I finally stopped using old river charts from the 90s after a near-miss in Mobile Bay

The channel had shifted almost 50 feet since my chart was printed, and I almost put the cutter head into a rock shelf. Has anyone else switched to a real-time depth service, and which one do you trust?

3 comments

3 Comments

anna_hill16d ago

Yeah, paper charts are basically coasters now. My own wake-up call was up in the Pacific Northwest. Tried to use a classic chart for a tricky inlet, water was supposed to be plenty deep. Got in there and my depth sounder was screaming. A whole sandbar had built up right where the clear channel was drawn. Switched to a digital service with live updates that same week. Won't even leave the dock without it. That near-miss feeling sticks with you.

lee.diana16d ago

Switch to a real-time service immediately, that old data will get you in real trouble. I trust the NOAA app with its constant updates for the basic stuff, it's free and has saved my bacon more than once. Don't risk your boat on nostalgia for a paper chart.

xena_miller315d ago

Don't risk your boat on nostalgia" is the real truth. My own nostalgia almost put my boat on a rock once. I was so proud of my old chart collection I ignored the app warning. Let's just say my depth finder made me feel real stupid, real fast. Paper's great for a backup, but trusting it like gospel is how you become a cautionary tale.