How to Read a Marine Chart [Works for Chartplotters, Too!]

[@ibrhm_ackgz]

Even after 3 years, you are the best, thanks for the information ♥️

[@boatus]

Awwww .... we're blushing! Thanks for watching ibrhm!

[@GP4288]

Trying to learn something new never been out on the water in a private boat before but never to old to learn something new

[@boatus]

Never too old, GP. Thanks for watching! Most people use chartplotters these days, but it's essentially the same as reading a chart. If you haven't already watched them, you might find our videos on basic and intermediate chartplotter use as well as how to use your smartphone as a chartplotter. Welcome to boating, and best of luck. If you haven't done so already, check out the great courses offered by our BoatUS Foundation, including the free boating safety course, which is recognized by 36 states. www.boatus.org/courses.

[@RossOsborne-or4mo]

Were do you get california boating charts.

[@boatus]

Here's a long answer to a simple question, Ross: NOAA is discontinuing its printed charts, but that doesn't mean they're no longer available. You have a few options: 1. You can view them online through the ENC viewer: nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/enconline/enconline.html Click on the red boxes until you find the chart view for the area you desire. For more info on this, we have a video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aquZdGl9q7OpeKc (this won't help you aboard unless you have cell service) 2. You can purchase a waterproof chart book: www.maptech.com/subcat/west-coast/ 3. You can order print-on-demand charts: nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/publications/print-agents.html#us-chart-one 4. Though your chartplotter with service from Garmin, Navionics, etc. Or a subscription app like Navionics or other for your cell or tablet. 5. If you're a BoatUS Member, you can order through Waterproof Charts and save 10%: waterproofcharts.com/ (You can get the discount code by logging into your account at BoatUS.com/Account and selecting the resources tab. There's also a discount for the iNavX navigation app.) Hope this is helpful.

[@carldea]

Thanks Lenny for all of your videos! I’m tired of the Maryland winter. I’m so ready for the water. It was great seeing you at the Balmer Boat Show😂. Keep up the great work👍🏻

[@boatus]

Thanks for watching, Carl! At least the Maryland winter has been fairly mild this year. But I think we're all ready for boating season!

[@kasonhendrix6323]

A trick : you can watch movies at Flixzone. Been using it for watching all kinds of movies these days.

[@noeldakota7395]

@Kason Hendrix Definitely, I have been watching on flixzone} for years myself :D

[@fastasfox]

That was nice and simple....baby steps. The problem I have noticed is that the people with the information tend to use phrases I don't understand....YET! I spent the best part of 30 years in the catering business and I could tell you to go make me a pan of Bechamel sauce made with a roux you would look at me gone out...but if I said, go make me a pan of white sauce from flour butter and milk you would understand what I'm asking for....this is what I'm talking about....I need the terminology explaining first. Cheers for the tutorial 👍

[@boatus]

Thanks for watching, fastasfox, and we're glad to hear it was well explained for a newer boater. Your comparison is a great one--if you told me to make a Bechemel with a roux, I'd say "bless you" and probably call an exterminator! 😂 Hope you hit that subscribe button and enabled notifications for future videos. We post new ones every three weeks or so.

[@lesbowhite4358]

Thank you Lenny very informative for a novice cheers from aus

[@boatus]

You're welcome, Lesbo. Thanks for watching!

[@kellypayson4997]

Excellent! Thank you.

[@boatus]

You're very welcome, Kelly! Glad you found it useful. Thanks for watching!

[@scottm3840]

The diamonds on the buoy symbols all seem to be pointing certain directions. What does this direction indicate?

[@boatus]

Great question, Scott! When it comes to buoys, it's the color, shape, and markings that count. The direction of the diamond on the chart doesn't translate into navigational information. Thanks for watching

[@scottm3840]

@@boatus Thanks!

[@worldwide1376]

Good info Lenny, always look forward to your videos. BTW, love your chart since I'm local to you :-). Cheers! -Norm

[@boatus]

Thanks for watching, Norm!

[@mikechapura5179]

Good information to know

[@boatus]

Thanks for watching

[@johnrogers7910]

A good intro!

[@boatus]

Thanks for watching, John!

[@deannisuhana9331]

How do you identify the chart number?

[@boatus]

Great question! It's identified in the bottom left corner.

[@deannisuhana9331]

@@boatus Thank you very much !

[@boatus]

@@deannisuhana9331 You are welcome!

[@greenlion6544]

This guy made charts less scary. Should you always assume the water is shallower than marked in the chart?

[@boatus]

Best compliment we could get, Green Lion. There's certainly always the possibility of the water being shallower, so to be safe, yes -- especially if you have any possibility of running around. Thanks for watching!

[@jenniferscott5498]

I would because the ocean is constantly changing to some degree

[@MarkCartret]

Good video.

[@boatus]

Thanks for watching, Mark!

[@zakaria600]

I have a chart that shows one big number next to a small number what that means?

[@boatus]

Great question, zakaria! These are soundings marks and refer to the height of the water at chart datum, which roughly translates into the minimum depth of the water that can be experienced at that particular position. So, in other words, should you see the number 6 with a subscript 2, this indicates that there is a minimum of 6.2 feet 99% of the time. Although, during storms and extraordinary events like an eclipse, you may find there is less water than the chart indicates. Hope this helps, and thanks for watching!

[@jimmyredfern6318]

Nice 1 so all they numbers mean low water Thanks jimmy

[@boatus]

Great question, Jimmy. The depth numbers show the least amount of water generally found in that spot. However, always bear in mind that depths can change due to shifting sandbars, hurricanes, and other natural phenomena.

[@jimmyredfern6318]

@@boatus thank u for the reply I was looking for deep marks for fishing off the beaches in Liverpool bay England at low water 👍

[@crybaby871]

You said a short KZbin video is not enough, and I agree, where do you recommend getting better chart practice and knowledge?

[@boatus]

Definitely, Olivia! There are a couple options. Look into courses from your local Coast Guard Auxiliary or U.S. Power Squadrons. Another option is an online course through our BoatUS Foundation: www.boatus.org/courses/ There's a nominal fee, and BoatUS Members get discounts. Hope this helps!

[@matthewhammons9746]

You could do a 3 hour lecture on navigation using a compass rose and scale in a youtube video. The snide comment of, "Actual learning" with a point to an internet article bothers me slightly. If you want to be an, "actual learning" purist then point me to a textbook.

[@boatus]

Thanks for your honest feedback, Matthew. It wasn't meant as a snide comment -- just noting that this is a VERY general overview. It sounds like you are beyond this basic info, but as you can tell from the other comments here, many folks learned something. We all have to start somewhere, and we hope that watching this will inspire all the new boaters out there to learn more to become better, more knowledgeable, safer boaters and inspire them to get out and enjoy the wonders of boating. Maybe that starts with reading an article from our magazine, which then leads to enrolling in a course -- or buying a textbook. Baby steps.

[@muskduh]

thanks

[@boatus]

You're very welcome, Glenn. Thanks for watching! Have a very Merry Christmas

[@MichaelChapin-g4n]

VERT informative

[@boatus]

Thanks for watching, Michael! Glad you found the info useful.

[@matthewkashnig3061]

Kent Narrows Baby!!!

[@boatus]

💯 Thanks for watching, Matthew!

[@raymondgeiter3484]

Good stuff!

[@boatus]

Thanks for watching, Raymond!

[@raymondgeiter3484]

You folks really do put very informative stuff on here! Thank you for taking the time to do that!

[@boatus]

@@raymondgeiter3484 We appreciate that! Make sure to subscribe to our channel if you haven't already. There's lots more good stuff to come.

[@pauliefromphilly]

Hehehe he said wooder. Is he from Philly?

[@boatus]

Close -- Balmer, Hon! Thanks for watching, Paulie.

[@alanedwardlittle]

Do some actual learning.......very bad thing to say, however, I sure did laugh after you said it! Keep up the good work! :)

[@boatus]

Thanks, Alan. The point we were trying to make is that this video is only a very basic introduction to navigation and is not meant to be all-encompassing. As you probably know there's a lot more to navigation that would be helpful for every boater to learn. That said, we hope that videos like this get people started, possibly keep them out of trouble in many situations, and maybe even whet their appetite enough to take a course to learn more.

[@वैभव-फ1छ]

Good

[@boatus]

Thanks for watching, Vaibhav!

[@वैभव-फ1छ]

@@boatus I am so much thankful that you replied me something.i am having great interest in sea ,charts and all this and I was in search of vedio like this and found it.Thank you so much

[@boatus]

@@वैभव-फ1छ Fantastic! We also have some basic videos on how to use a chartplotter if those would interest you as well.

[@वैभव-फ1छ]

@@boatus ofcourse Thank you so much . I also had recently subscribed your channel for further vedious in future.Thank you once again.

[@ChrisD624]

It’s water not wutter.

[@boatus]

Lenny's from Balmer, Hon! It's definitely "wutter" where he's from. 😂

[@billwiedemann6298]

You use the Latitude scale on the side of the chart for distance not the Longitude on the bottom

[@peterwaterson5898]

He actually used the scale on the bottom of the chart, not the Longitude grid. One can of course also use the latitude scale to measure distance (as long as the measurement is taken at the same latitude as the DR position). I have to shake my head at the fact that such a video is even necessary, but I guess that’s today’s reality.

[@boatus]

@@peterwaterson5898 Thanks for your helpful response, Peter. We believe that everyone needs to start somewhere. Don't forget there are new boaters coming into our sport/hobby all the time. And you'd probably be shocked at how many "experienced" boaters have no idea how to read/use a chart. Judging by the number of views we've had on this video, lots of people are actively seeking this information. I'd rather see more boaters educated and prevent avoidable accidents, wouldn't you?

[@boatus]

Good catch Bill, you're right! Looks like Lenny's dysgraphia was on full display when he swiped the chart. Nice job Bill, you're the first to eciton ... errr, notice.

[@Captdal]

got it > get out of md

[@boatus]

What's wrong with Maryland, Dal?!