Peter Bennett wrote:


Indeed - read the chart to see _why_ the buoy is where it is, and if
it matters to you. Buoys are often placed to mark things that would
be hazards to larger commercial vessels, so may often be ignored by
small pleasure craft.

Also, sometimes even the Coast Guard isn't sure whether a particular
hazard should have a port or starboard hand marker. There is one
daybeacon locally that was initially installed as a Port Hand (green)
mark (it is on the port side of a small bay, where there was a
marina). A month or two later, it was changed to starboard (red), as
it is on the starboard side of Howe Sound,, and commercial traffic in
Howe Sound would leave it to starboard. Another month or two later,
it was changed back to port, as it is so close to shore that the
commercial guys wouldn't even notice it, and the only people concerned
were the marina customers.



In this case, I wonder if a Cardinal Buoy would have been more
practical.... the yellow/black colour scheme plus buoy top shape would
tell if danger is north/south/east/west of buoy.