What is the name of the cylindrical buoy that tapers to a blunt top?

• A. Can buoy
• B. Spar buoy
• C. Nun buoy
• D. Pile buoy

Answer: (C)

In buoy shapes, the silhouette is a key cue for identification. A cylindrical body that tapers toward the top into a blunt cap is the nun buoy. The body remains essentially cylindrical for most of its height, then narrows to form a flat-bottomed blunt top, which sets it apart from other shapes. A can buoy, by contrast, is a straight cylinder with flat top and bottom. A spar buoy is a tall, slender mast-like shape with a different head, and a pile buoy is designed for use around pilings with a distinct top structure. So the cylindrical-with-tacetop form described matches the nun buoy.