inshore piloting navigation symbols mystery

"In many cases, especially around the ICW or around a inlet that makes a loop, it is flat wrong. This is especially true in FLorida. You need to make sure you are really between the markers..."

this is exactly what I am asking, thanks CD
so what is your recommendation in these cases? defer to a chart
what if it is a small power skiff say a 17' center console, for instance how is he to know when approaching a green which side it should be on! (within these loops that have two entrances to the sea)

[Faster]

Everybody SHOULD have a chart on board (and know how to use it) - for just such occasions.

It's fairly straightforward on coastal waters, returning is when a) entering a harbour or inlet, b)travelling in the direction of a flood tide, or c) travelling up river.

I seem to recall that in the absence of significant tide it falls to travelling clockwise around North America? (I'm hazy on this, feel free to correct that idea....)

On the Lakes.... sorry, can't help you there.

Just to make it more confusing, Europe is totally different again.

[sck5]

on buoys that indicate a split in the channel the TOP color refers to the preferred channel so if the top color is green and you actually want the main channel then keep the marker on your port side. If the top color is red and you actually want the main channel then keep it to starboard. If you DONT want the main channel then do the opposite.

Even better, look at the chart before you come to this point.

[Faster]

btw.. the correct term for these is "Bifurcation buoy/marker"

[Cruisingdad]

Originally Posted by stpetersburgsailor

"In many cases, especially around the ICW or around a inlet that makes a loop, it is flat wrong. This is especially true in FLorida. You need to make sure you are really between the markers..."

this is exactly what I am asking, thanks CD
so what is your recommendation in these cases? defer to a chart
what if it is a small power skiff say a 17' center console, for instance how is he to know when approaching a green which side it should be on! (within these loops that have two entrances to the sea)

You have two options: THe first is to keep a chart on board and know before you turn, or to keep your towboat US number on board, and take your best guess!!!!

Think Dirty Harry... "So, do you feel lucky..." HEHE

- CD

in terms of the answer two blocks above, this is for solid ONE COLORED day markers, I believe the first poster mi-read that we were discussing markers with two colors on one pole, not the case

thanks for the answers, keep 'em coming

[Boasun]

Armchair reading for when you are not sailing: Dutton's, Chapman's, Boater's Bowditch and other books on chart reading and navigation.
The USA is in IALA-B. This means that the nun buoys are RED which you keep you keep to starboard when returning...
There are buoys that are horizonally banded; Red/green/red or Green/red/green. These are Bifurcation buoys that marks a fork in the channel. The top band indicates the main channel. If Red leave it to Stbd or Green to port when returning to port.
The world has two buoy systems But if you only sail the North & South American areas then IALA-B is the only buoy system you need to worry about.

just finished a navigation class relating to offshore & yes Chapman's is a stellar book, trod thru page after page of that epic this summer

this phrase: 'It's fairly straightforward on coastal waters, returning is when a) entering a harbour or inlet, b)travelling in the direction of a flood tide, or c) travelling up river' from our good British Columbia friend seems to really clear up some of the issue with the U-shaped inlets, as the other replies have wandered into the split channel issue, not the original question, although interesting as well

regards,
-JD