Nautical Chart User's Manual

The Nautical Chart User's Manual was researched and composed by Mr. L. Daniel Maxim with the cooperation of the Marine Chart Division, Office of Coast Survey, National Ocean Service, NOAA.It provides a wealth of technical information concerning the structure, layout and construction of a nautical chart, covering basic topographic and hydrographic features, aids to navigation, chart symbols, miscellaneous other charting features and supplemental information. The material is thorough and complete and presented in a readable and entertaining format. Mr. Maxim is President of Everest Consulting Associates, Cranbury, New Jersey, and a member of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Department of Education. A similar collaborative effort with the United States Coast Guard resulted in the publication of the Loran-C User Handbook in 1992, a comprehensive and much expanded update of a previous Loran-C User Handbook published in 1980. The voluntary contribution of his time and effort resulting in the completion of the Nautical Chart User's Manual is greatly appreciated and acknowledged by the Office of Coast Survey.

Cover, Table of Contents, Preface and Acknowledgements, etc. (500 KB)

Chapter 1--Introduction (2.0 MB)

Chapter 2--General Information and Overview (1.2 MB)

Chapter 3--Topography and Related Information (1.8 MB)

Chapter 4--Hydrography and Related Information (1.2 MB)

Chapter 5--Aids to Navigation (1.3 MB)

Chapter 6--Landmarks (1.0 MB)

Chapter 7--Areas, Limits, Tracks and Routes (1.3 MB)

Glossary (535 KB)

Index (115 KB)

For Web users who have a fast internet connection, all of the above listed PDF files have been zipped into one self-extracting executable file. Download User_Manual.exe (MAC Users download UserMan.zip) to your computer and simply execute the file (with most modern computers and operating systems, simply double-click on the file name and it will expand the file in the directory you saved the file in). No zip utility software program is needed. Please be aware that the file is slightly over 10 MB, therefore a long download time may result with some internet connections.

Contact Information: Barbara.Hess@noaa.gov or 301-713-1909 ext. 201.