The 10 Best Boat Buoys
Special Honors
Blue Ocean Steel Fishermen and pleasure boaters will do fine with small, inflatable balls, but operators of commercial ships may be interested in these huge steel buoys. Painted with red primer, they’re available in three sizes — the largest is 58 inches in diameter and weighs 679 pounds. blueoceantackle.com
Danfender Mooring Danfender offers mooring buoys and marker balls in both inflatable and foam-filled designs. The inflatable models are built with heavy-duty metal valves, both for easy inflation and reliable air retention. The foam buoys are made with hard shells and a tough coating for protection. danfender.com
Editor's Notes
June 12, 2020:
Adjusted the listing of the Extreme Max Slalom, pointing out that while it’s quite affordable, it’s somewhat fragile compared to some of the more heavy-duty models available. We also noted that the Taylor Made Pickup is ideal for use with small, personal watercrafts like jet skis.
When evaluating the Polyform A Series, we discovered something interesting: it has developed a solid reputation for use as a punching bag as well as a boat buoy. People fill it with water and hang it from the ceiling, and many tout it as an affordable alternative to purchasing an expensive punching bag of the traditional variety. Noting its exceptional performance (as a buoy), we also upgraded this item.
Added the X-Haibei Bumper to the rankings, which come in a set of two. While they’re effective, we do indicate that the color may fade due to exposure to the elements over time. Danfender Mooring — one of the listings in the Special Honors section — offers several foam-filled buoys in addition to inflatable models.