... 45TheseAidsareusedtomarkfairways,mid-channels,andoffshoreapproachpointsTheyhaveunobstructedwateronallsides A buoy,lightedorunlighted,mayshow a redtopmarkAnappropriatenauticalchartmustbeconsultedtodetermineexactpositionOneof the mostimportanttools for safelynavigatingwaterwaysis a NauticalChartToday,manyrecreationalboatersuseGPSreceiversandperformelectronicwaypointnavigationAlthough a GPScantellyouwhereyouareintermsoflatitudeandlongitude,itcannotshowwhatisaroundorbeneath the boat,orwhatobstaclesmaybein the wayNauticalchartsshow the natureandshapeof the coast,includingwaterdepths,marinehazards,generalconfigurationandcharacterof the bottom,andAidstoNavigation,aswellasprominentlandmarks,portfacilities,andotherrelevantinformationChangesbroughtaboutbypeopleandnaturerequirethatnauticalchartsbeconstantlymaintainedandupdatedtoaidsafenavigationTomeet the needsof the boatingpublic, the NationalOceanicandAtmosphericAdministration’sNationalOceanService(NOS)produces a varietyofnauticalchartsandrelatedproductsNauticalchartscanvaryinscaleandformatChartscalerefersto a measurementofanarea,not the distance A chartcovering a relativelylargeareaiscalled a “smallscale”chart; a “largescale”chartwillcover a relativelysmallareaandshowmuchgreaterdetailHaving the mostcurrentchartisimportantThatiswhy the publicationdateiscriticalStormsandwaveactioncanalter the coastline,soonlyup-to-datechartsshouldbeused for navigation For allnavigation,boatoperatorsshouldalsouse the chartthatprovides the levelofdetailneededNOSnauticalchartsmaybepurchaseddirectlybymailfrom the NOSDistributionBranchorthroughanauthorizedagentTherearemorethan1,700nauticalchartagentsthatsellNOSchartsUse the addressandcontactnumbersbelowtoobtain a listofagentsnearyouortorequest a freecatalog: ... 45TheseAidsareusedtomarkfairways,mid-channels,andoffshoreapproachpointsTheyhaveunobstructedwateronallsides A buoy,lightedorunlighted,mayshow a redtopmarkAnappropriatenauticalchartmustbeconsultedtodetermineexactpositionOneof the mostimportanttools for safelynavigatingwaterwaysis a NauticalChartToday,manyrecreationalboatersuseGPSreceiversandperformelectronicwaypointnavigationAlthough a GPScantellyouwhereyouareintermsoflatitudeandlongitude,itcannotshowwhatisaroundorbeneath the boat,orwhatobstaclesmaybein the wayNauticalchartsshow the natureandshapeof the coast,includingwaterdepths,marinehazards,generalconfigurationandcharacterof the bottom,andAidstoNavigation,aswellasprominentlandmarks,portfacilities,andotherrelevantinformationChangesbroughtaboutbypeopleandnaturerequirethatnauticalchartsbeconstantlymaintainedandupdatedtoaidsafenavigationTomeet the needsof the boatingpublic, the NationalOceanicandAtmosphericAdministration’sNationalOceanService(NOS)produces a varietyofnauticalchartsandrelatedproductsNauticalchartscanvaryinscaleandformatChartscalerefersto a measurementofanarea,not the distance A chartcovering a relativelylargeareaiscalled a “smallscale”chart; a “largescale”chartwillcover a relativelysmallareaandshowmuchgreaterdetailHaving the mostcurrentchartisimportantThatiswhy the publicationdateiscriticalStormsandwaveactioncanalter the coastline,soonlyup-to-datechartsshouldbeused for navigation For allnavigation,boatoperatorsshouldalsouse the chartthatprovides the levelofdetailneededNOSnauticalchartsmaybepurchaseddirectlybymailfrom the NOSDistributionBranchorthroughanauthorizedagentTherearemorethan1,700nauticalchartagentsthatsellNOSchartsUse the addressandcontactnumbersbelowtoobtain a listofagentsnearyouortorequest a freecatalog: ... 55Trainingisimportant for boatersofallexperiencelevels,butespecially for the beginningboaterIn a typicalyear,approximately70percentofaccidentsinvolvingfatalitiesoccuronboatswhere the boatoperatorhashadnoformalinstructiononhowtooperate the vesselAs a result,morethanhalfofallstateshaveenactedlegislationmandat-ingboatersafetyeducationas a requirement for boatoperatorsBoatingsafetyisnoaccidentTofurtherdevelopyourboatingknowledge,proficiency,andconfidence,take a boatingsafetycourseTolocatelocalcourseofferings,or for moreinformationonrecreationalboatingandboatingsafety,contactyourstateboatingagency,USCoastGuardDistrictoffice,oroneof the organizationslistedbelow:Yourdegreeofenjoymenton the waterdependsonyou,yourequipment,andotherpeoplewho,likeyourself,boatresponsiblyAs a boatoperator,youshould:•...