Buoys are essential navigational aids in oceans, lakes, and rivers. We’re proud to offer the latest in buoy innovation, the durable Aqua Lantern: a solar-powered light-up buoy that represents quite the advance in buoy technology. To set this safety product in context, let’s dig into the backstory of buoys a bit!The History of Buoys Although the first recorded mention of buoys dates from the end of the 13th century, there’s no question these markers were in use well before that; we just don’t have solid documentation in one form or another. The 1295 La Compasso de Navigare, a mariner’s handbook detailing sea roads and approaches around the Iberian Peninsula, notes the use of buoys in Spain’s Guadalquivir River to direct vessels accessing Sevilla. A few decades later, we can find historical literature detailing the use of buoys in the Zuider Zee, a bay of the North Sea, routing ships to Amsterdam and other ports.Pieces of Rafts or Wood Very early buoys were likely simply pieces of rafts or wood secured to a hefty stone. By the 14th century, hollow wooden casks chained to stones were in use in the Netherlands and Germany; these “tonnen”-style cask buoys were soon employed in England. In 1514, acknowledging a petition by the Guild of Shipmen and Mariners, King Henry VIII created Trinity House by royal charter to manage navigational aids in English waters. According to the U.S. Lighthouse Society, the close of the 1500s saw more than 40 buoys placed in the Zuider Zee, close to 30 in North Germany’s rivers, and some 17 in England.Seetonnen Buoy Dutch and German technology later replaced the cask buoy with a more advanced model: the vertical “Seetonnen” buoy made of tapered wood. In England’s American colonies, early buoys were mainly of the cask or the spar variety, the latter being a timber pole—often made from juniper or arborvitae—driven into the riverbed or bay floor. The U.S. Coast Guard Historian’s Office notes that documentation from that era on buoys is scanty. However, cask buoys were mentioned in the Delaware River in the 1760s and spar buoys in Boston Harbor by 1780.19th Century Through the first half of the 19th century, the use of buoys wasn’t standardized in the U.S., which made for a confusing and often sub-par hodgepodge network of navigational aids. Many early American buoys were too small to be effectively seen and posed their own navigational hazard; designs and colors were all over the place, and buoys were often poorly sited and maintained.Late 1840s & Early 1850s This began to change in the late 1840s and early 1850s, when the Lateral System—with red “nun” buoys placed to the starboard side of mariners coming into harbor and black “can” buoys to the port side—was adopted, apparently (according to the U.S. Lighthouse Society) based on the setup used in the Port of Liverpool, heavily visited by American ships. This “right, red, return” system is still the standard, though can buoys these days are painted green instead of black for greater long-range visibility. Congress established the Lighthouse Board in 1852, which helped further standardize the nation’s buoyage systems—and inspired an explosion of technological refinement.Beyond Buoys as Mere Daymarks Early buoys were simply daymarks, providing a navigational service only during the daylight hours when they could be picked out by eye. In the 19th century, experiments with other ways of broadcasting a buoy’s location were extensively underway. By the mid-1800s, bell buoys that clanged as the objects moved in swells and waves were being developed. A significant innovation was John Courtenay’s “whistle buoy,” patented in 1876. Open at the submerged bottom end, Courtenay’s buoy had a hollow tube inside rising to a whistle; the buoy’s movement forced air up the tube and produced the whistling signal.Audible Buoys At about the same time that inventors were tinkering with the concept of audible buoys, others were experimenting with ways to light buoys so they could be visible at night. These included buoys fired using compressed gas and electrically powered versions, such as the lantern-hung spar buoys powered by a cable in New York harbor’s Gedney’s Channel in 1888. As the 20th century unfolded, the U.S. Lighthouse Board was replaced with the Lighthouse Service, which—under the direction of its first commissioner, George Putnam—innovated a slew of new buoy designs and technologies. These included the use of radio beacons that made buoys detectable from dozens of miles away, far beyond the range of sight and sound.U.S. Coast Guard In 1939, the Lighthouse Service was rolled into the U.S. Coast Guard. This was about when the League of Nations discussed adopting a unified international standard of buoy markings. World War II interrupted that effort, but 50 countries adopted such a protocol—the Maritime Buoyage System-in 1980, with the International Association of Lighthouse Authorities overseeing.Modern Solar Buoys One of the breakthroughs of modern buoys is the use of solar power to light them: the design behind our fabulous solar light up buoys, the Aqua Lantern. These large solar light up buoys, which come in a variety of colors, are powered by a rechargeable solar light engine that illuminates five blazing LED lights at night—just the ticket for squaring off your swimming area or displaying the location of your pier, dock, inflatable swim platform or trampoline. Our Aqua Lanterns’ bell-shaped design keeps them afloat even in choppy waters, and their LED glow makes them visible for up to a half nautical mile away!Almost all of the following info, by the way, comes from two excellent references we encourage you to check out if you find yourself hooked on buoy history after reading this: the U.S. Lighthouse Society and the U.S. Coast Guard Historian’s Office.Dunn-Rite Pool Products & Pool Accessories 3rd Generation Family Owned Company with a long history of developing innovative products of the highest quality. Pool Fountains - Combo Units - Pool Volleyball - Pool Basketball

Sometimes the best ideas are also the most colorful. If you run a commercial marina, manage a resort area, or simply have a home along the river or lake, you know that the joys of being out on the water come with practical safety concerns. Boaters need to be alerted to potential dangers below the surface or directed to the proper docks or mooring options. Swimmers need functional boundaries marking safe areas while still allowing easy passage for bodies or crafts. Sometimes it’s merely a matter of making things easy to see at a distance, in bad weather, or after dark. Sure, you can post various signs and mount spotlights, and take other brash steps to communicate with patrons. It’s a necessary intrusion on most maritime experiences. The most bucolic scenery in the world doesn’t justify drifting into the wrong waters or ripping open the bottom of your craft. Still, it would sure be nice to minimize that intrusion without sacrificing clarity or safety. It would be even better if some of these essential guides and warnings actually complimented their surroundings’ aesthetics instead of merely interrupting them. As long as we’re all idealistic about it, why not ask them to work in the dark just as well as they do in the light, all without requiring an extension cord a mile-and-a-half long?Solar Light Up Buoys Light Up My Lake The  Aqua Lantern Solar Buoy is the product of four decades of water-use innovation from the Dunn Rite family. Our buoys come in multiple bright colors and measure 20” high and 20” in diameter for easy visibility. The unique bell shape keeps them vertical in the water, even in unpleasant conditions. 21st-century solar technology allows full charge with only four hours of full sunlight a day and powers a glow visible up to half of a nautical mile away for up to 20 hours at a time. Solar powered light up buoys are also rather pretty. The Aqua Lantern Solar Buoy strikes the perfect balance between standing out clearly and fitting in comfortably. There’s no overlooking them or mistaking them for natural features or some other element of the background. Their shape and colors grab the eyes and guide the mind to whatever message you’ve chosen to reinforce.Show Me The Way With a Solar Light Up Buoy Easily mark the limits of where swimmers or boating is allowed or warn of submerged dangers. Indicate different docking areas by color or offer mooring options near prime fishing or other choice spots. You can still have your signage and prioritize safety, but the Aqua Lantern allows you to place reminders and guides anywhere you choose without the need to clutter up the area with unpleasant visuals. Because they’re relatively compact and affordable (compared to, say, a bulletin board or one of those airplanes with a sign behind it), you can use them in more places, more often – improving both safety and communication. If you have a purely recreational area, young people have always done better with colors than excessive texts. Solar buoys are non-intrusive and durable, easily marking different types of water activities, indicating age-appropriateness, or simply creating a “map” to follow for your treasure hunt, race, or other competitive fun. They provide plenty of light for easy guidance in a residential area without intruding through anyone’s curtains or shutters. Honestly, we find watching them out on the water rather soothing, even when they’re not being used to indicate, well… anything.What You’ve Been A-Missin’? Solar Light Up Buoys! There are situations in which established norms and guides should be followed, and the  Aqua Lantern solar light up buoy is designed to fit in nicely when appropriate. At the same time, they’re versatile enough to easily be adapted to your circumstances, style, and goals. We’re pretty sure we haven’t even thought of all the potential uses yet. Dunn Rite has been making a splash on the aquatic sports and recreation industry for over a generation, combining fun, innovation, and quality. The Aqua Lantern Solar Buoy is no exception, it's designed to dazzle and designed to last – but most of all, they’re designed to work. The only question is, how would they best work for you?Dunn-Rite Pool Products & Pool Accessories 3rd Generation Family Owned Company with a long history of developing innovative products of the highest quality. Pool Fountains - Combo Units - Pool Volleyball - Pool Basketball

Protect your floating swim platform, floating trampoline, pier, dock, PWC, and swim areas with the Dunn Rite Product’s Aqua Lantern. The  Aqua Lantern solar lit buoy is highly visible, measuring 20” high and 20” in diameter. The Aqua Lantern features a unique "Bell Shape" design that helps keep the buoy vertical in water even in wavy conditions. The Buoy acts as a standard marker buoy during the day but will illuminate at night via researchable solar light nestled at the buoy’s top. The watertight solar light engine’s generator will recharge four, 1.2V rechargeable batteries during the daylight hours, providing power to 5 super bright LED's (Light Emitting Diodes) at night. The result is a beautiful glowing buoy visible from up to ½ nautical mile at night and can stay illuminated for up to 20 hours. The light engine’s LEDs will last for 100,000 hours or 20 years, and rechargeable batteries will last for up to 2 years before needing to be replaced. The solar panels in the light engine can recharge the batteries in only four hours of direct sun. To ensure that the buoys’ s LEDs are not illuminated throughout the day, the light engine features a built-in photocell that turns the buoy’s lights on at night and off during the day. All Aqua Lanterns include solar engines with rechargeable batteries included, a spanner wrench to help secure the light engine into the top of the buoy, and D Ring Pad and screws to secure the bottom of the buoy to the anchor.Aqua Lantern Solar Buoy Features Highly visible, measuring 20” high and 20” in diameter Features a unique "Bell Shape" design that help keeps the buoy vertical in water even in wavy conditions The beautiful glowing buoy that is visible from up to ½ nautical mile at night and can stay illuminated for up to 20 hours. Solar panels in the light engine can recharge the batteries in only four hours of direct sun. All Aqua Lanterns come with solar engines with rechargeable batteries included, a spanner wrench to help secure the light engine into the top of the buoy and D Ring Pad and screws to secure the bottom of the buoy to anchor. One year manufacturer's warranty  Dunn-Rite Pool Products & Pool Accessories 3rd Generation Family Owned Company with a long history of developing innovative products of the highest quality. Pool Fountains - Combo Units - Pool Volleyball - Pool Basketball