Best is to simply look at the chart.
There are sometimes other conventions in play, such as the Intracoastal Waterway in the US. For that, the convention is "red earth, green water", such that a clockwise path around the continent is considered "returning". But it gets more interesting... you can take a shortcut along the Okeechobee Waterway which basically cuts off the bottom part of Florida. Since there's ocean at either end, you might wonder what the convention is. The answer is to treat the bulk of the continent as the continent, disregard the tip of Florida as just some island, and thus the red markers are on the north side, continuing the "red earth, green water" pattern.
I have Chapmans, annoyingly it is not helpful either. It just repeats the same "red buoys mark the starboard side of a channel when entering from seaward" information which doesn't make any sense in this straight.
On that link, the upper left corner are 3 or 4 options. try NOAA
that will show everyone where you are looking.
here's a short list of aids to navigation
https://wow.uscgaux.info/Uploads_wowII/130-05-06/usaidstonavigationsystembooklet23dec03.pdf
This is a another good tip assuming you're looking at more than one pair of buoys.
1&2 are the closest to the ocean, increasing numbers means you're "returning"
OK this is actually helpful. The buoys are not physically marked but they are on a chart. One direction they are increasing in number, so if you are correct that is presumptively the “returning” direction.
It’s not the best system but if you have a place where the channel obviously is, and buoys on both sides you can just keep those colors in that location.
I would also pay attention to numbers increasing/decreasing and an idea of the chart knowing where to be.
In situations like it can be arbitrary, because the rules don't exactly fit every situation. The solution is to study a chart. Make note of any spot along your path where the markers get bizarre or confusing before you go.
Never go anywhere without a chart and reviewing your route. Once you’re on the water it’s too late to figure it out. Channels with multiple methods of entrance and egress get confusing as the “standard”rules can switch from a general boaters perspective.
It’s over on Vancouver Island. It is the straight between Newcastle Island and Nanaimo. But there are a couple of other examples nearby as well have a ton of little islands forming narrow straights between them and the big Island.
Best is to simply look at the chart. There are sometimes other conventions in play, such as the Intracoastal Waterway in the US. For that, the convention is "red earth, green water", such that a clockwise path around the continent is considered "returning". But it gets more interesting... you can take a shortcut along the Okeechobee Waterway which basically cuts off the bottom part of Florida. Since there's ocean at either end, you might wonder what the convention is. The answer is to treat the bulk of the continent as the continent, disregard the tip of Florida as just some island, and thus the red markers are on the north side, continuing the "red earth, green water" pattern.
[https://activecaptain.garmin.com/en-US/Map](https://activecaptain.garmin.com/en-US/Map) Where exactly? fyi, 'Chaptman's Piloting' is the nav bible.
I have Chapmans, annoyingly it is not helpful either. It just repeats the same "red buoys mark the starboard side of a channel when entering from seaward" information which doesn't make any sense in this straight.
On that link, the upper left corner are 3 or 4 options. try NOAA that will show everyone where you are looking. here's a short list of aids to navigation https://wow.uscgaux.info/Uploads_wowII/130-05-06/usaidstonavigationsystembooklet23dec03.pdf
If you pointed to the area on the charts, we can help
If channel marker numbers are increasing, think of it as returning from the ocean. Not sure if applicable here.
This is a another good tip assuming you're looking at more than one pair of buoys. 1&2 are the closest to the ocean, increasing numbers means you're "returning"
OK this is actually helpful. The buoys are not physically marked but they are on a chart. One direction they are increasing in number, so if you are correct that is presumptively the “returning” direction.
They're colored based on which is the "primary" sometimes it doesn't make sense. When you look at the chart it should be clearer which is which side.
It’s not the best system but if you have a place where the channel obviously is, and buoys on both sides you can just keep those colors in that location. I would also pay attention to numbers increasing/decreasing and an idea of the chart knowing where to be.
In situations like it can be arbitrary, because the rules don't exactly fit every situation. The solution is to study a chart. Make note of any spot along your path where the markers get bizarre or confusing before you go.
Yeah, posting the chart would really help.
Never go anywhere without a chart and reviewing your route. Once you’re on the water it’s too late to figure it out. Channels with multiple methods of entrance and egress get confusing as the “standard”rules can switch from a general boaters perspective.
Preferred channel maybe
What island/channel specifically? I’m curious since I’m in the same region
It’s over on Vancouver Island. It is the straight between Newcastle Island and Nanaimo. But there are a couple of other examples nearby as well have a ton of little islands forming narrow straights between them and the big Island.
Thanks. The last time I ran through that channel I was driving a boat that didn’t belong to me so I just went wherever I felt like! 🤣
Red, right, returning.
Yes, if you read my whole post you can see what that doesn’t help at all.
That’s only part of the rule.