Navigational charter books for great lakes

[mlconnon]

I am preparing for a trip up lake Michigan through Lake Superior. Does anyone have any good suggestions for chart books or any other handy literature that will come in handy. I already have WATERWAY GUIDE GREAT LAKES V.2 and Chapman's Piloting and Seamanship .

Thanks!

[Gary Mc]

The Richardson Chartbook & Cruising Guides are great but pricey. Available and any marina on the way.
Have a great trip!

[h20man]

Amazingly... there are of course not only free charts from the United States Tax payer supported noaa.... but there are also GREAT pilot guides: https://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/publ...lot/index.html




FREE.....


(and they come with a money back guarantee.... )


the following link shall download Coast Pilot Volume 6 - 51st Edition, 2021
as a complete pdf... Enjoy!

[LakeSuperior]

In Lake Superior you will need Bonnie Dahl's "Superior Way," 4th edition. It is required by law. Well...not really but it is required.

[cat34shamrock]

Consider Great Lakes Cruising Club, detailed info on harbors and anchorages. Possibly Navionics Apt running on cellphone, tablet or laptop.
https://www.glcclub.com/
Jim

[Floaton]

Richardson Chart Books. Order online and make sure you have them before departure. Most boat stores no longer carry them! And be sure you have a parallel ruler and know how to chart a course with the paper charts. You CAN lose GPS signal and there ARE lots of rocks!! Have a great summer!

[Stu Jackson]

Originally Posted by Floaton

....................
You CAN lose GPS signal ...

Could you share when and/or where and/or why this has/can/could happen?

[Floaton]

HI Stu,
We were in the north channel of Lake Huron tucked into a great anchorage- we had navigated in through one of the two channels between the rocks two days earlier, when we went to depart, gps did not find our boat until we had made it out of the far channel- luckily we remembered the old days of plotting a course quick enough to get a heading to make it through the rocks! phew! so happy when that boat appeared on our gps again!! We are so spoiled now a days!

[anacapaisland42]

Just be careful of which side of the border you are on, Covid restrictions in Canada could cause you a bunch of grief if infringed.
Bill

[Mike OReilly]

All good suggestions. Unfortunately Canada doesn't give much away for free. You can download the relevant Sailing Directions for free now, although a print copy will still cost you:

https://www.charts.gc.ca/publication...iques-eng.html

Here's a chart viewer that lets you find Canadian charts (and then directs you to places you can buy them):

https://www.charts.gc.ca/charts-cart...carte-eng.html

If you tell us where you plan to go I bet there would be a lot of personal experience offered.