Sealite Spar Buoys Improve Visibility in Challenging Waters near Thousand Islands Bridge

In the Thousand Islands region in Ontario, Canada, where shifting water levels, rocky channels, and strong currents create constant navigational hazards, reliable aids to navigation are a lifeline for boaters.

When the Thousand Islands Association sought a long-lasting solution to mark critical zones across Lake Ontario and the Saint Lawrence River, Sealite supplied high-strength spar buoys engineered to withstand mechanical wear and turbulent conditions while keeping vessels safe and waterways compliant.

Background

The Thousand Islands region spans the Canada–United States border between Lake Ontario and the Saint Lawrence River. It’s known for its dramatic water level fluctuations, strong currents, rocky channels, and heavy seasonal weather changes. The area is vital for recreational and local commercial vessel traffic, making clear, durable, and regulation-compliant navigation aids essential.

With water depths ranging from just 10–20 feet in narrow channels to over 200 feet in open zones, and water levels fluctuating 2–3 feet annually (sometimes more), any navigation buoys used in this area must endure a wide spectrum of demanding conditions. Seasonal removal of buoys due to ice buildup further intensifies mechanical wear and tear on both buoy bases and mooring hardware.

The Challenge

Sealite collaborated with the Thousand Islands Association to improve marking several zones, each with its own distinct characteristics:

• Calm nearshore zones
• Areas with rough water and prevailing winds
• Strong currents under the 1000 Islands Bridge
• Rock-strewn open water areas prone to damage during low water years

All zones required durable, high-visibility buoys that complied with legacy markings defined by the U.S. and Canadian Coast Guards in the 1980s, including white/silver reflective tape near the top of the markers. In addition, the buoys needed to withstand mechanical wear from shifting over rocks, dragging against mooring tackle, and repeated seasonal handling.

Solution

To address these challenges, Sealite supplied Spar Buoys SL-B1060-RB-W, high-durability polyethylene buoys that were specifically selected for their superior base strength and solid construction.

The chosen Sealite Spar Buoys included:

• High-strength buoy bodies designed to resist structural damage and wear during rock contact or tackle movement
• Closed-cell foam cores, preventing waterlogging even if the outer shell is compromised
• White/silver reflective tape at the top, adhering to Coast Guard standards
• Robust mooring eye construction for long-term anchoring integrity in turbulent conditions

The buoys were deployed across multiple challenging zones and will be seasonally removed in the fall for inspection.

Outcome

Early field performance of the Sealite buoys has shown significant improvement over previously used equipment from competing manufacturers. Prior buoy models had exhibited problems such as unexplained water intrusion and lack of closed-cell foam, causing them to sit too low in the water and fail compliance tests.

While final performance data will be collected after fall retrieval and inspection of wear points, the project lead noted:

 “We researched all potential buoy suppliers and chose Sealite because the buoys appeared to be superior in quality and customizable to our needs.”

Jim Côté,
Director and Chair, Shoal Marking Committee,
Thousand Islands Association

Future updates will include further insights into the durability of mooring eyes and buoy bases after prolonged exposure to currents, ice, and seasonal handling.