It is wise to be "symbol minded!"

I’ve been studying nautical charts for most of my life and I have a confession to make.  I probably know only 75 percent of the symbols that appear on NOAA nautical charts.

But remember, Einstein didn’t know phone numbers because he had a telephone book to “remember” for him.  In that same spirit, and for those who love our nautical charts, this publication “Nautical Chart Symbols Abbreviations and Terms" is a “must have” for your library.

This 100-page book is divided into almost as many sections as there are in the alphabet:  You can know everything from A to X – so to speak. Here is the index to this book, and that is only the beginning.  You will be amazed at how much information is crammed into it's pages.

But let’s not be hard on ourselves.  We learn what we need to learn, and procrastinate learning whatever doesn’t regularly cross our path.  That is especially true in charts as there are hundreds of abbreviations and symbols for us to know.  And we should know these as our safety at sea may depend on it.

Nevertheless, decorating your wall with a nautical chart is another thing entirely.  You won’t be using it for navigation, so why learn all the details? 

Well here’s a good reason: When you order a nautical chart mural, and the symbols on the chart are proportionally as large when expanded to fill a wall, you will find that people will begin to notice all those symbols – and likely will ask you what they mean. 

Wouldn’t it be good to know what they are so that you can tell them with some authority?