Charts & Nautical Publications Regulations:

It's not what you can see that poses the greatest hazards when boating - it's what you can't see; the shoals and obstructions that lay hidden just below the waters surface!

Running aground is the single most common mishap for boaters in the 30,000 Islands area of Georgian Bay.
Although it's virtually impossible to place hazard buoys above every underwater obstruction, it is possible to establish safe routes around them.

Nautical Charts published by the Canadian Hydrographic Service are graphic representations depicting water areas.  They show marine traffic routes, aids to navigation, (buoys etc.), water depths, underwater hazards, and adjacent coastal features, (towns, marinas, launch-ramps, prominent landmarks, etc.)  They are intended to assist mariners in the safe navigation of their vessel.  Charts are available from most of the larger Marina Operators & Chandlers.  (Visit the Canadian Hydrographic Service on the WEB for a list of dealers near you.)



Be sure to obtain CHART 1 (shown at left below, blue cover).  About 100 pages, CHART 1 explains the symbols, terms, & abbreviations used on Nautical Charts.

The Canadian Hydrographic Service (CHS) also produces and distributes publications such as, Sailing Directions, Small Craft Guides, and Canadian Tide & Current Tables.   

Sailing Directions is a guidebook covering all the major waterways across Canada, and is considered a required publication to have on board.  It is an indispensable companion to any Chart.  If you are transiting the Small-Craft Route through the challenging 30,000 Islands, you'll want to get the Small Craft Guide, Georgian Bay.  Like Sailing Directions, it has aerial photographs and text information describing natural features, harbours & wharf facilities, anchorage areas, local history, rules, regulations, and distance tables that simply can't be shown on charts.

Consider the Private Publications too; the contact phone-numbers come in handy when shopping for fuel, dockage, goods, or other service's along the way.


Remember, unless your pleasure craft is propelled by oars, the Regulations requires "every pleasure craft to carry onboard the latest edition, large scale charts, publications and documents required for the area being navigated in".  Shown at lower left is a large scale (lots of detail) Small Craft Chart package - atop a small scale chart (less detail, more area).    Keep all your charts and publications current; subscribe to Notices to Mariners from the Canadian Coast Guard.  Updates are by electronic mail, without charge.

Note:  Be sure to read our caution about relying solely on GPS Chart-Plotters!  See Caution in the Bibliography, page 60.