Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 10-26-2019, 09:34 PM   #1
Senior Member
 
City: Boynton Beach, FL
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 104
stay safe- update your charts and apps

A friend of mine recently ran aground and did some serious damage to his boat (thankfully nobody was injured) due to allegedly inaccurate charts. However, when we dug into it, turns out my friend had not updated his navigation charts or the navigation app and this would have provided him with updated chart data that reflected the shallow area. Personally I use Navionics app on my phone and I have auto updates set to on for the app through my phone settings. But I also am sure to update the charts within the app on a regular basis (every couple of weeks at the most). This way I have my bases covered on both fronts. It seems that updating your navigation tools is super important but doesn't get a lot of attention. Please remind your fellow boaters to update not only their charts but also their navigational apps, whichever app they choose to use.
cruiserChick is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-26-2019, 10:31 PM   #2
Guru
 
Simi 60's Avatar
 
City: Queensland
Vessel Model: Milkraft 60 converted timber prawn trawler
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 5,482
Plenty of charts are inaccurate, even the most up to date version.

A place I regularly go through, 14nm from a capital city shipping port in Australia is shown as land on the latest chart, yet we go through there with as much as 14 ft under our 7 ft draught.

Simi 60 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-27-2019, 05:37 AM   #3
Guru
 
boomerang's Avatar
 
City: Kilmarnock VA
Vessel Name: Wandering Star
Vessel Model: PSN40
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 1,395
It's kind of expensive & a pain in the butt to keep our Garmin chartplotters updated with the most current charts but much easier to update the charts on the Ipad we keep onboard (we use the SeaIQ charting program). For general navigation, we just keep an eye on the plotter but when we're entering unfamiliar waters, one of us pilots the boat keeping an eye on the Garmin with the stale charts & the other double-checks our intended course with the Ipad & current charts.
__________________
-Shawn-
boomerang is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-27-2019, 07:23 AM   #4
Guru
 
TDunn's Avatar
 
City: Maine Coast
Vessel Name: Tortuga
Vessel Model: Nunes Brothers Raised Deck Cruiser
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 889
Not an issue here in Maine. The only changes are very infrequent moves of marks. The rocks are where they always have been.
TDunn is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-27-2019, 08:32 AM   #5
Guru
 
psneeld's Avatar
 
City: Ft Pierce
Vessel Name: Sold
Vessel Model: Was an Albin/PSN 40
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 28,149
Charts are only about a quarter to a third the equation.... beyond that you better learn to read water and understand bottom conditions....plus your boat and a whole bunch else besides just reading a chart.
psneeld is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-27-2019, 09:33 AM   #6
Guru
 
City: Rochester, NY
Vessel Name: Hour Glass
Vessel Model: Chris Craft 381 Catalina
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 7,554
Charts are definitely not perfect. I've seen some where the buoy marks just don't line up to where the buoys actually are (even on the most recent chart).

Stuff like that is why I'm not only a little uptight about keeping charts updated, but any time I'm in unfamiliar waters, I like having 2 different types of charts on hand at the helm. If I hit a point where they're telling me 2 different things and the view outside doesn't make it obvious which is correct, it's time to slow down and carefully assess what's going on around me.
rslifkin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-27-2019, 10:20 AM   #7
Guru
 
City: Carefree, Arizona
Vessel Name: sunchaser V
Vessel Model: DeFever 48 (sold)
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 10,186
Quote:
Originally Posted by psneeld View Post
Charts are only about a quarter to a third the equation.... beyond that you better learn to read water and understand bottom conditions....plus your boat and a whole bunch else besides just reading a chart.
Yes! Adding to psn's post, I'd say denial enters into reasons as to why boaters run aground all too frequently.
sunchaser is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Trawler Port Captains
Port Captains are TF volunteers who can serve as local guides or assist with local arrangements and information. Search below to locate Port Captains near your destination. To learn more about this program read here: TF Port Captain Program





All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:57 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2006 - 2012