Island Bareboat Charters provide you with paper charts and cruising guides for the cruising are, however most of the shallow areas have no above water navigation aids.
A basic knowledge of coastal navigation is essential for a safe holiday in the Pumicestone Passage and Moreton Bay region. The skipper or navigator needs to be able to:
Read a chart; understanding symbols and features.
Understand how a compass works.
Plot a course to steer.
Locate or confirm your position using a compass, land transits and depth.
Calculate the time needed to travel to your next anchorage considering the distance, tidal currents and boat speed.
Plot your position on a chart given longitude and latitude coordinates.
Instrumentation is provided as an aid to navigation. Most boating accidents are caused by skippers relying on instrumentation instead of keeping a good lookout and using the charts. Standard instrumentation on Island Bareboat Charters includes:
- Depth Sounder - Only reads the depth below the boat, not in front of the boat. Beware sand bars will not be detected until it is too late.
- GPS Colour Plotter - A great aid to navigation, but knowledge of navigation is still needed and they are not to be relied upon.
- You also have speed instrumentation.
Skippers often get confused with colours marking shallow water and the GPS systems are notoriously inaccurate in close quarter situations. Double checking all available information and having a good lookout will assist.
