Marking Rocks with a buoy?

[fatlazyless]

A white, one gallon Clorox bottle is the buoy to use for marking rocks below.

And, www.bizer.com ..... the Lake Winnipesaukee map maker .... will supposedly pay a cash reward for any shallow rock that is less than six feet depth .... that Bizer has "overlooked."

[BroadHopper]

Unless it is a no-wake zone, rock hazards are not marked. Technically you shouldn't be cruising 50 feet offshore. If it is a no-wake zone, then yes it should be marked with a buoy. I see all kinds of markers around lakes.

In Mass. I visited Webster Lake. Can't recall seeing any buoys, there were tons of plastic gallon milk jugs! Locals call them 'sunken island' markers! Makes one wonder which side of the marker you should be on!

[Bear Guy]

In my experience, personally-maintained, non-standard markers are common for near-shore hazards (e.g. bleach bottles, plastic duck buoys).

I'm no expert in the law, but I find nothing prohibiting you from doing what you described, safely:
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/...270/270-26.htm says you can't interfere with formal nav aids, nor create hazards to navigation. Section b says you also can't use haz-mat containers, unless you've neutralized them.
If you look at the regulations on swim rafts (http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/...0/270-72-d.htm) it sounds like the state is fine with the landowner adding floating objects, again, if they're not a hazard to navigation. Maybe you can even add your name to the proposed marker/float and call it a swim raft to make it expressly legal? I don't see a size definition on what constitutes a swim platform.

[BeaverIslandGuy]

Originally Posted by BroadHopper

Unless it is a no-wake zone, rock hazards are not marked. Technically you shouldn't be cruising 50 feet offshore. If it is a no-wake zone, then yes it should be marked with a buoy. I see all kinds of markers around lakes.

Thanks to all whom have piped in so far. I agree that for general boating, within 150 ft to shore shallow areas, shoals, rocks, etc are not marked (in fact, I think this was part of the criteria of a navigation buoy on the lake - if less than 20 ft AND over 150 ft from shore (not including marked channels, etc), that is when Dept of Safety, through MP, would add a mark.)

My needs in the 30-50 ft range are reminders for visitors/guests coming/departing/playing near our dock, so the above milkjug/bottle idea would work well.

I was just wondering if there were any official guidance, especially if I wanted to add a more visible marker to help at night coming into the dock.

As for those uninvited “visitors” that think 15 ft is 150 ft as they blow by in their wakeboats and PWC, while I would also smirk at the below water damage of their navigational skills (and there is evidence on some of the rocks to suggest this has in fact happened), I would not mind “encouraging” them to be a little further out.