Important Chart Symbols

Found on Charts

The second 'always just below' symbol should have a dashed line around it versus a solid circle.

myshiplog-rocks-and-symbols.png

Written on Charts

These are symbols a navigator uses and draws on a chart.

Position Fix

Answers the question of where you are within a good degree of accuracy.

fix

Estimated Position

Answers the question of where you ended up, or what happened to you.

estimated-position

Waypoint

The waypoint is where you want to go.

waypoint

Dead Reckoning (DR)

dead-reckoning-dr-position

Not worried about tide, wind or leeway.

Water Track

water-track

The water track is where we think the boat went through the water. Answers the question, what direction did we point our boat? Boats, have one bow wave, so we have 1 arrow.

Groud Track

ground-track

If you traced a line on the seafloor, where would the boat go. 2 Arrows for 2 feet on the ground.

Tidal Set/Drift

tidal-set-drift

If you traced a line on the seafloor, where would the boat go. 3 arrows, like waves.