A Short Course on Nautical Charts and Basic Plotting For the Recreational Boater - Version 8.4 - Updated 21 October 2026

Nov 1, 2026

A short instructional course for recreational boaters covering nautical charts and foundational plotting skills. It explains the purpose and role of nautical charts, chart types, how to obtain them, and key supplementary resources such as Chart No. 1, U.S. Coast Pilot, USCG Light List, and Notice to Mariners. It then introduces chart basics—latitude/longitude, aids to navigation, chart anatomy, compass rose, landmarks, marginal notes, and symbols. The plotting portion teaches north orientation, navigation instruments, plotting arithmetic, and practical problem-solving including bearings, distance/speed/time, dead reckoning, set and drift, ETA, and fixes using lines of position.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryTechnology

FormatPDF

Pages83

Reading Time3 h 29 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Part 1. Nautical Charts and Other Resources

Purpose and Role of Nautical Charts

Types of Charts

Obtaining Charts

Supplementary Resources

Chart No. 1

U.S. Coast Pilot

USCG Light List

Notice to Mariners

Part 2. Nautical Charts

Latitude and Longitude

Introduction to Aids To Navigation

The Anatomy of a Nautical Chart

Summary

Part 3: Plotting

Which Way is North?

Instruments for Plotting

Arithmetic for Plotting

Plotting Problems

A Short Course on Nautical Charts and Basic Plotting For the Recreational Boater Gary C. Kessler [kumquat@garykessler.net](kumquat@garykessler.net)[ ](kumquat@garykessler.net)[https://scuba.garykessler. net](https://scuba.garykessler. net) Version 8.4c 21 October 2026 Ó Gary C. Kessler, 2012-2026 Table of Contents List of Figures ................................................................................................................................ iii Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 1 Part 1. Nautical Charts and Other Resources .......................................................................... 3 1.1. Purpose and Role of Nautical Charts ............................................................................... 3 1.1.1. Types of Charts ..................................................................................................... 3 1.1.2. Obtaining Charts ................................................................................................... 4 1.2. Supplementary Resources ............................................................................................... 7 1.2.1. Chart No. 1............................................................................................................ 7 1.2.2. U.S. Coast Pilot® ................................................................................................... 8 1.2.3. USCG Light List .................................................................................................... 10 1.2.4. Notice to Mariners ............................................................................................. 11 Part 2. Nautical Charts ...........................................................................................................13 2.1. Latitude and Longitude ................................................................................................. 13 2.2. Introduction to Aids To Navigation ............................................................................... 14 2.3. The Anatomy of a Nautical Chart .................................................................................. 16 2.3.1. Chart Reference Data ......................................................................................... 17 2.3.2. The Compass Rose .............................................................................................. 21 2.3.3. Landmarks .......................................................................................................... 22 2.3.4. Marginal Notes ................................................................................................... 23 2.3.5. Symbols for Aids to Navigation........................................................................... 23 2.3.6. Examples from the Charts .................................................................................. 26 2.4. Summary ....................................................................................................................... 36 Part 3: Plotting ......................................................................................................................37 3.1. Which Way is North? ..................................................................................................... 37 3.1.1. The Compass Rose, Revisited ............................................................................. 37 3.1.2. Deviation ............................................................................................................ 38 3.1.3. Putting it all Together ......................................................................................... 39 3.2. Instruments for Plotting ................................................................................................ 40 3.2.1. Parallel Rule and Roller Plotter ...............

FAQs

What topics are covered about nautical charts in this course?

The course covers the purpose and role of nautical charts, how to obtain them, key supplementary resources (Chart No. 1, U.S. Coast Pilot, USCG Light List, Notice to Mariners), and the anatomy of a nautical chart including compass rose, landmarks, marginal notes, and symbols for aids to navigation.

How does the course help navigators understand position and bearings?

It explains latitude and longitude, introduces aids to navigation, and teaches how to determine true bearing and compass course, along with plotting a position and working with fixing methods such as lines of position.

What plotting skills and calculations are taught for recreational boating?

It provides instruction on orientation (north and the compass rose), deviation, plotting instruments, measuring distance, time-value manipulation, distance/speed/time relationships, dead reckoning, set and drift, calculating ETA, and estimating time of arrival.

Nov 1, 2026

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