Marine Navigation Chart and Fishing Chart Basics

Navigation Chart (Nav Chart) - This chart shows navigation data available with either the preloaded mapping or supplemental mapping if being used on the system. Data will include buoys, lights, cables, depth soundings, marinas, and tide stations in an overhead view.

Fishing Chart - This chart is intended for use when fishing and not when navigating to a location. It provides an enhanced, detailed view of bottom contours, depth soundings, detailed bathymetric data. This chart is best for offshore deep-sea fishing. NOTE: Fishing Chart is available with premium charts, in some areas.

Perspective 3D  - Provides a view from behind and above the boat (according to course). It is useful in unfamiliar areas, tricky shoals, reefs, bridges channels, it is beneficial when trying to identify entry and exit routes in unknown harbors or anchorages.

3D Chart - Provides a view from behind and above the boat (according to course). It is useful in unfamiliar areas, tricky shoals, reefs, bridges channels, it is beneficial when trying to identify entry and exit routes in unknown harbors or anchorages. NOTE: 3D is available with premium charts, in some areas.

Mariner’s Eye 3D - Provides a view from behind and above the boat (according to course). It is useful in unfamiliar areas, tricky shoals, reefs, bridges channels, it is beneficial when trying to identify entry and exit routes in unknown harbors or anchorages.

Fish Eye 3D -  Provides an underwater view that visually represents the sea floor according to chart information. With a transducer connected to the chartplotter, this map will display suspended targets (such as fish) that are indicated by red, green, and yellow spheres. Red means the largest fish, and green indicates the smallest.

Relief Shading - Provides high-resolution elevation shading of lakes and coastal waters. This chart can be helpful for fishing and diving. NOTE: The Relief Shading Chart is available with premium charts, in some areas.

Zoom In & Out

From any of the charts selected, there is a plus and minus button on display.  Zoom in or out on the map changes the behind and above perspective on the perspective charts.

Panning

The chart allows the user to move the screen around to view other areas; this is called panning.  When panning on a map, it will have a button in the lower right-hand corner to Stop Panning, press the button, and the chart will return to the current position.  In the image below, note the stop panning button and that the vessel icon is not centered.  Press the Stop Panning button, and the screen will re-center.

There are many chart symbols below is a table that shows some of the standard symbols. All Symbols, both standard and uncommon (not listed below) when pressed or selected, will display information for the area. For more information and examples on chart symbols, please see the NOAA Website.

From this point, the FAQ will discuss the menu options found within the Navigation Chart and the Fishing Chart. From within a map press the menu button, the device will display a sub-menu, along the right-hand side of this sub-menu are icon buttons. These icon buttons will open additional functions and options to customize the data to be displayed on the Chartplotter. When the menu button is pressed, the default icon will be the Main Function icon unless the user has made a selection previously.  If the icon button is changed, it will default to the Main Function icon after the unit is powered off.

Menu layout and options depend on the model; some models may have these options under a different menu structure. For specific pathways check the Owner’s Manual for the chartplotter aboard the vessel.  

Charts > Nav Chart (or Fishing Chart) > Menu > Navigation Chart Menu - Each of the options under this menu will be discussed along with the submenus for each. 

Chart – Allows users to edit chart appearance

                Satellite Photos – When using a Premium Chart this option will be shown

	A camera icon on a chart indicates that there is a photo of the corresponding area.  The camera icon can be selected by touching it.  Options will display.  There are two different camera icons available on the Vision charts.  The top image shows a camera icon that will display an overhead view, and the second camera image shows the perspective view (refer to the circled icons).
	Note the bar that runs across the top of the chart page. To review the photo, select the Review option.  This will display additional options to view the photo or find out other information about the area.
	The photo displays a view of the area, and this photo shows an overhead view.

                Tides & Currents - Allows the user to turn ON/Off and set how it’s displayed for use with premium charts - the tide or current is displayed as a bar graph with a red arrow, pointing downward it is a falling tide, 

                a blue pointing upward arrow indicates a rising tide

                 Tide Graph bar - falling tide                              Current Arrow and Tide Graph bar

                Land POIs – Shows points of interest on land

                Navaid – Allows the user to select the Navaid type

                Service Points – Shows Marine Services

                Depth – Allows the user to customize depth settings

Depth Shading – Allows the user to specify an upper and lower depth to shade between

Shallow shading – Allows the user to set shades from the shoreline to the specified depth

Spot Depths – Turns on spot soundings and set a dangerous depth (will show in red on display)

In this image, you see the shallow water shading, spot numbers, and POIs   

                Restricted Areas – Allows the user to choose which restricted area data to display i.e., access, anchor, commercial, diving, fishing, etc.

                Photo Points – Allows the user to turn on Photo points when using a Premium Chart

                Lease Blocks – Is only found on the Fishing Chart > Menu > Layers > Chart > Lease Blocks

My Vessel – Allows the user to change settings such as compass rose, vessel icon, and heading line

                Heading Line – Shows and adjusts the heading line, which is a line drawn on the map from the bow of the boat in the direction of travel

                Active Tracks Off/On – Active Track Options Menu

                Wind Rose – Visual Representation of the wind angle or direction from connected wind sensors

                Compass Rose – Displays a compass rose around the vessel – enabling this option disables the Wind Rose option

                Vessel Icon – Change Vessel icon

Options under My Vessel Layers                                                                                                                                Options under Heading Line

Options under Active Track                                                                                                                                        Wind Rose - displays Wind source information True and Apparent Wind Direction 

Compass Rose - displays a compass rose around the vessel                                                                              Vessel Icons - Under this option, the vessel icon can be changed

User Data - Shows user data options waypoint display, boundaries tracks

                Waypoints – shows a list of waypoints symbols used on the chart, the user can choose which to display or hide in this setting

                Boundaries – Shows boundaries on the Chartplotter and open the list of boundaries

                Tracks – Shows tracks on the chart.  Users can set colors to display for saved tracks.  Active Tracks edit options track color, record mode, and interval settings

Other Vessels – This feature is dependent on connected accessories such as an AIS receiver, radar or VHF Radio

DSC – Shows the DSC list. Setting for the display of the DSC data on the Chartplotter

AIS – Shows the AIS list.  Settings for the display of the AIS data on the Chartplotter

Details – Shows details of Other Vessels

MARPA – If radar is connected

Proj. Heading (Projected Heading) – Allows the user to set the projected heading time for AIS and MARPA tagged vessels

Collision Alarm – Allows the user to set Collision Alarm, MARPA Alarm, and range or time for the alarm

Water – Menu options depend on the model

Depth Shading – On/Off - Allows the user to set color preferences for depth shading

Shallow water shading – Allows users to set shades from the shoreline to specified depths

Spot Depths – Allows the user to set spot depth and note dangerous depths will show in red on the chart (is not shown on the Fishing Chart – submenu)

Fishing Contours – Is only found on the Fishing Chart > Layers > Submenu Chart

Quickdraw Contours – Under the Chart Layers Quickdraw can be turned ON or Off set up of the Quickdraw Contours is found under Charts > Menu > Quickdraw Contours (see Quickdraw Sub-menu tab below)

User Contours – Turns ON/Off

Comm. Display – Turns ON/Off

Survey coloring – Turns ON/Off

Weather – ON/Off (Weather features are dependent upon external devices connected and compatibility of Chartplotter) For weather options and settings click on the Weather Icon Button left of the Layers Menu

Radar – ON/Off (Radar features are dependent upon external devices connected and compatibility of Chartplotter) For radar options and settings click on the Radar Icon Button left of the Layers Menu

Chart > Menu > Navigation Chart Menu > Quickdraw Contours

Start Recording – Starts and Stops recording Quickdraw Contours

Display – ON/Off

My Contours – ON/Off

Community Contours – ON/Off

Survey Coloring – On/Off

Manage

Active Card – Allows users to select the card slot if Chartplotter has multiple card slots available

Name – Allows users to name the contour they are recording

Copy – Allows users to insert a second card in the unit and make a copy of the Quickdraw contour mapping

Delete – Allows users to delete all Quickdraw Contours

Settings

Recording Offset – Allows the user to offset the water level from previous Quickdraw recording

User Display Offset – Sets the differences in contour depths and depth labels on your contour maps to compensate for changes in the water level of a body of water, or for depth errors in recorded maps

Comm. Display Offset – Sets differences in contour depths and depth labels on the community contours maps to compensate for changes in the water level of a body of water or depth errors in recorded maps

Survey Coloring – Turns ON/Off survey color

Depth Shading – Allows users to change the minimum and maximum depth range colors, and create a new range

Chart > Menu > Navigation Chart Menu > Settings – Adjusts Chart Settings

Orientation - Allows the User to set the perspective of the map – North Up, Heads Up or Course up

Detail – Allows the user to change the amount of detail displayed on the chart

Chart Size – Allows the user to change the visible size of the chart

Chart Size Smallest	Chart Size Normal	Chart Size Largest

World Map – Allows the user to select between the Basic World Map or a shaded relief map on the chart. Differences are visible only when zoomed out too far

                to see the detailed charts

Inset Map – Allows the user to display or disable a small map centered on your present location 

 The Inset map is in the lower left-hand.  

Edit Overlays - Adjusts the data shown on the screen

                Data – Allows the user to customize the way Data bars on the chart will display

Data bars can be edited through the Menu > Navigation Chart Menu > Edit Overlays > Data  Select Data

	Options for different Data Bar layouts can be selected from this screen, including the option for no data fields
	Select which data field will be changed.  Data options for the field will populate on the right side of the screen.  These will be the main categories, and under each will be additional data that can be displayed. For example, if the desired data is Coordinates, GPS would be selected.  Under that is an option for GPS Position.  The data bar field will now populate the GPS Position.

                Navigation – Allows the user to turn ON/Off or auto.  When turned ON or set to Auto press the Data Bar Setup from within this button to adjust data

                                Route Leg (ON/Off),

                                Next Turn (Time or Distance),

                                Destination (Distance, Time to Destination, Arrival)

                Top Bar & Bottom Bar – Allows the user to select a tape that runs across the top of the screen between the data corners. Options for both the Top Bar and the Bottom Bar are the same: Autopilot Bar, Media Bar, Compass Tape

From within either the Fishing Chart or the Nav. Chart > Menu > Press the Weather Icon Button.  Weather Options requires an external antenna and a weather subscription to receive data.

Observed Layers

                Storm – ON/Off Allows the user when turned on to select data to be shown on the chart (Radar, Clouds, Lightning, Hurricane)

                Sea Temperature – ON/Off Allows the user when turned on to adjust data to be shown on the chart (Resolution, Lower Limit, Upper Limit, Auto Configure)

                Weather Stations – On/Off Allows the user to select data to display from Weather Station

                Warnings – ON/Off

                Wave – ON/Off Allows the user to choose what wave data to display on the chart

                Winds – ON/Off

                Surface Pressure – ON/Off Allows the user to choose what Surface Pressure data to display (Barometric Pressure or Surface Analyses)

                Zones – ON/Off

Layer Mode – Observed or Forecasts

Loop – ON/Off

Legend – Show/Hide

Weather Subscription – Press to open and view data about Weather subscription

Restore Defaults – Will restore to Factory defaults

From within either the Fishing Chart or the Nav. Chart > Menu > Press the Radar Icon Button.  Radar Options requires an external Radar connected to the Chartplotter.

Radar Transmit/Standby – Quick access from the charts page to power up or power off the radar

Gain – Adjusts the gain settings

Radar Filters – Sea Clutter or Rain Clutter

Radar Options

                MotionScope – Available with compatible Fantom series Radar. Allows the user to set the sensitivity

                Target Size – allows the user to set the size of the target

                Echo Trails – Available with Compatible Fantom series Radar.  Allows the user to set time and clear trails

                VRM/EBL – Turns ON/Off and allows user to set

                Guard Zone – Turns ON/Off and allows the user to make settings 

Other Vessels – Allows the user to make quick adjustments to settings such as AIS, DSC, MARPA

                DSC – DSC Trails and DSC List

                AIS – allows the user to set how the AIS Vessels and trails appear on the chart and show the AIS List

                MARPA – Allows the user to see a list of MARPA targets and sort

                Details – Allows the user to turn ON/Off

                Proj. Heading – Allows the user to set time

Radar Setup – Allows the user to make changes to set up on the radar

                Source – Allows the user to select the radar source when more than one radar is connected to the network

                Orientation – Allows the user to set the perspective of the radar display

                Crosstalk Rej. – Reduces the appearance of the clutter caused by the interference from another nearby radar source

                Rotation Spd – Allows the user to set the preferred speed at which the radar rotates

                Appearance – Allows the user to set the color scheme, look-ahead speed, and navigation appearance

                Installation – Allows the user to configure the radar for the installation

Edit Overlays - Adjusts the data shown on the screen

                Data – Allows the user to customize the way Data bars on the chart will display

                Navigation – Allows the user to turn ON/Off or auto.  When turned ON or set to Auto press the Data Bar Setup from within this button to adjust data

                                Route Leg (ON/Off)'

                                Next Turn (Time or Distance),

                                Destination (Distance, Time to Destination, Arrival)

                Top Bar & Bottom Bar – Allows the user to select a tape that runs across the top of the screen between the data corners. Options for both the Top Bar and the Bottom Bar are the same: Autopilot Bar, Media Bar, Compass Tape

From within either the Fishing Chart or the Nav. Chart > Menu > Press the Presets Icon.  Presets are a collection of settings that optimize the screen or view.  Presets allow the user to adjust settings for specific activities. For example, some settings might be optimal for fishing and others better for cruising.  Presets are available under Charts, Sonar Views, and Radar Views.

                Cruising – Built-in preset option, edited through the Manage button

                Decluttered – Built-in preset option, edited through the Manage button

                Factory Settings – Built-in preset option, edited through the Manage button

                Fishing – Built-in preset option, edited through the Manage button

                New Area – Built-in preset option, edited through the Manage button

                Save – Allows the user to create a new Preset, name it, and select data to be displayed on the preset

                Manage – Allows Users to manage the built-in presets to edit, rename, reset the preset, or delete them