NorthStar 6000i - Using Electronic Charts; Reference Section

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Reference section 1 — Using the Chart Screen
Using electronic charts
Northstar 6000i
Using electronic charts
Each Navionics chart cartridge contains
electronic chart data from several paper
charts. Classic charts have basic informa-
tion from the original paper charts,
although spot depth soundings, some nav
aids, and other data may be missing. Gold
charts provide much additional data such
as obstructions, traffic areas and shaded
depth areas. When used with appropriate
caution, electronic charts open up a world
of navigational accuracy and simplicity.
Chart boundaries
The 6000i displays the boundary line of
each chart on the CHART screen. You can
turn these lines off if you prefer (see
Choosing the chart details, starting on page
32).
If you move from a highly detailed chart to
a less detailed one, you may see a sudden
change in the detail shown on the screen,
just as if you had changed from one
detailed paper chart to a less detailed one.
The displayed boundary lines may help
indicate when this change in detail is going
to happen.
Nav aids
The nav aids on the CHART screen repre-
sent a variety of standard “aids to
navigation” used on coastal and inland
waterways throughout the United States.
Nav aids are displayed on the CHART screen
as colored circles. Most of these aids are
buoys, lights, lighthouses, and daybea-
cons, which typically are maintained by
the U.S. Coast Guard. Nav aids warn you of
hidden dangers, such as underwater
hazards, and to help you safely navigate
specific waterways and channels.
When you move the cursor onto a nav aid,
the 6000i displays a description in the info
bar at the bottom of the screen, along with
the distance and bearing from your vessel
to the nav aid.
Buoys
Buoys are the most common type of nav
aid found along the coast and on your
charts. The 6000i shows green and red
channel marker buoys as green and red
circles, respectively.
Approach buoys are shown as circles with
black on the upper half and white on the
lower half.
Sound buoys (featuring an audible signal,
such as a bell, gong, or whistle) are identi-
fied by a description in the info bar.
P
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l
!
Don’t become over-con-
fident when using elec-
tronic charts. Always be
cautious!
CAUTION!
Nav aids have been
converted from official
paper charts into the
electronic format on
your screen, and there-
fore aren’t necessarily
as accurate as the
paper charts. In some
areas, only the most
important nav aids may
be shown.