 | The Starboard Daybeacon is triangular, with a red triangular centre on a white background, and a red reflective border. It is used at lock stations, bridge piers and as a channel marker on shorelines to indicate the starboard (right) side of the channel when proceeding upstream.
The Port Daybeacon is square, with a black square centre on a white background, and a green reflective boarder. It is also used at lock stations, bridge piers and as a channel marker on shorelines to indicate the port (left) side of the channel when proceeding upstream.
Bifurcation or Junction Daybeacons mark a point where a channel divides and may be passed on either side. When proceeding upstream, the preferred route is to the left of a starboard bifurcation daybeacon, which features a reflective red triangle on a white diamond, with a red border. Similarly, a green reflective square on a white diamond with a red border (port bifurcation daybeacon), indicates that the preferred route is to the right. These daybeacons provide directional assistance when navigating across long reaches (e.g. Rideau Lakes), or at junctions where the main channel may not be clearly defined.
LATERAL BUOYS
Starboard Hand Buoys are red-coloured with a pointed top, and mark the starboard (right) side of a channel or the location of a danger. They should appear on your starboard side when boating in an upstream direction.
Port Hand Buoys are green-coloured with a flat top, and mark the port (left) side of a channel or the location of a danger. They should appear on your port side when boating in an upstream direction.
Hand Buoys, 2K
Bifurcation Buoys, both starboard and port, mark the points where a channel divides when boating upstream. The top colour on the buoy indicates the correct side on which vessels should pass to stay in the preferred or main channel. If the top colour is red, boaters should keep this buoy on their starboard side if they wish to stay in the main channel. If the top colour is green, boaters should keep this buoy on their port side if they wish to stay in the main channel.
Fairway Buoys are coloured red and white in wide vertical stripes and mark a landfall, channel entrance or the centre of a channel. They may be passed on either side but should be kept to port when proceeding in either direction.
BUOYAGE REVERSAL
The summit of the Rideau Canal is at Newboro. Water flows downstream to Kingston and Ottawa from here in both directions. As a result, the red and green buoys will be on opposite or reverse sides of the channel after you pass through Newboro Lock in either direction.
Balsam Lake is the summit of the Trent-Severn Waterway. Water flows downstream to Lake Ontario and Georgian Bay from here in both directions. As a result, the red and green buoys will be on opposite or reverse sides of the channel after you pass through the Kirkfield Lift Lock in either direction.
To avoid confusion, consider the following rule for navigating the Rideau Canal and Trent-Severn Waterway. Red buoys on your right when going upstream.
NAVIGATION CHARTS AND GUIDES
Boaters should carry and navigate with up-to-date navigation charts and be familiar with the Historic Canal Regulations. On the Trent-Severn Waterway, navigation charts may be purchased at:
Lock #1 Trenton
Lock #18 Hastings
Lock #36 Kirkfield
Lock #42 Couchiching
Lock #44 Big Chute Marine Railway
Lock #45 Port Severn
Campbellford Chamber of Commerce
Peterborough Lift Lock Visitor Centre
Also available (including by mail) from:
Friends of the Trent-Severn Waterway
P.O. Box 572, Peterborough, Ont. K9J 6Z6
NOTE: (Postage & handling charges are extra)
On the Rideau Canal, navigation charts Nos. 1512 & 1513
may be purchased at most lock stations and:
Friends of the Rideau
1 Jasper Ave. Smith Falls, Ont. K7A 4B5
Telephone: (613) 283-5810
OTHER READING
To help plan your trip, the Friends of the Trent-Severn Waterway carry a full range of Waterway publications and other useful guides. Whether it’s history, the environment, marina facilities, guidebooks/manuals, or videos, the Friends can fill that special order. Send for their mail-order catalogue. Revenue from sales is used to support Waterway programs and services. FTSW members receive a quarterly newsletter.
The Friends of the Rideau also offer a limited selection of publications and provide a valuable information service.
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