Nautical Chart

Magspec

Member
I bought some nautical charts for great slave lake in northwest territories when looking at the depth what is the lower number off to bottom right side for example will be: 4 depth with 1 to the bottom right? Im new to charts so any help would be greatly appreciated.
 
If the chart depths is given in fathoms and feet then the first number is fathoms and the second number is feet. So your example would be a depth of 25 feet. if the depths are in metres then the depth would be 4.1 m
Hope this helps
Scott
 
The 2 numbers (large and small) your describing can be a number of things, depending on if there are other symbols beside them or where they are placed on the chart.

Charts have the information for reference in the Chart Title Block. If the chart is Metric it will have "METRIC/METRIQUE" set in large type, printed in Magenta and displayed in the border of the chart.

Depths on Canadian charts are expressed in the following ways;

1. Metres and decimetres up to 21 metres and Metres only in depths greater than 21 metres;

2. Metres and Decimetres up to 30 Metres only in depths greater the 30 metres;

3. Fathoms and feet up to 11 fathoms and in Fathoms only in depths greater than 11 fathoms;

4. Fathoms and fraction of fathoms on some older charts.

5. Feet

If you want to know more about the details on maps and how to read them, go to this link and read through all the chart references.

http://www.charts.gc.ca/publications/chart1-carte1/chart1-carte1.pdf

If you really want to understand and learn how to properly navigate via charts, which by the way are required by law to have on your boat at all times, go take a course on Navigation, or even take your SVOP(small vessel proficiency course). You never know when it will come in handy.

Cheers
 
thanks for the info guys greatly appreciated i have gps/chartplotter but like you say if it goes down always nice to have the nautical chart and be able to read it which i would like to do so thanks for any info.
 
If you really want to understand and learn how to properly navigate via charts, which by the way are required by law to have on your boat at all times, go take a course on Navigation, or even take your SVOP(small vessel proficiency course). You never know when it will come in handy.

Cheers
Great info and that's an interesting PDF. One thing that should be pointed out in regards to the law and charts onboard.

[h=1]CARRIAGE OF CHARTS, DOCUMENTS AND PUBLICATIONS[/h]
  • 4. (1) Subject to subsection (2), the master and owner of every ship shall have on board, in respect of each area in which the ship is to be navigated, the most recent editions of the charts, documents and publications that are required to be used under sections 5 and 6.
  • (2) The master and owner of a ship of less than 100 tons are not required to have on board the charts, documents and publications referred to in subsection (1) if the person in charge of navigation has sufficient knowledge of the following information, such that safe and efficient navigation in the area where the ship is to be navigated is not compromised:
    • (a) the location and character of charted
      • (i) shipping routes,

      • (ii) lights, buoys and marks, and
      • (iii) navigational hazards; and
    • (b) the prevailing navigational conditions, taking into account such factors as tides, currents, ice and weather patterns.
  • (3) If a ship, other than a pleasure craft of less than 150 tons, is making a foreign voyage, a home-trade voyage, Class I, II or III, or an inland voyage, Class I, the master and the owner of the ship shall have on board and make readily available to the person in charge of the navigation of the ship an illustrated table of life-saving signals for use by ships and persons in distress when communicating with life-saving stations, maritime rescue units or aircraft engaged in search and rescue operations.
  • (4) If a Canadian ship is of 150 tons or more, the master and the owner of the ship shall have on board and make readily available to the person in charge of the navigation of the ship the International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue Manual, Volume III, Mobile Facilities, published by the IMO.

  • SOR/2005-135, s. 2.


http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-95-149/page-2.html#h-6

If anyone knows different please post as this comes up often.

GLG
 
Great info and that's an interesting PDF. One thing that should be pointed out in regards to the law and charts onboard.

[h=1]CARRIAGE OF CHARTS, DOCUMENTS AND PUBLICATIONS[/h]
  • 4. (1) Subject to subsection (2), the master and owner of every ship shall have on board, in respect of each area in which the ship is to be navigated, the most recent editions of the charts, documents and publications that are required to be used under sections 5 and 6.
  • (2) The master and owner of a ship of less than 100 tons are not required to have on board the charts, documents and publications referred to in subsection (1) if the person in charge of navigation has sufficient knowledge of the following information, such that safe and efficient navigation in the area where the ship is to be navigated is not compromised:
    • (a) the location and character of charted
      • (i) shipping routes,

      • (ii) lights, buoys and marks, and
      • (iii) navigational hazards; and
    • (b) the prevailing navigational conditions, taking into account such factors as tides, currents, ice and weather patterns.
  • (3) If a ship, other than a pleasure craft of less than 150 tons, is making a foreign voyage, a home-trade voyage, Class I, II or III, or an inland voyage, Class I, the master and the owner of the ship shall have on board and make readily available to the person in charge of the navigation of the ship an illustrated table of life-saving signals for use by ships and persons in distress when communicating with life-saving stations, maritime rescue units or aircraft engaged in search and rescue operations.
  • (4) If a Canadian ship is of 150 tons or more, the master and the owner of the ship shall have on board and make readily available to the person in charge of the navigation of the ship the International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue Manual, Volume III, Mobile Facilities, published by the IMO.

  • SOR/2005-135, s. 2.


http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-95-149/page-2.html#h-6

If anyone knows different please post as this comes up often.

GLG

That's basically the law as it stands in regards to pleasure craft in there home waters. Once you cross into Small Vessel (one used occasionally for commercial use) or Commercial use (Fishing Charters, Passenger vessel carrying no more than 12 people, up to 15 tons) both of which must carry charts, and operators must have an SVOP, MED-A3, Marine First Aid, ROC-M.
 
Thanks for the info Feeling Nauti good stuff there. So in a nutshell those of us that are recreation anglers with our own boat have no requirement to carry a chart onboard. Me ... I have a GPS and I do know the waters that I fish but I do sometimes go places that I have not been before. Only chart I own is one for Nootka as it's great for planning and looking up the names of spots that I'm not sure of. Having a chart is never a bad idea but it's a pain on a small boat.
 
Thanks for the info Feeling Nauti good stuff there. So in a nutshell those of us that are recreation anglers with our own boat have no requirement to carry a chart onboard. Me ... I have a GPS and I do know the waters that I fish but I do sometimes go places that I have not been before. Only chart I own is one for Nootka as it's great for planning and looking up the names of spots that I'm not sure of. Having a chart is never a bad idea but it's a pain on a small boat.

GLG.... I read the references a few times, and my interpretation is that your OK in your local waters, but should carry them if your planning a trip into areas you do not have a full understanding of, hazards, tides etc. The way they write it leaves it up to the individuals interpretation of water you know and understand.

Personally I carry maps, and have even when I was only a recreational boat operator. I've been commercial for a some time, so I have to carry them, but they are extremely handy for planning longer trips, locating hazards in my trip path, as well as having a larger view of areas I want to fish.

From personal experience I'd rather have them than not have them, I have lost electronics more than once over the years and I was glad I had them onboard.

Cheers.
 
Sage advice ... thanks
 
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