Red right return?

[oceansbreeze]

I covered this "red right return" thing so many years ago in my course.. never really needed to worry about the aids to navigation...

Well, the damn was opened, the water is low, and I had to find a new place to launch.... 2 miles away on a river there is a decent little ramp, so I decided to check it out..

Ramp was ok, the river went up to about 10 feet deep, then at the mouth of the lake near the centre channel of the river, it had a low of about 1.5 feet. (Coming back from my excursion, the waves were lifting me and I bottomed out once - even with my engine trimmed up as high as it would go) .... next time I will try and be closer to the channel marker..

ANYWAY... at this point, I decided to cruise up the river. There is a campground up there and I decided to go "check it out" and enjoy the calm of the river..

the river averaged 4 feet... sometimes dipping to 3... a few places of about 6 feet.

Half way UP river, a red buoy. .... So, ok, you keep the red marker on your... port side? So I keep it to the left. Trim engine up.. passed it with depth of 2.5'.

The old saying "red right return" Does this assume coming from a larger body of water? So, on the return trip, I keep it to the starboard side (which I did)

What if you were leaving from the campground... which is up river, and you'd later be returning up river? Do you still keep to the same rule??

I attached a pic, it's probably a common occurrence to some of you, but I'm overly cautious! I wonder if I go on the other side, am I gonna hit a rock or something.... it just didn't make sense having this red buoy here considering the rest of the river was consistently at a navigable depth.

 

[KurtG]

Re: Red right return?

I think you got it wrong. Return should be upriver. Red is on the right returning so the marker/buoy should have been on your right, starboard side.

 

[delfinasul]

Re: Red right return?

On Danube river, when you go down you must have red on right side and green on the left side an reverse when you cruise up the river.


Later edit: p.s. I live in Europe. From what i see on this topic, here in Eu., are opposite signs.

 

[Navy Jr.]

Re: Red right return?

Half way UP river, a red buoy. .... So, ok, you keep the red marker on your... port side? So I keep it to the left. Trim engine up.. passed it with depth of 2.5'.

Yep, Kurt is right. In the U.S. you want to keep the red buoy on your right as you steam up stream. Red on your right as you return.

 

[Thad]

Re: Red right return?

Always think of it like this.
A ship or barge takes longer to stop heading DOWNSTREAM. Therefore, the markers are set downstream, or with the current. When you are traveling against the current, or upstream, the markers and adages are reversed.

If you get confused heading upstream, on any waterway, imagine yourself going down, see the bouy's and then orient that to your actual heading. You'll be fine.

 

[Bifflefan]

Re: Red right return?

Always think of it like this.
A ship or barge takes longer to stop heading DOWNSTREAM. Therefore, the markers are set downstream, or with the current. When you are traveling against the current, or upstream, the markers and adages are reversed.

If you get confused heading upstream, on any waterway, imagine yourself going down, see the bouy's and then orient that to your actual heading. You'll be fine.

I think im confused now....

Always "Red on the right going upstream".

Red Right Return:
Assumes that you put in on the river, went to the lake and then are heading back up river to the launch.

 

[j_martin]

Re: Red right return?

I must be simple or stupid. Most of the time when there's a red one, there's a green one on the other side. I drive between them.

Around here, if you don't pay attention at low water, the wing dams take off yer lower.

John

 

[dingbat]

Re: Red right return?

The buoys are oriented on it?s location as it relates to the return to the ocean.

Red on right on return..........from the ocean.
Green on the right......go to the ocean.

 

[delfinasul]

Re: Red right return?

From www.sailingissues.com/navcourse9.html


"Lateral Buoys and Marks
The location of lateral buoys defines the borders of channels and indicates the direction. Under IALA A red buoys mark the port side of the channel when returning from sea, whereas under IALA B green buoys mark the port side of the channel when sailing towards land. Red buoys have even numbers and red lights; green buoys have odd numbers and green lights."


IALA region A=Europe
Africa
New Zealand
Australia
China
India
Russia
Indonesia
Turkey
Middle East
Etc.

IALA REGION B= Americas
Philippines
Japan
Korea

 

[BWR1953]

Re: Red right return?

The buoys are oriented on it?s location as it relates to the return to the ocean.

Red on right on return..........from the ocean.
Green on the right......go to the ocean.

Yup.

 

[Andy in NY]

Re: Red right return?

so how do they relate to lakes that are no where near the ocean?!?!

 

[WAVENBYE2]

Re: Red right return?

I think you got it wrong. Return should be upriver. Red is on the right returning so the marker/buoy should have been on your right, starboard side.

Absolutely!! The 3 R's is very importantant to navigating the waters (Especially) if your not familiar with the waters you are on!! Red Right Return is the same as the roads you drive. Going upriver Red on starboard heading back down red on port, and always stay between the green and red while cruising. They are there for a reason, Not because they look pretty or for birds to rest on
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/learning/boater_education/buoys.phtml

 

[WAVENBYE2]

Re: Red right return?

so how do they relate to lakes that are no where near the ocean?!?!

Bouy lines are used just as much and are just as important on rivers and lakes. Lakes have channels to follow just like rivers and oceans, the channels are the deepest part of the navigation even when water levels are down, its the safest route.

 

[Andy in NY]

Re: Red right return?

where we boat there are 2 lakes, connected by "the narrows". there is one spot just before a channel that there is a single red bouy. ????

 

[WAVENBYE2]

Re: Red right return?

where we boat there are 2 lakes, connected by "the narrows". there is one spot just before a channel that there is a single red bouy. ????

We have only one canal that connects the two lakes here too, best thing to do is look up yours on the puter and take a look at your navigtion chart for your area and see for yourself, so you know exactly were you need to be
This is our canal between the two lakes.
http://www.explorekentuckylake.com/maps/charts/kentucky/4-A.htm

 

[dingbat]

Re: Red right return?

We have only one canal that connects the two lakes here too, best thing to do is look up yours on the puter and take a look at your navigtion chart for your area and see for yourself, so you know exastly were you need to be
This is our canal between the two lakes.
http://www.explorekentuckylake.com/maps/charts/kentucky/4-A.htm

I see two rivers on that chart, no lake.

 

[WAVENBYE2]

Re: Red right return?

I see two rivers on that chart, no lake.

Actually they are two lake inbetween the two rivers, The rivers connect on upper and lower parts of the lakes, Yes they are two lakes, Lake barkely and Kentucky lake with the rivers above and below them both. You are right though, the river does run through them.
http://www.lbl.org/LBLGeneralMap.pdf

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Red right return?

The buoys are oriented on it?s location as it relates to the return to the ocean.

Red on right on return..........from the ocean.
Green on the right......go to the ocean.

You said it incorrect in your first sentence but have it correct for the next 2.

 

[freelancer]

Re: Red right return?

Buoy Jeopardy...RED & GREEN BANDS, what do you do?

 

[Fl_Richard]

Re: Red right return?

Turn