What characteristic distinguishes a safe water buoy from a lateral buoy?

A safe water buoy is specifically designed to indicate safe water and generally marks where deeper water begins or indicates that the water is safe for navigation without showing the limits of a channel. This is in contrast to lateral buoys, which are used to designate the sides of a navigable channel and help boaters understand where to place their vessels for safe passage.

The distinguishing characteristic that sets safe water buoys apart is that they do not indicate the sides of a channel, which is key in navigating waterways. Instead, they signal that there is navigable water in the area and can indicate the centerline of a channel or approach to an area that is safe for entry. The presence of a safe water buoy is important for guiding vessels in open water or approaching a harbor, where channel markers may not be present.

In summary, the correct answer highlights that a safe water buoy's role is fundamentally different from a lateral buoy, solidifying its importance in navigation without indicating channel boundaries.