or are they only visible in one direction?

[@Saltstrong]

The channel markers have the same color on both sides, so if the colors will be on opposite sides when coming in vs. going out.

[@killerb5726]

Salt Strong Thanks and last question then, if coming back from the keys then to Miami say, I’ll keep red on the port side. By the way, I don’t have a boat, working on getting one now and before I even put it in the water, I want to be as versed as possible. I don’t want you thinking some idiot is driving around out there and doesn’t have a clue. Thanks again.

[@killerb5726]

Salt Strong disregard, would help if I fully read your response. Thanks again and good video.

[@rsierrapr]

Killer B I’ve had boats for many years and do refresh my navigation rules every year and still get confused sometimes especially in new areas for me. Navigating at night is tricky but even if you are familiar with the area slow down at night. There are many possible moving obstacles and some extremely hard to spot in pitch dark conditions even with radar. Daytime navigation is many times easier but still requires to study marine charts and plan your routes before any trip.

[@killerb5726]

Robert Sierra Thanks for the tips, I’ll take all I can.

[@triplex7144]

And also remember most of the world is opposite this.

[@thecrappiecontrol6644]

What do you do when there is only one color line for miles?

[@Saltstrong]

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[@Grady252]

Generally speaking the normal markers are understandable, but there are times where they are not. In the case of your video, I am a bit confused on your boat position, looking over your right shoulder, red on right out to bay and we see the shallow water to the right of the red marker. However, to your left pan view, it shows red on right going the opposite direction and we see shallow water to the right of the marker? Are you sitting at an intersection? Where I get most confused is at an intersection. Would be good to see some examples explained how to read them and know which way to go...... I have yet to find a clear explanation where I boat in North Carolina in Morehead City area. Which side to hug past the intersection, etc.

[@danielmorris6584]

Did you watch the video? Do you have polarized glasses? I think you were the kid who raised his hand in the middle of the presentation, and missed the answer to your question.

[@fishnsmoke9944]

Well I’m raising my HAND also The boat in the background is it to the right or left of the red marker Serious? I’m confused maybe if your driving I could visualize it Not everyone a professional

[@danielmorris6584]

@@fishnsmoke9944 the boat in the background is coming towards the camera. So it's opposite. It's still staying between red and green though.

[@Kevinw4040]

His boat is at a channel intersection. Look at it as a road and when you’re in the channel and heading back to the dock red is on your right. If red is on your left you’re heading out to sea basically.

[@Saltstrong]

Yes, we were near an intersection... the other red marker out to the left is marking a 2nd channel that's going towards the Return direction, so the marker needs to be on the right side of the boat when going that direction in that channel.

[@johnthekiwi1601]

Just get Florida Marine Tracks and take all the guess work out of it.

[@thinklikeido]

That's in the Northern Hemisphere. Southern Hemisphere is the opposite.

[@davidhowling5987]

Not just the southern hemisphere, Europe is the opposite as well. Red is on the Right as you Leave the harbour so Left on Return. And just to make it even more confusing red markers are cans (square) and the green markers are cones (triangles).

[@saltyspaceman5697]

only applies in USA.

[@seanpaul8584]

Right on red on return.

[@oml81mm]

You should make it clear at the start of your video that this applies to the system used in the USA.

[@greenpighunter6930]

👍

[@kostinatrnava7779]

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[@daviddaigrepont9485]

I see orange. Not red. And if we always keep red on our right we'll be traveling all around the marker. Doesn't that make it useless? But thanks for the video

[@danielmorris6584]

Stay between red and green, or keep the red on your right as you pass the marker...I think you are trolling

[@daviddaigrepont9485]

Not trolling at all. Just trying to understand. If there is a fixed point and it is approached from all points of the compass keeping it off the starboard side will not make any of the water around it off limits. The marker in the example seems to be standing out in the middle.

[@daviddaigrepont9485]

The red and green stay in between rule makes perfect sense

[@liftedpotato6973]

Found the guy that runs his boat aground

[@daviddaigrepont9485]

Chris Mallory I've never run around in my life but I have helped some get unstuck. It happens easier than some would think. My Dad instilled extreme caution in me and my brothers but I see many reckless people on the water.

[@brittanydowdy5080]

🚢⛵

[@lucilusi4476]

You confused me by saying, your port is keywest, regardless where your actual port you launched from/return to... hence when you said "Red Right Return" always when returning to port, welll actually you could be travelling away from Key West in an area going to your port am I wrong or correct? And other thing you failed to explain, are the Red and Green markers The same color and number from both sides??? Yeah... you failed to explain that, because if you are going East fore example and you keep the Red Marker on your right, then when you return West, if the Marker is on your "Right" you will actually be on the opposite side compared to travelling East... so its actually false to say "Always keep the red marker to your right"... thats just wrong... you made crappy video... delete and repost or edit this thing

[@ChasingDreamsLivingLife]

Totally missed the most important part of navigating the keys. The direction you are traveling when on the bay side on the intercostal. This is the most confused part that boaters have. Red on the right is not correct for traveling north.

[@captgreg3319]

U ole dawg u.

[@JimBobson-r4y]

Red Right Return. Red Green Stay Between. Don't trust brown water.

[@heavenstomurgatroyd7033]

Red right return? I don't get it......

[@krzychu077]

Red color markers on your right side (starboard) means you are returning from a big waters...

[@sarahcrawford7877]

US systems...ok. UK ugh oh....could be a problem.

[@gregfletcher3358]

It's not the UK, it's the US, the rest of the world is the other way round, international system.

[@vmonroig21]

yea ill just bottom out

[@OregonPanoramas]

Sorry but your description is confusing. You seem to contradict yourself. And should in not be from "closed waters ti open waters? and then you need cover up stream or down stream

[@carlk2010]

This is so wrong , green light on your boat is starboard, red light is port side. How can you as you said allways keep the red marker on the right side when returning and your pointing to the bay which is behind you going out . Thats opposite of what your saying . Also if you keep it on your right sideas your saying when you come back the opposite way keeping it on the right puts you out of the channel . These markers are for larger vessels with a deeper draft . All you need to remember is stay in between if you have a deep draft vessel . If you in that clear water and you can see it to shallow you dont need a boat.

[@Saltstrong]

We appreciate you watching. This video was filmed with a Captain and Guide that regularly navigates the water each and every day.

[@LeonAllanDavis]

I don't think of myself as a "dummy" so this video isn't for me.

[@cjyoung7372]

It's a shame that this is posted on the internet because outside of the center of universe 🇺🇸 this information is completely irrelevant 🤷‍♂️

[@tj3988]

I do not see a decal on any of the channel markers in this video. So, your red right returning isn't correct. Red right returning is only if you're on the ICW. Otherwise, the red should be on your left when returning from sea.

[@Saltstrong]

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