If you’ve used paper navigation charts your whole life, switching to digital charts can be quite an intimidating prospect. However, there are numerous benefits that come with getting digital navigation charts online, such as regular updates, affordability, availability, and accuracy. This makes it worth the effort.
Let’s take a look at what switching over to digital charts requires:
Reliable Hardware
If you’re going to switch over to digital navigation charts, you need the right equipment. This means having a chart plotter, tablet, or laptop that is designed with the right kind of casing and waterproofing to withstand marine environments.
This is important because marine navigation requires equipment that can endure harsh environmental conditions such as salt water, humidity, and constant vibrations.
Ideally, you should also have a device with a high-resolution screen to improve visibility in bright sunlight as well as in low-light conditions.
Up-To-Date Charts
If you’re going to use digital charts, you must ensure that you purchase and regularly update them through reputable providers like Boat Books.
Your digital charts need to be current to ensure safe and accurate navigation, as navigation conditions frequently change and hazards can emerge or shift over time. Online services that provide automatic updates to your charts can help you avoid the burden of manually checking for revisions.
Knowing How To Use Navigation Software
If you’re going to use electronic navigation charts, you need to be familiar with electronic navigation systems to be able to interpret the data, devise routes and waypoints, and understand elements such as tidal information.
While digital systems can automate many processes, as a mariner, you must have a clear understanding of how to manually input the correct data, adjust settings, and troubleshoot any issues that may arise.
A simple online course in digital navigation systems can help you build confidence and reduce your reliance on paper backups.
Always Have Backup Systems
Although digital navigation charts are a godsend, if you don’t have redundancies built into your navigational setup, you might find yourself in trouble should your main systems fail.
This means always carrying a backup device, spare batteries, and offline versions of your digital charts for emergencies.
At Boat Books, you can purchase a huge variety of paper and digital navigation charts online. For more information or to place an order, contact us now.