What is the purpose of a nautical chart?

The primary purpose of a nautical chart is to provide crucial information about waterways, enabling navigators to identify hazards. These charts offer detailed representations of geographical features such as coastlines, underwater terrain, and various navigational obstacles, including rocks, shallow areas, and offshore hazards. By utilizing nautical charts, boaters and mariners can ensure safe navigation, avoid dangerous areas, and make informed decisions while planning their routes.

While assistance with fishing is valuable, such activities typically rely on different types of maps or guides rather than nautical charts. Additionally, although weather updates are essential for safe boating, they are usually provided through other channels such as weather radios or applications. Nautical charts do not serve to map out land routes; this function is the domain of terrestrial maps and GPS navigation systems, which focus on land travel rather than maritime navigation.