ATON

Aids to Navigation

Tenders like Lilac were, and are, vital to our nation’s Aids to Navigation (ATON) system. They brought supplies to lighthouses in the days when they had keepers, helped construct new lighthouses and assisted with repairs. Maintaining buoys means painting, welding, lifting and setting buoys down in exactly the right place. Understanding the duties of tenders means understanding the system that they and their crews are busy tending.

United States Coast Guard Buoy Tenders, 133’ Class

Learn More!

The BoatUS Foundation has an excellent description of the Aids to Navigation system.

The Coast Guard’s booklet tells you what you need to know about the markers on the water. Hard copies of this booklet are available on board Lilac when you visit.