boats3po
New Member
can anyone explain to me how to read charts, what arethe numbers and other stuff on there
not to savvy
- Thread starter boats3po
- Start date
- May 14, 2008
- 3,541
- Boat Info
- 1988 390 EC
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- 454 Mercruiser Gassers
To get the information that you are asking about, I really feel that the best advice you could take at this time would be that you enroll in a good boaters course. You can't go wrong making this choice. Taking bits and pieces of information from here and there may be of some benefit to you in the short term, but there is a whole lot more information required for the safe operation of a boat than what these "numbers and other stuff" can give you.
Good luck to you on your quest for safe boating information my friend. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
- Oct 31, 2009
- 3,455
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- 1992 370 ec
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- twin cummins 6bta's 300 hp
Rl80 pathfinder radar/chartplotter,SH 2150 matrix vhf w/ais
quicksilver 8
Try contacting your local power squadron or coast guard .I know the power squadrons boaters saftey courses are about to kick off for the spring launchers.
Tabman
Member
I agree, take a boating course. In the meantime take a look at Chart #1. You can download it here http://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/mcd/chartno1.htm It has all of the symbols and abbreviations found on NOAA charts. It's very interesting to look through and I would suggest that even seasoned boaters will find it great off-season reading.
Tom
Tom
Bugsy24
Active Member
- Jun 25, 2010
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What!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow:!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bugsy24
Active Member
- Jun 25, 2010
- 2,171
- Boat Info
- 2008 310 Sundancer
- Engines
- T-350 Mag,Br3's W/Axius
What!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:wow:
:wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow:!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
:wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow::wow:!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
giff1
Member
- Feb 9, 2009
- 265
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- 340 EC 1987
- Engines
- Repowered 454's MarinePower
Jersey Shore be kind; he is a South Philly boy.
But seriously, a power squadron course will be worth its weight in gold. You will meet the best and learn alot.
But seriously, a power squadron course will be worth its weight in gold. You will meet the best and learn alot.
Searaybio270
Active Member
- Jul 8, 2010
- 1,058
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- 1996 EC, Garmin 3210, Dinghy - Seadoo Jet boat with twin 85 horse. Fun and Fast.
- Engines
- 7.4 MC 360 HP each
Westerbeke 7KW
First let me ask you this - Were you ever in the military? If not ok. If you were than equate it to land navigation. I took the power squadron course back in 2001. Couldn't understand the navigation part of the course until one night it hit me it is land nav on the water.
Take the course you will learn a lot and it will help make you a safer boater and that helps all of us.
Hope that helps!!!!!!!!!
Big Island Lifer
Active Member
- Feb 1, 2010
- 1,406
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- '96 330 Formula SS
For Sale '85 255 Amberjack
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- Single 5.7
Everyone has to start somewhere! Please take a course. Look up your local power squadron or call your local water patrol or DNR.
I think this forum is to find answers. He asked a simple question and for a newbie it is understandable.
Don't berate this guy or gal for being honest!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I think this forum is to find answers. He asked a simple question and for a newbie it is understandable.
Don't berate this guy or gal for being honest!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I agree!! Give him or her a chance. We all started somewhere!! GEEEZZZZZ
Searaybio270
Active Member
- Jul 8, 2010
- 1,058
- Boat Info
- 1996 EC, Garmin 3210, Dinghy - Seadoo Jet boat with twin 85 horse. Fun and Fast.
- Engines
- 7.4 MC 360 HP each
Westerbeke 7KW
totally agree. We all start somewhere.
northern
Well-Known Member
- Jan 17, 2007
- 3,526
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- 380 Aft Cabin 1989 Charts Timezero radar Furuno
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- Twin 454 strait shaft
When we bought our 28 footer we went for a drive. Figures I could read maps so charts had to be the same. After our short cruise we returned to the marina and my wife and I promply enroled in a 40 hour boating course. At the end of 40 hours we went out again. It took us a few years before we got the hang of all the charts and GPS systems you can get.
No idea about insurance but you may find if you sink without training you may not be covered. Any one know the insurance rules for untrained boaters?
No idea about insurance but you may find if you sink without training you may not be covered. Any one know the insurance rules for untrained boaters?
Gofirstclass
Well-Known Member
boats3po, Welcome to a great place to hang out and learn from the experience of others.
The advice about taking a boating safety course is right on. I suggest you take one that offers a classroom setting rather than taking it online. The discussions that take place in the classroom are an invaluable source of information because there likely will be many seasoned veteran boaters taking the class. You'll learn much more than how to read a chart and it will greatly increase your level of competence and your confidence in yourself.
If you are married, I encourage your wife to take the class with you, and your kids too if they plan on being on board. I've boated for almost 60 years. I took my first boating course in the 60's and have taken it two more times since then. A periodic refresher is good for all of us.
As another plus to taking the course, most insurance companies give you a discount off your premium if you have passed a course.
The advice about taking a boating safety course is right on. I suggest you take one that offers a classroom setting rather than taking it online. The discussions that take place in the classroom are an invaluable source of information because there likely will be many seasoned veteran boaters taking the class. You'll learn much more than how to read a chart and it will greatly increase your level of competence and your confidence in yourself.
If you are married, I encourage your wife to take the class with you, and your kids too if they plan on being on board. I've boated for almost 60 years. I took my first boating course in the 60's and have taken it two more times since then. A periodic refresher is good for all of us.
As another plus to taking the course, most insurance companies give you a discount off your premium if you have passed a course.
boats3po
New Member
i took the boaters course on line for pa, but it really did not touch on reading the charts. i dont know maybe one of the members on here who responded has been around this since his youth or maybe a brainiac, couldnt help but respond in his true colors, for those that offered true advice i thank you. i've noticed several times that every now and then someone adds something inappropriate to an earnest question. get off your high horse man, some of us are new to this
Boats3po: Don't get too worried about an off-colored post - most are just suffering from the winter blues. Also, sometimes what is meant as a joke or jesting, doesn't come across that way when we only have words - the emotion or tone in our voice is lost.
I'll "ditto" all the good advice above, but I just wanted to add one thing... You said you took the "online" course? Just so you're aware, taking that course is only good for the boating you do in PA. Meaning, if you boat in other states, it is not recognized. This is ONLY for the online course - if you take a "sit-down" course, it is honored everywhere.
Also, whether online or sit-down, it is only meant as a general (primarily safety oriented) course. But, it now opens you up to taking more advanced courses as some entities (like the Power Squadron) will require that the basic boating course be taken first (which is a good thing).
I'll "ditto" all the good advice above, but I just wanted to add one thing... You said you took the "online" course? Just so you're aware, taking that course is only good for the boating you do in PA. Meaning, if you boat in other states, it is not recognized. This is ONLY for the online course - if you take a "sit-down" course, it is honored everywhere.
Also, whether online or sit-down, it is only meant as a general (primarily safety oriented) course. But, it now opens you up to taking more advanced courses as some entities (like the Power Squadron) will require that the basic boating course be taken first (which is a good thing).
AKBASSKING
Active Member
- Apr 13, 2008
- 4,649
- Boat Info
- 1988 Yacht Fisher
- Engines
- Twin 375hp Cat 3208 T/A
They are telling you the truth. You need to take a boating course. I took the USCG course (I have been boating for 42 years) that explained all the navigation aids, how to read maps etc. I think it cost me about $40 and it was once a week for 6 weeks and 3 hours a night.
The cost also covered all the materials. The Admiral also attended with me.
Here is the book they started with. You can get it just about anywhere. Again, the book is nice, but I am with others here that to get the "best" benefit, take the course.:thumbsup:
boats3po
New Member
wow didnt know that about on line course
Yeah, unfortunately a lot of people don't... except for the guys with the blue lights on their boats! :smt101
There's been talk (for a few years now) of revamping the online course to make it meet N.A.S.B.L.A. laws, but right now it does not. If you're ever up in our area (Allentown), we teach the real course for free.