Power Boating Charting
Charts are important when sailing as they help you to plot your co-ordinates, bearing and course lines. Essentially they help you to navigate your way safely. They also help you to pick certain features so you can check if you're where you are meant to be. They're like maps only rather than helping you find your way across land they help you to find your way across the water. Charts will occasionally pick out certain features of landscape that you'll be passing but this isn't as serious or detailed as the features that they're going to point out at sea.
When you're viewing a chart you first look for your kick off point and then plot your journey to where you wish to go to.
You especially need to notice the depth of the water that you'll be traveling through and any potential dangers you can expect to come across as you travel.
If you glance at the chart for markers that you should expect to pass it is worth jotting them down for reference later on. When you approach where the markers should be then you can keep an eye out for them and be certain that you are on course.
As a noob at reading charts it will also help if you have got an experienced chart reader with you on your first few journeys to lead you and say what you want to be hunting for.If this is not possible then you can attend classes to coach you the fundamentals and beyond if you'd like to do so. Be sure to get yourself charts that are current as old ones may no-longer be applicable. Obstructions and features can change at sea as frequently as they are doing on land.