Day Beacons: Starboard Hand, Port Hand & Junction
March 29, 2023
As a boater, understanding the various navigation aids such as day beacons are among the things you need to learn before operating a boat. In this blog, we will discuss three important types of day beacons – starboard hand, port hand, and junction day beacons.
What is a day beacon?
Beacons and buoys may look similar but the main difference between them is that beacons are fixed aids to navigation while buoys are floating devices. Beacons are typically used to mark specific points in the water, while buoys are used to mark the edges of channels or underwater hazards.
Both beacons and buoys are important navigational aids that help boaters safely navigate the waterways. The day beacons covered in this blog are navigational markers that provide important information to boaters about the waterway they are navigating.
What are the common types of day beacons?
Below, we will discuss three important types of day beacons – starboard hand, port hand, and junction day beacons. It’s important to understand the meaning of upstream and downstream while on a waterway so that you can correctly interpret boating buoys, beacons and avoid collisions.
Starboard hand day beacon
- It indicates the right side right of a preferred channel.
- It must be on the right (starboard) side when the craft is going upstream.
- It is identified as a red triangle with a white contoured line.
- It has no lights and is visible only during daylight.
Port hand day beacon
- It indicates the left side of a preferred channel.
- It must be on the left (port) side when the craft is going upstream.
- It has a black or green square centered on white and is surrounded by a green reflective boarder.
- It has no lights and is visible only during daylight.
Junction day beacon
- These day beacons provide directional assistance when navigating across long reaches or at junctions where the main channel may not be clearly defined.
- Mark a point where a channel divides and may be passed on either side.
- Feature a red-outlined diamond with either a green square or red triangle in the centre, indicating the preferred channel
Other types of day beacons
Ranges are a series of navigational markers that boaters can use to maintain their position within a channel or waterway. Ranges consist of two or more day beacons that are aligned to provide a visual reference for boaters.
When boaters align the day beacons, they can determine if they are on course and maintain their position within the channel. Ranges are typically found in narrow channels or in areas with strong currents.
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Day beacons are essential navigational markers that provide important information to boaters about the waterway they are navigating. Boaters should familiarize themselves with the different types of day beacons and understand their meaning and significance to ensure safe navigation.
To get more in-depth information on day beacons and other aids to navigation, take the online boating exam or contact us.