Buoyage differences

JBJag27 said:
Only the colours are reversed.
The yanks have a handy mnemonic for it, "Red, right returning".
Click to expand...

+1 Yep. System B. Only difference is the colors are reversed.
Shape and top mark remain the same. I suppose you could say the color of the light is reversed.

The System B logic is Red To Red and Green to Green coming into Harbour. Rather than leaving.

The "Story" The Americans used to reverse the buoys back in the War of Independence to confuse the RN. I don't think the RN were confused for long. But its a nice story. True maybe.
 
Graham_Wright said:
Er, no! https://www.imray.com/uploads/Charts/Iala_buoyage_system_B.pdf
Click to expand...

I rather like the Imray picture. Do you happen to have system A handy?:)

I suppose it could be just the way I am saying it.
I will try again. System A or System B the shape and top mark are the same. For Port and starboard hand Buoys. Port Cans Starboard Cones.

Port hand Mark System B
Color Green.
A Green Can.
Top mark if any. A Green Can
Light Green.

Starboard hand mark.

Color Red
Shape A Red Cone.
Top mark A Red Cone.
Light Red

System A or the rest of the world. ?

Port Hand Mark
Color ?
Shape?
Top Mark?
Light.?

System A
Starboard Hand Mark

Color?
Shape?
Top mark?
Light?
 
Uricanejack said:
I rather like the Imray picture. Do you happen to have system A handy?:)

I suppose it could be just the way I am saying it.
I will try again. System A or System B the shape and top mark are the same. For Port and starboard hand Buoys. Port Cans Starboard Cones.

Port hand Mark System B
Color Green.
A Green Can.
Top mark if any. A Green Can
Light Green.

Starboard hand mark.

Color Red
Shape A Red Cone.
Top mark A Red Cone.
Light Red

System A or the rest of the world. ?

Port Hand Mark
Color ?
Shape?
Top Mark?
Light.?

System A
Starboard Hand Mark

Color?
Shape?
Top mark?
Light?
Click to expand...

I've just returned from Guadeloupe where the question was prompted. There the can and the top mark were not the same. Starboard hand buoy red, can and top mark cone. Port had buoy green, cone and top mark can.

The Imray picture shows all combinations.

IALA A;-
https://www.imray.com/uploads/Charts/Iala_buoyage_system_A.pdf
 
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It's freaky. Heading in to some bay in the British Virgin Islands there was just one, unpaired, red buoy to mark a rock at one side of the entrance. Fortunately I realised in time that this was a starboard-hand mark, not a port-hand mark, so entered the harbour on the deep-water side of the buoy.

Most of the world needs help returning to a harbour from sea. So red buoys, which mark the port side of your boat, are on the inbound port side of the harbour.

Americans seem to need help getting out of their home harbour. So red buoys, which mark the port side of their boats, are stationed on the outbound port side of the harbour.
 
BelleSerene said:
It's freaky. Heading in to some bay in the British Virgin Islands there was just one, unpaired, red buoy to mark a rock at one side of the entrance. Fortunately I realised in time that this was a starboard-hand mark, not a port-hand mark, so entered the harbour on the deep-water side of the buoy.

Most of the world needs help returning to a harbour from sea. So red buoys, which mark the port side of your boat, are on the inbound port side of the harbour.

Americans seem to need help getting out of their home harbour. So red buoys, which mark the port side of their boats, are stationed on the outbound port side of the harbour.
Click to expand...

I've heard a rumour they drive on the wrong side of the road as well.
 
In the Caribbean mistrust all buoys except those in the French islands.

The private ones laid by major marinas tend to be in the right places but again mistrust them after any period of severe weather.

Red right returning in the west.

In the east where topless tit are all right and green too.
 
Graham_Wright said:
I've just returned from Guadeloupe where the question was prompted. There the can and the top mark were not the same. Starboard hand buoy red, can and top mark cone. Port had buoy green, cone and top mark can.

The Imray picture shows all combinations.

IALA A;-
https://www.imray.com/uploads/Charts/Iala_buoyage_system_A.pdf
Click to expand...

Well I don't know much about Guadeloupe. I've never been there. Been to US VI and St Lucia but never Guadeloupe.

I've looked at both the Imray System B and System A you posted. I cant spot any dereference other than color.

Cant say I was very good at spot the difference picture.:cool:
 
Although the US subscribes to the cardinal system, they loathe using it, even when it would be far the best method of marking dangers. The only cardinal buoy I ever saw in the US was in the St Clair river (which joins lakes Erie and Huron), marking the north end of a mud-spit, with channels on either side.

"What the hell is that thing", I heard one American mobo owner say as he passed us. So he went over to have a look - and promptly ran aground.
 
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Uricanejack said:
Well I don't know much about Guadeloupe. I've never been there. Been to US VI and St Lucia but never Guadeloupe.

I've looked at both the Imray System B and System A you posted. I cant spot any dereference other than color.

Cant say I was very good at spot the difference picture.:cool:
Click to expand...

This poor old horse is on its last legs so I'll finish it off.

IALA B shows green cones with can top marks (e.g.) and they are reversed in lateral position.
 
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