"Gary" wrote in message news:

Bowditch is an instructional document. Read the IALA Buotage document.
There are many ways to learn buoys and remember them but there is only one
right way to place them.

I really don't know what point you are trying to argue.
The basic presumption of "from seaward", starts with the directional flow
of N-S (East Coast),
E-W (Gulf Coast), S-N (West coast). (US)
As you progress inshore from there, the system develops using the general
direction of flow from seaward and/or the
flood current.
The reason I didn't fully agree with the "you need a chart" was that when
approaching the coast from seaward you could and needed to, use this info to
determine what a buoy was for.
Once you moved inland, there would/could be a number of situations which can
lead to confusion (Woods Hole Passage, being one) because charts or no
charts, if you just looked at the buoys without following the bigger picture
of (N,S,E,W) , traffic flow, flood current, then you could easily misread
the intent of the buoys.
Having and using up to date charts is a must, but to make the most use of
them you need to also understand and know a number "basic" why's.
G If you think Bowditch is just some "instructional" document, you haven't
read/used Bowditch.

otn