Using Nautical Charts

A comprehensive guide to the basics of boating: handling a boat on the water and at the dock, anchoring, rules of the road, onboard emergencies, essential knots, and more.

A complete guide to planning and following a course to reach a destination on the water. Hands-on experience with electronic and paper charts for coastal and inland waterways.

Whether you like to paddle a calm lake or whitewater rapids, learn about types of paddle craft, choosing equipment, basic paddling strokes, how paddle craft handle, safety basics, etc.

Learn the signs of changing weather, how to anticipate storms, what causes weather, how to read weather maps, what clouds mean, how weather systems move, why winds blow.

Important for offshore boaters, the 500 millibar upper air chart will help you predict upper-level wind speed and direction, trough and ridge patterns, and the 5640 storm track line.