The Nautical Chart

The Nautical Chart

The Different Types of Chart

A simple visit to a map store will quickly convince you of the vast range of products available. Outdoor enthusiasts can find topographical maps for mountain excursions, or guide maps to lakes and rivers to plan their canoe expeditions.

Naturally, travelers can plan their trips with a land, tourist or road map, and farmers can see the boundaries of their fields on a farm map.  For boaters, the nautical chart is vital tool.

Main Features of a Nautical Chart

Nautical charts provide information on waterways.  They give useful information to boaters, especially on water depth, the type of bottom, the type of shoreline, current direction, coastal altitude, easily identifiable landmarks and aids to navigation.

The Canadian Hydrographic Service publishes all nautical charts.  For pleasure craft, large scale maps (i.e., covering a small portion of the region) are often the most useful because of all the detail they contain.

To know which regional chart is most appropriate for your activity, consult the Nautical Chart Catalogue.  This catalogue is a large map showing the area covered by each available chart.  For information on how to obtain charts, contact the Canadian Hydrographic Service.

Importance of the Nautical Chart to Boaters

Charts provide a host of information to boaters that only detailed knowledge and experience of the waterway could replace.

Using a nautical chart makes the boaters task in a rescue situation easier in many ways.  It:

• identifies a launch site
• shows the best route in light of currents, rapids, obstacles, etc.
• shows the location of waterway
• allows for an assessment of distances
• shows location on the water.

On receiving a distress call, the time may not seem right to carefully study a nautical chart. However, if the chart is available, the knowledge gained could mean the difference between locating and successfully helping out at a water accident or a tragedy.

Topographical maps are maps of the land areas depicting natural and artificial features of the land, including elevation contours, shoreline, rocks, land features above water, and cultural features:

• They are intended primarily for the use of the general public on the land;
• They are published by Natural Resources Canada and some provincial authorities;
• 3 They are sometimes used when navigational maps (charts) are not available, but they usually do not depict: underwater hazards, marine aids to navigation, channels, anchorage areas etc.

Other Navigation Aids

A magnetic compass can be used to help the operator of a pleasure craft find directions.  It must be remembered however that a magnetic compass is influenced by the proximity of metallic and/or electrical devices.  In order to avoid false information, make certain that the compass is mounted in an area free of magnetic and electrical interference.