Navigate Safely By Using NOAA Nautical Charts

Posted by Harry Voges on September 10th, 2018

Going for a long distance cruise is adventurous but opting for such recreational activities without preparation is stupidity. It is essential to conduct a primary research about the place you are going to visit before you pack your bags. Random boating trips do not always end well. Mystery is definitely an important element in adventure trips but leaving everything to fate is a bad approach. Even if you have an awesome navigating sense, it is always better to keep NOAA charts along with you. Keeping a nautical chart saves you from unpleasant surprises and allows you to plan everything in advance. Your leisure sailing time will get wasted in finding directions and making calls if you do not carry a nautical chart. NOAA nautical charts assist people in finding their way and allows them to safely navigate through areas they have never explored before.

Nautical charts are easy to interpret. The channels, obstructions, landmarks and other relevant information are represented through standard symbols. If you are planning to go for a boating adventure trip then you need to have a fundamental understanding of the how the information is depicted on such charts. If you are a newbie to nautical charts, here are a few tips for you:-

  • The foremost thing you need to get familiarized with is the scale and ratio of the charts. Nautical charts are a small scale representation of vast water covered areas. It is better to use large scale charts for areas close to the shore as they are more prone to risks.
  • Nautical charts can give you an idea about the depth of the water body through numbers, color codes and underwater contour lines. The more frequently you use these charts, the more accurately you can read them.
  • If you are familiar with the concept of latitudes and longitudes, you can even pinpoint your location using a nautical chart.
  • Nautical charts give you a precise idea of the dangers you might encounter in your journey. Obstructions like rocks and reefs are depicted with specific symbols and patterns.

Maintaining a collection of nautical charts can be very rewarding. Depending on the location of your next trip, you can use small scaled and large scaled charts to assist you in navigation. You can purchase the recently updated version of nautical charts from any marine supply store online. Comparing your real time observations with nautical charts makes you a better sailor and makes your journey comfortable. Purchase a NOAA nautical chart before you head for your next trip.

Author’s Bio: The author is an avid writer. This article is about NOAA charts.

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Harry Voges

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Harry Voges
Joined: April 6th, 2017
Articles Posted: 39

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