42 seamanship secrets
Even so, you should carry the original full-color chart onboard for refer-
ence. Keep the original below in the cabin, protected from wind and spray.
Use your black-and-white copies for navigation on deck. Remember, you will
need at least two copies of the original color chart. Follow these steps and
the accompanying illustrations to set up your chartlets:
- Make a posterboard template. Artist’s clipboards, called sketchboards, come
in two sizes: 18^1 / 2 inches × 191 / 2 inches or 15^1 / 2 inches × 16 inches (for short
day trips or weekend cruising, an alternative is to use a legal-size clipboard).
If you desire, you can waterproof the board with varnish. Next, use a piece of
posterboard to make a rectangular template that is^1 / 2 to^3 / 4 inch shorter and
narrower than your clipboard. Th is will ensure that the edges of the chartlets
will be protected inside the clipboard edges. - Plan your route. Mark all the tracklines for your journey on your chart
copies. Double-check the entire length of each track to make sure no
hazards lie along your path. - Trace both cutting lines onto copy #1. Starting at your departure point, lightly
trace a cutting line around all four sides of the template. Th is denotes your fi rst
chart segment, or chartlet. Within an inch or two of the chartlet’s far side, fi nd a
transfer point (TP) to use on the next chartlet. When you shift from one chartlet
to the next, you want to have a common reference point. Select a prominent
aid to navigation, landmark, sounding, contour curve, or point of land as your
TP. Move the template to the opposite side of the charted trackline. Make sure it
completely covers your TP on one edge. Trace an outline for your second chartlet. - Transfer the cutting line onto copy #2. Transfer this outline onto your second
chart copy. Line up your posterboard template so that it covers the TP and
matches the outline from copy #1. Trace a cutting line for your second chartlet. - Cut out your chartlets. Double-check your work. Th en cut out the chartlets
with your Exacto knife. Repeat these steps for the remainder of your
journey. When you are fi nished, darken in your tracklines.
Now, go to the next tip to find secrets that will help you complete 90% of all
navigation before you cast off your dock lines.
SEA-CRET TIP
X Protect your charts and sketchboard with a large zip-top plastic
bag. For example, the Ziploc Big Bag is heavy-duty and comes in
two sizes: 2 feet × 1.7 feet (XL) and 2 feet × 2.7 feet (XXL). They’re
good insurance, and they’re cheap.