Final answer:
A navigator should never rely solely on the position of floating aids to navigation. They should use a combination of other navigation techniques and tools, such as charts, compasses, GPS, and celestial navigation, to ensure accurate and safe navigation.
Step-by-step explanation:
A navigator should never rely solely on the position of floating aids to navigation. Floating aids to navigation, such as buoys and beacons, can be helpful in providing guidance and marking channels or hazards. However, they are not always reliable and can be subject to damage, displacement, or malfunction. Therefore, it is important for navigators to use a combination of other navigation techniques and tools, such as charts, compasses, GPS, and celestial navigation, to ensure accurate and safe navigation.
For example, during daylight hours, navigators can use visual references on land, such as landmarks or lighthouses, along with floating aids to navigation to determine their position. In good weather conditions, navigators can rely on floating aids to navigation to navigate through marked channels or avoid hazards. However, in poor visibility or during adverse weather conditions, floating aids to navigation may not be visible or may not provide accurate information, so navigators should rely on other navigation techniques.
In conclusion, floating aids to navigation should be used as an additional tool, but they should never be the sole means of navigation.