The Catchacoma Cottagers’ Association currently puts out hazard and navigation buoys on the lake in early spring, typically on the Thursday before the Victoria Day weekend, and removes them after Thanksgiving weekend. The placement of the buoys is to help identify underwater hazards, shoals and aid in the navigation through some of the busier channels on Catchacoma lake and Catchacoma Narrows.
Download map showing buoys (pdf).
The buoy program represents a major expense for the CCA so thank you to everyone for becoming a member or making a donation; these funds help us with this annual task. Maintenance and insurance are expensive but the labour is all volunteer!
HAZARD BUOYS
Currently we deploy 50 yellow hazard buoys throughout the lake. The hazard buoys were updated a few years ago to the current yellow buoys in order to meet Transport Canada approval for hazard markers. When a single or row of buoys is located off a point, this usually means there are rocks from the buoy position all the way to shore. When there are several buoys in a row or in a group that indicates the general location of a shoal or a sunken island. Some shoals and rock formations are quite large and extend many meters beyond the buoys. Boaters are advised to give the hazard buoys a wide berth.
If you have a concern for an area that you deem hazardous to boaters and that location currently does not have a hazard buoy(s) please email catchacomalake@gmail.com with the location and we will look into it.
NAVIGATION BUOYS
Additionally we deploy 25 red and green navigational buoys throughout Catchacoma Lake and Catchacoma Narrows. The purpose of the navigation buoys is to aid boaters in traveling though the busier channels and the narrow channel of Catchacoma Narrows.
For navigation purposes on Catchacoma Lake, north is upstream (towards Catchacoma Marina) and south is downstream (towards the Narrows). When heading north (upstream), keep green buoys on the left and red buoys on the right. When going south (downstream), keep green buoys on the right and red buoys on the left.
On Catchacoma Lake it is safest to go between any pair of red and green navigation markers. If there is only a single navigation marker (red or green) on the end of a series of yellow hazard markers marking a shoal, then travel between that red/green marker and the land on the opposite side.
Every effort is made to ensure the buoys are maintained in the correct locations throughout the boating season. The program does not guarantee that buoys that have been deployed haven’t moved and unmarked locations of the lake can be safely navigated. The primary responsibility for safe boating is with the operator of the vessel. Catchacoma Cottagers Association, its directors and volunteers take no responsibility for injury to boaters or damage to boats as a result of contact with navigational hazards.