Navigation © BGS

Before I give you the coordinates or waypoints of the routes that I have, I thought some of you may want a quick primer on Aids to Navigation (ATON's). Since I just passed the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary's Boating Skills and Seamanship course (got a 100 on my exam- wow!) I thought I'd share the information before I forget it. I apologize if you already know this, in which case- skip it.

RRR- Red Right when Returning from sea. i.e. Keep the red buoys to your right (starboard) when returning from sea. A clockwise rotation around the United States is considered returning from the sea. So if you travel on the Atlantic from NJ to FL you are considered returning from the sea. Inland waters are a little different. For example, on the 1000 Islands, when you are traveling from Alexandria Bay towards Lake Ontario you are returning from the sea. When you are traveling from Smallwood St. Park to Washington DC on the Potomac River you are returning from the sea.

Buoys- There are many different types of buoys but the ones that are most common are the nuns and cans. The nuns are the red conical shaped buoys with even numbers on them. The cans are the green cylindrical shaped buoys with odd numbers on them. These buoys are considered lateral markers and mark the edges of channels. Some have lights some don't. Spherical buoys are red and white striped and mark the middle of a channel. Buoys with red and green horizontal bands on them are junction buoys. Junction buoys and spherical buoys have letters only.

Fixed Markers- In addition to buoys you will come across a lot of triangular and square shaped markers. The triangle shaped markers are red with even numbers. The green are square with odd numbers. These markers mark either the edges (when both red and green are used) of channels or the middle (when one color or the other are used). You might remember that in the Piscataway Creek (Ft. Washington cove) the red markers mark the middle of the channel.

Numbers on Buoys and Markers- The numbers on markers and buoys are normally in sequence. Usually the lowest number marks the entrance to an inlet, cove, waterway, etc. You might also come across a combination of number and letter such as 5a. This most likely means they added one between 5 and 6 and didn't want to renumber the system.

Range Markers- You'll see these markers on the Delaware River. These markers are in tandem, one shorter than the other and separted a slight distance apart. These markers, when lined up, tell you that you are in the middle of the channel. I believe they are lighted at night.

Lights- There are many different color lights on buoys with all different kinds of flashing patterns. There are fixed (F)(On continuously), flashing (Fl), occulting (Oc)(flashes off), group flashing (Fl(2)), Morse Code (Mo(A) W, Quick (Q), Isophase (Iso), etc. However, the most popular are fixed and flashing.

Chart Symbols- There are a bunch so I'll just give you the most common.
G "9" Fl G 4s- The italics means it's a floating buoy. Green, number 9, flashing green every 4 seconds.
G C "7"- Floating Green Can, number 7
RG "A" Fl R (2+1) 6s- Floating Red and Green Junction buoy "A", Flashing Red two flashes followed by 1 every 6 secs.
Magenta disks on charts refers to lighted buoys
PA= Position Approximate
Fl 6 sec 129ft 6M- Fixed Flashing white light that is 129 ft. high and can be seen for 6 miles.
GR C "ER"- Green and Red Can lettered ER. All lettered buoys are within the channel
RW Mo(A)- Floating Red and White mid channel buoy flashing morse code A- dot-dash
G "1" Iso G 4s- Green #1 buoy Flashing Green Isophase (off time = on time) every 4 secs.

Red Sectors- This means that normally white lights appear red when viewed from within this sector. They mean danger. You'll see one on Turkey Point where the Elk River meets the Chesapeake Bay. This light happens to be 129 ft. high and can be seen for 6 miles.

Rules of the Road- You have to remember one thing...No one has the right of way. There are instances when one vessel must give way to a stand on vessel but that does not mean he has the right of way. Head on meetings should pass port to port. In a crossing situation, always give way to a boater approaching from your starboard. That is why they have the red and green lights up front. When you see the other vessels red light only (which is what you would see in this case) you must give way by turning towards starboard and pass astern. Remember that the red light is on the left. Port Wine is a red wine- that's how you remember. When overtaking a vessel you must pass to your starboard and give way to the stand-on vessel.

Compass- Get a good one. It may save your ass some day. It saved mine on Lake Wallenpaupack last October. I was trying to get to the State Ramp from my home in the fog (which is only 5 miles away) for a tournament blast off. Visibility was poor and I didn't have my handheld GPS (I do now). The compass kept me from running aground. Make sure you mount it in an area that won't be affected by electronics. If it is mounted too close to your fishfinder you may get interference. When you turn the fishfinder on, notice if the compass dial moves. If it does, it won't work right. Also, find a good true North reference to calibrate your compass. Most all compasses have screws to adjust them. Also, remember that there is a difference between Magnetic North and True North. The North that you see on most maps is true North. Your comass heading is magnetic North. You will see the variances marked on the compass rose of most charts. That tells you the difference between True North and Magnetic North. It varies from location to location and changes from year to year. An easy way to remember converting from one to another is- (TVDC)- TV Makes Dull Children ---->+W this means that when going from True Heading to Compass Headings that you add westerly variations and subtract easterly variations. When doing the opposite you subtract westerly headings and add easterly headings. i.e. Say the variance on the Potomac River around DC is 10 degrees west (1997). Therefore, if I was heading 340 degrees true north I would be heading 350 degrees magnetic north.

Nautical Miles- Keep note that mileage on most maps are in nautical miles. Nautical miles are different from statute miles. One (1) nautical mile = 1.15 statute miles. It'll take me too long to explain why nautical miles are used but they are.

GPS- Global Positioning System. Make sure that the units in your GPS are in magnetic for the compass and nautical for the mileage. That way, they are consistent with most NOAA maps and charts. I leave my mileage on statute miles because I use it in the car. The units will also be given in degrees and minutes to the 1000th of a minute. If your GPS is in dms, to convert N 35º 40.035' W 77º 05.000' to degrees, minutes, seconds- just multiply .035 x 60 and you get 2.1 secs. Oh by the way, just if your curious like I was, one second is equal to roughly 27 yds. longitude and 33 yds laterally around the DC area. It varies North to South. The third decimal place is really not that significant. It equates to about 2 feet.

Note:

I am not responsible for any errors or miscalculations. It is the skippers responsbility to check the accuracy of all posted coordinates and routes. Although I copied the coordinates from the U.S. Coast Guard Light List there may be errors. I could have copied one wrong too. So check them out with your maps/charts for accuracy. Let me know of any errors if you discover any. Thanks

Northern Chesapeake Bay (Northeast River to various locations):

 

Route #4- NE River to Bohemia River
ID Waypoint # Waypoint Name Route # Leg Route Name Distance Bearing Buoy North Coordinate Degrees North Coordinate Minutes West Coordinate Degrees West Coordinated Minutes Notes
24 20 Blue Anchor Marine in NE 4 1 NE River to Bohemia River


39 35.664 75 56.872
25 21
4 2 NE River to Bohemia River 2.63 222 Fl R "10" 39 33.667 75 58.313
26 22
4 3 NE River to Bohemia River 5.33 208 Fl R "2" 39 29.2 75 59.899
27 23
4 4 NE River to Bohemia River 3.67 225 Fl R G "A" 39 26.499 76 2.099
28 24
4 5 NE River to Bohemia River 1.53 125 Fl R "8" 39 25.999 76 0.5
29 25 Bohemia River 4 6 NE River to Bohemia River 4.27 56 Fl R "14" 39 28.698 75 57.202

 

Route #5- NE River to Sassafras River
ID Waypoint # Waypoint Name Route # Leg Route Name Distance Bearing Buoy North Coordinate Degrees North Coordinate Minutes West Coordinate Degrees West Coordinated Minutes Notes
69 20 Blue Anchor Marine in NE 5 1 NE River to Sassafras River


39 35.664 75 56.872
71 21
5 2 NE River to Sassafras River 2.63 222 Fl R "10" 39 33.667 75 58.313
72 22
5 3 NE River to Sassafras River 5.33 208 Fl R "2" 39 29.2 75 59.899
70 23
5 4 NE River to Sassafras River 3.67 225 Fl R G "A" 39 26.499 76 2.099
73 26
5 5 NE River to Sassafras River 3.11 207 Q R "2" 39 23.88 76 2.975
31 27 Sassafras River 5 6 NE River to Sassafras River 1.33 210
39 22.775 76 3.425

 

Route #7- NE River to Havre de Grace
ID Waypoint # Waypoint Name Route # Leg Route Name Distance Bearing Buoy North Coordinate Degrees North Coordinate Minutes West Coordinate Degrees West Coordinated Minutes Notes
84 20 Blue Anchor Marine in NE 7 1 NE River to Havre de Grace


39 35.664 75 56.872
83 21
7 2 NE River to Havre de Grace 2.63 222 Fl R "10" 39 33.667 75 58.313
85 22
7 3 NE River to Havre de Grace 5.33 208 Fl R "2" 39 29.2 75 59.899
40 36
7 4 NE River to Havre de Grace 3.11 251 Fl G "1" 39 27.78 76 2.875
41 37
7 5 NE River to Havre de Grace .63 342 R N "2" 39 28.25 76 3.23
42 38 Channel to Havre de Grace 7 6 NE River to Havre de Grace 1.53 311 R N "6" 39 28.88 76 4.75

 

Route #6- NE River to Worton Creek
ID Waypoint # Waypoint Name Route # Leg Route Name Distance Bearing Buoy North Coordinate Degrees North Coordinate Minutes West Coordinate Degrees West Coordinated Minutes Notes
74 20 Blue Anchor Marine in NE 6 1 NE River to Worton Creek


39 35.664 75 56.872
75 21
6 2 NE River to Worton Creek 2.63 222 Fl R "10" 39 33.667 75 58.313
76 22
6 3 NE River to Worton Creek 5.33 208 Fl R "2" 39 29.2 75 59.899
77 23
6 4 NE River to Worton Creek 3.67 225 Fl R G "A" 39 26.499 76 2.099
78 26
6 5 NE River to Worton Creek 3.11 207 Q R "2" 39 23.88 76 2.975
79 29
6 6 NE River to Worton Creek 4.69 257 Fl G "53" 39 22.15 76 7.75
36 32
6 7 NE River to Worton Creek 4.35 243 Q R "44" 39 19.73 76 11.5
82 33
6 8 NE River to Worton Creek 2.14 224 R N "38A" 39 18.15 76 12.775
39 35 Worton Creek 6 9 NE River to Worton Creek 2.09 117 Q GW "R1" 39 17.7 76 10.5

 

Potomac River (From Sweden Pt. Marina, Smallwood State Park):

Note:

The GPS coordinates originate from Sweden Pt. Marina. The next buoy is out on the Potomac River. So please don't think that you can take a straight route. If you do you'll end up aground somewhere. Notice the second leg of each route. From there you can take a straight route to the next buoy.

 

Route #8- Smallwood to Arkindale Flats
ID Waypoint # Waypoint Name Route # Leg Route Name Distance Bearing Buoy North Coordinate Degrees North Coordinate Minutes West Coordinate Degrees West Coordinated Minutes Notes
15 10 Smallwood State Park, MD 8 1 Smallwood to Arkindale


38 33.523 77 11.308
43 40 Potomac River 8 2 Smallwood to Arkindale 2.48 286 R N "46" 38 33.65 77 14.063
80 41 Susquehanna Flats 8 3 Smallwood to Arkindale 2.28 235 Q R "44" 38 32.2 77 15.79
45 42 Potomac River 8 4 Smallwood to Arkindale 2.9 209 G C "41" 38 29.78 77 16.7
46 43 North End of Arkindale Flats 8 5 Smallwood to Arkindale 3.71 229 PRV "12" 38 27.2 77 19.175
152

8 6 Total Distance 11.37






 

Route #9- Smallwood to Aquia Creek
ID Waypoint # Waypoint Name Route # Leg Route Name Distance Bearing Buoy North Coordinate Degrees North Coordinate Minutes West Coordinate Degrees West Coordinated Minutes Notes
86 10 Smallwood State Park, MD 9 1 Smallwood to Aquia Creek


38 33.523 77 11.308
87 40 Potomac River 9 2 Smallwood to Aquia Creek 2.48 286 R N "46" 38 33.65 77 14.063
88 41 Potomac River 9 3 Smallwood to Aquia Creek 2.28 235 Q R "44" 38 32.2 77 15.79
89 42 Potomac River 9 4 Smallwood to Aquia Creek 2.9 209 G C "41" 38 29.78 77 16.7
47 44 Aquia Creek 9 5 Smallwood to Aquia Creek 8 202 Fl R "2" 38 22.925 77 18.2
153

9 6 Total Distance 15.66






 

Route #10- Smallwood to Potomac Creek
ID Waypoint # Waypoint Name Route # Leg Route Name Distance Bearing Buoy North Coordinate Degrees North Coordinate Minutes West Coordinate Degrees West Coordinated Minutes Notes
134 10 Smallwood State Park, MD 10 1 Smallwood to Potomac Cr.


38 33.523 77 11.308
140 40 Potomac River 10 2 Smallwood to Potomac Cr. 2.48 286 R N "46" 38 33.65 77 14.063
141 41 Potomac River 10 3 Smallwood to Potomac Cr. 2.28 235 Q R "44" 38 32.2 77 15.79
138 42 Potomac River 10 4 Smallwood to Potomac Cr. 2.9 209 G C "41" 38 29.78 77 16.7
135 45 Potomac River 10 5 Smallwood to Potomac Cr. 6.44 188 Fl G "27" 38 24.2 77 16.11
142 46 Potomac Creek 10 6 Smallwood to Potomac Cr. 4.16 199 FLR "2" 38 20.61 77 16.65
145

10 7 Total Distance 18.26






 

Route #11- Smallwood to Nanjemoy Creek
ID Waypoint # Waypoint Name Route # Leg Route Name Distance Bearing Buoy North Coordinate Degrees North Coordinate Minutes West Coordinate Degrees West Coordinated Minutes Notes
94 10 Smallwood State Park, MD 11 1 Smallwood to Nanjemoy Cr.


38 33.523 77 11.308
95 40 Potomac River 11 2 Smallwood to Nanjemoy Cr. 2.48 286 R N "46" 38 33.65 77 14.063
96 41 Potomac River 11 3 Smallwood to Nanjemoy Cr. 2.28 235 Q R "44" 38 32.2 77 15.79
97 42 Potomac River 11 4 Smallwood to Nanjemoy Cr. 2.9 209 G C "41" 38 29.78 77 16.7
98 45 Potomac River 11 5 Smallwood to Nanjemoy Cr. 6.44 188 Fl G "27" 38 24.2 77 16.11
50 47 Potomac River 11 6 Smallwood to Nanjemoy Cr. 2.97 168 Fl G "23" 38 21.85 77 14.75
51 48 Potomac River 11 7 Smallwood to Nanjemoy Cr. 2.8 124 Fl "W" 38 20.975 77 11.85
52 49 Nanjemoy Creek 11 8 Smallwood to Nanjemoy Cr. 4.52 66 Q C "13" 38 23.29 77 7.8
146

11 9 Total Distance 24.41






 

Route #12- Smallwood to Pomonkey Creek
ID Waypoint # Waypoint Name Route # Leg Route Name Distance Bearing Buoy North Coordinate Degrees North Coordinate Minutes West Coordinate Degrees West Coordinated Minutes Notes
126 10 Smallwood State Park, MD 12 1 Smallwood to Pomonkey Cr.


38 33.523 77 11.308
127 60 Potomac River 12 2 Smallwood to Pomonkey Cr. 2.66 357 FLG "51" 38 35.75 77 12.08
128 62 Potomac River 12 3 Smallwood to Pomonkey Cr. 1.74 72 RN "54" 38 36.52 77 10.42
129 63 Potomac River 12 4 Smallwood to Pomonkey Cr. 1.82 87 FLG "55" 38 36.95 77 8.474
143 64 Pomonkey Creek 12 5 Smallwood to Pomonkey Cr. 1.32 47 FLG "59" 38 37.9 77 7.65
147

12 6 Total Distance 7.54






 

Route #13- Smallwood to Occoquan Bay
ID Waypoint # Waypoint Name Route # Leg Route Name Distance Bearing Buoy North Coordinate Degrees North Coordinate Minutes West Coordinate Degrees West Coordinated Minutes Notes
131 10 Smallwood State Park, MD 13 1 Smallwood to Occoquan Bay


38 33.523 77 11.308
132 60 Potomac River 13 2 Smallwood to Occoquan Bay 2.66 357 FLG "51" 38 35.75 77 12.08
133 61 Occoquan Bay 13 3 Smallwood to Occoquan Bay 2.08 354 FLR "2" 38 37.47 77 12.8
148

13 4 Total Distance 4.74






 

Route #14- Smallwood to Gunston Cove
ID Waypoint # Waypoint Name Route # Leg Route Name Distance Bearing Buoy North Coordinate Degrees North Coordinate Minutes West Coordinate Degrees West Coordinated Minutes Notes
120 10 Smallwood State Park, MD 14 1 Smallwood to Gunston Cove


38 33.523 77 11.308
121 60 Potomac River 14 2 Smallwood to Gunston Cove 2.66 357 FLG "51" 38 35.75 77 12.08
122 62 Potomac River 14 3