Nautical Charts vs Google Maps: Which Is Better for Safe Boating?

When people look up Google maps for boating, they want something familiar when navigating through the water. After all, Google Maps has established itself as the default tool for driving, walking, and mapping. However, boating is not the same as driving – the terrain changes all the time, there are no painted lanes, and dangers might lurk below the surface. That is why nautical charts are necessary.

Yes, Google Maps will be useful for finding a marina or even getting some satellite pictures. Still, it does not contain the special marine information needed for a successful journey. Modern marine navigation software, like GPS Nautical Charts, integrates Google Maps' easy interface with high-quality nautical maps created for boating.

Why Google Maps Falls Short for Boating

Google Maps is designed for land transport. This app is perfect for road navigation, business locations, and traffic reports, but it lacks all the marine information that can help to navigate safely on lakes, rivers, oceans, and seas.

Some of the biggest weaknesses are the following:

• Absence of bathymetric data showing water depth.
• Absence of any information regarding underwater rocks, reefs, shipwrecks, and other dangers.
• Not showing navigation aids like buoys, beacons, and channels.
• No details about restricted boating zones.
• Lacks tide forecast and current data.
• No way of providing Electronic Navigational Charts (ENCs).
• No navigation by known maritime practices.

All these features mean that boaters basically navigate without any data to keep themselves from grounding.

Distinguishing Characteristics of Nautical Charts

Nautical charts can be considered marine counterparts of road maps, although much more detailed and specific.

Whereas road maps illustrate the layout of the roads and junctions, nautical charts include:

• Water depth
• Topography/bathymetry
• Navigation channels
• Rocks and submerged dangers
• Buoys and beacons
• Places where one can anchor
• Coastal landmarks
• Special marine regulations
• Navigation aids

These elements are used by both professional sailors and recreational boat users to make appropriate navigation choices.

In contrast to the traditional maps, the nautical charts are built keeping in mind how ships navigate in water areas.

Google Maps for Boating: What Do People Want?

Most individuals seeking Google maps for boating may not be referring to Google itself.

What they actually need is an application that has the same user-friendly interactive interface but which also gives the right information.

This is precisely why many people refer to the GPS Nautical Charts (i-Boating) as the "Google Maps for boating."

Creating a Google Map-like Experience Using GPS Nautical Charts

Here are some advanced features of GPS Nautical Charts

Interactive Maps

Similarly to Google Maps, users can:

• Zoom in and zoom out
• Pan through waterways
• Interact with different locations
• Tap on objects for more info

The only difference is that in all interactions, users will see information related to the marine environment rather than road information.

These include:

• Coastline
• Marinas
• Buoys
• Depth contours
• Navigation aids
• Waterways
• rather than roads and streets.

Real-Time GPS Location

What people like most in Google Maps is getting the location in real-time.

With GPS Nautical Charts, users can get the same experience with their vessels through a real-time GPS location on marine charts.

Automatic Boats Routing

Another feature that stands out is automatic routing.

In just the same way that Google Maps generates a route for driving from one address to another, GPS Nautical Charts will be able to generate a navigational route through waterways according to the draft of the boat.

The benefit of this feature is that it makes it easier for users to establish safe navigation routes while, at the same time, avoiding dangerous shallow regions that cannot be seen using normal maps.

Marine Layers That Google Maps Lack

Navigation in marine environments needs much more than a simple map.

Some of the specialized layers provided by GPS Nautical Charts include:

• Bathymetric layers
• Topographic layers
• Relief layer
• Weather layers
• Public/Private ownership layers
• ENC Marine layers

Can Google Maps Display Nautical Charts?

Google Maps alone does not have any electronic navigational charts on board.

But there is a product called "GPS Nautical Charts" that comes with the Marine Charts Web SDK and allows displaying ENC charts on Google Maps by means of the Google Maps adapter.

For ordinary sailors, however, a separate marine navigation application would give more benefits.

Feature Comparison: Nautical Charts vs Google Maps

Feature	Google Maps	GPS Nautical Charts
Road navigation	✔	No
Water depth	✘	✔
Bathymetric charts	✘	✔
Marine hazards	✘	✔
Buoys & navigation markers	✘	✔
Tide information	✘	✔
Current predictions	✘	✔
Boat GPS tracking	Limited	✔
Boat route planning	✘	✔
ENC support	✘	✔

Why Anglers Also Need Marine Charts

A successful fishing session does not necessarily require landmarks, since it mostly depends on the underwater structures.

Marine charts allow anglers to discover:

• Drop-offs
• Underwater ridges
• Deep channels
• Shoals
• Reefs
• Fishing structures

Google Maps might give some idea of the coastline; however, it does not provide details about what is underwater.

This information will definitely be useful for planning your fishing expedition.

Safety Always Comes First

It is unlikely for experienced boaters to navigate by using general-purpose mapping applications alone.

Navigation at sea entails varying water levels, tides, underwater obstacles, and controlled channels, which regular mapping applications fail to take into account.

Proper use of the marine charts will eliminate the risk of navigation and allow boaters to make the right decisions during their voyage. Industry best practices clearly recommend using marine charts instead of road maps.

When Is Google Maps Still Helpful?

Before setting sail, Google Maps still has its applications.

It does great when looking for:

• Marinas
• Fuel stations
• Road transportation to boat launches
• Satellite images
• Accommodations or restaurants near you

After you set out to sea, marine charts will be your main tool for navigation.

Conclusion

If you only want to find a marina, Google Maps is definitely helpful.

However, when it comes to navigating through water routes, organizing your fishing trips, or even moving through changing marine environments, you'll need much more than just roads and satellite pictures.

This is why so many boaters call GPS Nautical Charts the most similar application to Google Maps for boating. It brings the convenience of interactive maps along with detailed nautical charts, automatic boat routing, GPS tracking, bathymetry, weather layers, and other useful information for marine navigation.

Interested in advanced marine navigation? Try GPS Nautical Charts to experience interactive marine navigation, detailed nautical charts, automatic boat routing, and other advanced boating features.