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#2 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Ma and Alton Bay
Posts: 42
Thanks: 2
Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts
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Hello,
I just got the new chart at Gillan Marine. Okay I'm new but i am trying to learn. For the life of me i don't get the whole idea behind the B&W and R&W buoy navaids. The chart says generally to stay to the north and east of black and to the south and west of red. Does this mean when i approach one of these a look at my compass direction and follow actual say north east of the black and white buoy? Some folks at Gillian told me if i asked three different people from marine patrol I'll get three different answers. Any help would be great Thanks |
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#3 | |
Senior Member
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You are definitely in for a long learning experience, welcome to the wonderful world of navigating Lake Winnipesaukee. Generally speaking when approaching a buoy the following rules apply. Approaching a RED TOPPED SPAR - Stay to the South and West Approaching a BLACK TOPPED SPAR - Stay to the North and East A little trick that always helped me when learning was Red = Hot like the South and West part of the USA and Black = Cold like the North and East part of the USA. It's all really a general rule of thumb to aid you in navigation. It is more important for you to take your time and slowly explore the lake WITH CHART IN HAND and learn your way around. Some areas will confound you and make you question how the heck they came up with the reasoning to put what color buoy where. ![]() Good Luck and enjoy. |
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#4 |
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Ma and Alton Bay
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Thanks Hazelnut,
Thats is a neat trick to help remember. I wish I'd had that when I just sat for the NH boating certificate. That was lots of fun. |
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#5 |
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Join Date: Jan 2006
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Hazelnut, we must have had the same instructor, he told us the same thing ( Red-South and West etc.) That is the ONE new thing I learned while taking the boating course.
Mat. To be honest with you, most people I know follow the chart to see which side of the buoys you go on. After you become familiar with your area you will know where to go without looking at the chart. When you leave familiar territory, you will need the chart for guidance again. Those charts are a boater's best friend and noone should ever be without one IMO. I think trying to figure out directions as you said just confuses people, especially new boaters. |
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#6 |
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Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Center Harbor
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I also use the light dashed navigation lines on the chart to determine where I should be in relation to the buoy. I rarely use my compass. Maybe not the way of the real navigator but it's worked fine for me for 14 years.
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#7 |
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Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Berlin, Ma / Gilford
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Mat --- I agree totally with all of the above. But remember one small word that was said ........ "generally" ......
Case in point -- look at Floating Light #30 (Southern edge of Long Is - North of Mink Is). Although I can explain the why -- in this situation you actually "split" two black tops. When your out there for the first time -- this one (and there are a few others similar) will throw you for a loop! If you are as unfamiliar with Navigating the Lake as it sounds (and there is absolutely nothing wrong nor should you be intimidated because of that) try a trick our family did when we first explored. Find a clipboard and fold the map in such a way that the area you are boating is visible. As you leave the area, refold the map to the next section. The clipboard (which keeps the map from blowing all over the place) is on the floor right beside you at all times. Some here will suggest that you can do away with the clipboard by buying the "Laminated" chart --- my experiance with that is inevitably the area I'm concerned with is in the "crack/seam" and thus difficult to decifer (Murphey's Law). Enjoy, keep a chart handy ...... and explore!
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A bad day on the Big Lake (although I've never had one) - Still beats a day at the office!! Last edited by Phantom; 04-08-2009 at 07:36 AM. Reason: typo |
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#8 |
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Ma and Alton Bay
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Thank you to everyone for all the great info. I feel a lot better about being able to get around the lake using the chart lines. I'm sure I'll stay out of difficult areas till I gain enough experience.The chart will be with me all the time. This forum is a such a wonderful help for people new to the area.
Thanks again. |
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#9 |
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Join Date: Mar 2007
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Here is a little cheat sheet I created in windows paint a few years ago to help me remember. I used to keep it under my chart on the helm. I like Hazelnut's trick, that is a keeper. One place that always throws me is entering dog cove on Meredith neck where there is a red top and black top marker which looks like a channel entrance luring me to go between the markers then I remember that channel markers are solid red and black.
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#10 | |
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Where is Dog Cove? That's new to me. |
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#11 |
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Join Date: Mar 2007
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#12 | |
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#13 |
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Ma and Alton Bay
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Nauset,
That little chart is a cool way to think about it. Like some others have mentioned I had some confusion. I was checking out near the east side of Barndoor island. I was seeing the line split two black and white buoys there. I thought it might be an error but after learning about others I guess its not. So just follow the lines. |
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#14 |
Deceased Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
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Matt you have got a lot of good info here.The way I always remember which way to go is remember BEN (black east north)then red has to be south and west.
Just be careful and use the chart and you won't have any problems PS it wasn't till I thought I knew the lake before I dinged a prop. It will happen |
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#15 |
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Join Date: Mar 2009
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Here's another way(Coast Guard) of remembering about which side of red or black markers to use-at least it worked for me several years' ago and on the ocean port areas. I assume it would work the same on the lake. If anyone knows differently please reply about it. Thanks.
I did use it on Winnipes.several years ago also. BPOE-RRR -stands for Black on Port(Left) on Entry-Red Right Returning. Of course it's the reverse when going out from Port. After a very short time you will remember the ditty. Hope this helps. |
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#16 | |
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Join Date: Jul 2002
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Red Right Return will not work. |
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#17 |
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Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Wolfeboro, New Hampshire is my home, 24-7-365
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I'm surprised your an "oletimer".
I'm only kidding! |
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#18 | |
Senior Member
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![]() ![]() As said Red Right Return does not apply to the lake. Another tip: Never ever ever use Left or Right as terminology when navigating the lake. When I teach people to navigate I am always careful to say "Pass to the west of that buoy or pass to the south etc." Your right and left changes depending on direction. |
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#19 | |
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Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Brookline and Moultonborough NH
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Ken |
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#20 | |
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Join Date: Sep 2003
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Mee'n'Mac "Never attribute to malice that which can be explained by simple stupidity or ignorance. The latter are a lot more common than the former." - RAH |
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#21 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Berlin, Ma / Gilford
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Dave R --- your right, I meant Bear Island
Oletimer -- Sorry.....RRR (Red Right Return) has ABSOLUTELY no bearing in the Cardinal system of navigation and will certainly get you a lower unit repair bill sooner or later if followed..... Nauset -- neat little Pie Chart!! Just when ya think you've seen and heard all the little tricks over time ...... a new one pops up ..... kudo's.
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A bad day on the Big Lake (although I've never had one) - Still beats a day at the office!! |
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