Navigation
Navigation, along with piloting, is the science of safely moving a boat from one place to another. Safe navigation includes marine chart reading, course plotting, and position finding underway. It takes into account tides and currents, an understanding of the maritime Rules of the Road, and correct interpretation of weather data. Understanding the capabilities of a specific boat in a variety of wind and sea state conditions is a vital part of safe navigation and piloting.
The Night Watch: Pro Tips for Running After Dark
Maintaining a proper lookout is a large responsibility even on a clear, sunny day, but the night watch presents additional challenges.
Bottom Kisser: A Seaman's Tale
A boat by any other name will still hit the bottom if you’re not paying attention at the helm.
The Lost Art of Dead Reckoning
For all the precision of modern technology, sometimes there’s no substitute for the tried-and-true art of dead reckoning.
The Case for Paper Charts
NOAA is scheduling the end of paper-chart production. It’s a bad plan for recreational boaters.
How Long Does It Take to Produce a Nautical Chart?
The time needed to make a new nautical chart depends on how many pieces of the puzzle are in the box.
16 Time-Tested Nav Tips To Get You Home
These fundamental navigation tips may help get you home when things go kablooey.
Birders and Boaters Band Together To Bash Lake Erie Wind Project (Read the Lawsuit)
Project 'Icebreaker' Would Eventually Bring 1,400 Turbine Generators
Magnetic North Pole Heading to Russia, Scientists Say
New World Magnetic Model Confirms Rapid Drift
Russian Spy Ship Behaving Badly off Coast of Carolinas, Coast Guard Warns
No Lights at Night, Unresponsive to Radio Calls, Erratic Movements
SpaceX Launches With a New AIS Marker System Keeping Boats Away
Coast Guard Approves Private Aids to Navigation off Cape Canaveral
Claims of Wind Turbine Radar Interference Are 'Hype,' Says Industry Pro
Furuno Does Not Consider Proliferation of Marine Wind Farms Threat to Navigation
How A Surprise Fog Raised My Appreciation for Radar Savvy
An unexpected fog bank raises a veteran cruiser’s appreciation for radar.
The Whole Picture
Relying on AIS? There may be more out there than what you see on the screen.
The Distress Call
An encounter off the Eastern Seaboard serves as a scary reminder about safe offshore practices.
Mapping the Sea Floor with Lasers
The next step in mapping, LiDAR utilizes high-tech lasers to give us the most accurate maps yet.
Mastering the Ups and Downs of Tides
he better we intrinsically understand tides and tidal currents in the areas we navigate, the better we can anticipate which charted hazards are actually hazardous to us, and which are merely interesting.
Dangerous AIS Targets? New Challenges To Safe Navigation
Unregulated AIS fishing beacons are most likely illegal and pose a hazard to navigation
Navy Decides To Turn on AIS
And an Interview: The Real Reason the US Navy Keeps Hitting Merchant Vessels
