Most confusing markers on the lake

[Descant]

Originally Posted by The Real BigGuy

Just remember there are black and red markers AND black top and red top markers. Go between red and corresponding black markers. NEVER go between black tops or red tops. They have their own passage rules depending on direction of travel.

Except you go between the two red tops that are at the south end of the channel between Mark and Mink. You really need to think of such locations as separate, not a pair of buoys, marking two separate hazards. Any number of similar situations make sense in that perspective.

The four buoys mentioned by the OP really mark two hazards. You will often see boats criss-crossing the area between the two sets of buoys. As with other places, you will see boats going between the red and black tops here, without mishap. Just lucky.