navaids

Mat · 07-20-2009, 06:52 PM

Can someone explain more clearly the nav rules for a lighted buoy with a companion buoy for me. Looking at my Bizer chart the legend shows the various symbols for a lighted buoy with its companion. But looking at the chart for example FL1 is a lighted buoy with a black companion. Does this mean there are actually two buoys? Help.

Thanks

KTO · 07-20-2009, 08:46 PM

If I get what you're saying...

Light buoys are typically assigned a number and their only purpose is to help you locate yourself on the lake and are irrelevant to the red/black buoys.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that's it.

Mat · 07-20-2009, 08:52 PM

Thats what I thought. But why do the the markers have companion buoys?
Thanks

Mee-n-Mac · 07-20-2009, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mat

Thats what I thought. But why do the the markers have companion buoys?
Thanks

As said above the lighted navaids are there to help navigation at night (and when visibility is limited). Usually they are placed next to another navaid which marks some sort of hazard. So that navaid (white/red-tip or white/black-tip) tells you (by virtue of it's coloration) which direction to pass by and a few of these also have a lighted navaid companion. The lighted navaid is (these days) generally just an orange buoy with a light on top. It, by itself, doesn't indicate which side of the buoy is safe to pass on.

You might ask why Winni doesn't have more lighted navaids to mark/accompany more hazard markers. Fraid I can't answer that one other than to say it's been said that along the major routes you can always see 2 lighted navaids so perhaps TPTB thought that what we have was/is good enough.

KTO · 07-20-2009, 10:06 PM

There are some situations (and I can think of a few right off the top of my head) where the lighted buoy is nowhere near a hazard and still is lighted and numbered.

Quote:

You might ask why Winni doesn't have more lighted navaids to mark/accompany more hazard markers. Fraid I can't answer that one other than to say it's been said that along the major routes you can always see 2 lighted navaids so perhaps TPTB thought that what we have was/is good enough.

And then you have to ask yourself what sense they make? Why are #6 and #84 right next to each other? :P

Dave R · 07-21-2009, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KTO

There are some situations (and I can think of a few right off the top of my head) where the lighted buoy is nowhere near a hazard and still is lighted and numbered.

And then you have to ask yourself what sense they make? Why are #6 and #84 right next to each other? :P

I can only think of one that's not very close to a hazard, #6. I think it's placed where it is to make a direct path between #6 and #5 that avoids the shallow rocky area by Two Mile Island.

Bizer · 07-21-2009, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mat

... But looking at the chart for example FL1 is a lighted buoy with a black companion. Does this mean there are actually two buoys? Help. Thanks

Yes, there are two buoys. The lighted buoy and a black spar (in this case) are at the same location separated by a few feet. See the attached photo for light 30.

Mat · 07-21-2009, 10:49 AM

Thank you Bizer. A picture really is worth a thousand words.

Phantom · 07-21-2009, 02:43 PM

Bizer -- where did you dig up (or probably scanned from a photo) THAT old picture of FL# 30 LMAO

07-20-2009, 06:52 PM	#1
Mat Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Ma and Alton Bay Posts: 42 Thanks: 2 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	navaids Can someone explain more clearly the nav rules for a lighted buoy with a companion buoy for me. Looking at my Bizer chart the legend shows the various symbols for a lighted buoy with its companion. But looking at the chart for example FL1 is a lighted buoy with a black companion. Does this mean there are actually two buoys? Help. Thanks Last edited by Mat; 07-20-2009 at 08:48 PM.

07-21-2009, 02:43 PM	#9
Phantom Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Berlin, Ma / Gilford Posts: 1,934 Thanks: 450 Thanked 605 Times in 341 Posts	Bizer -- where did you dig up (or probably scanned from a photo) THAT old picture of FL# 30 LMAO __________________ *A bad day on the Big Lake (although I've never had one) - Still beats a day at the office!!*

07-20-2009, 08:46 PM	#2
KTO Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Meredith, NH Posts: 391 Thanks: 30 Thanked 117 Times in 26 Posts	If I get what you're saying... Light buoys are typically assigned a number and their only purpose is to help you locate yourself on the lake and are irrelevant to the red/black buoys. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that's it.

07-20-2009, 08:52 PM	#3
Mat Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Ma and Alton Bay Posts: 42 Thanks: 2 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Thats what I thought. But why do the the markers have companion buoys? Thanks

07-21-2009, 10:49 AM	#8
Mat Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Ma and Alton Bay Posts: 42 Thanks: 2 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Thank you Bizer. A picture really is worth a thousand words.