How to fold a nautical chart?

Question

Proper way to fold a nautical chart for optimal use.

Answer 1

YOU DON'T... only a beginner would fold a nautical chart because the folds get in the way when you are doing navigation.  The only way to store a chart is ROLLING it.

If you could see the navigation station on my boat, you would see that I've added some lateral stringers and the ROLLED charts are stuck between the stringers and the cabin overhead.

Answer 2

Have to respectfully disagree with almost everyone else here. Only amateurs roll charts. You properly fold a chart in quarters, such that when you fold back the upper left corner you can read the number and publication date, and the most recent Notice to Mariner's it's been corrected to. Then this is again labeled in black marker on the lower left of the chart. In this way, you can easily stack (and keep) your charts in order.

Answer 3

I beleive that there is some nautical law against folding a chart.....

By rolling up a chart it will not have fold lines that may make it easy to make a mistake will plotting a course or misreading the number or depth.  

Cruise Books are a great source of information and will get you there, GPS Chart Plotters are great and give great detail.  But you need to back both up with real charts.

Now let me unfold my chart to see where I am at.

Boat Safe ! !

Answer 4

Roll it!

Answer 5

Rolling is the recommended manner to stow a chart, however, if the room is available, it is best to be kept flat.

Now, how I have done this.  I fold mine in half, this was they will fit into those zip lock type chart bags.  then, I stow them under a bunk aboard the boat, when I have them at home, I stow them under my bed, still folded in half.  When you start to fold them too many times, they will be difficult to plot a course upon.  This is also the case when they are rolled, as they are very difficult to keep flat on most pleasure boats.

Sometimes, it is better to purchase cruising chart books, such as the "Explorer Charts" that we used in the Bahamas.  They were generally better than a lot of other choices.  There are also cruising guides that provide charts in a smaller form.

An example of how some NOAA charts are folded is with the charts of the Intra Coastal Waterway on the East Coast.

Answer 6

don't fold it, roll it.

Answer 7

If it's been folded follow the folds>