Canadian Hydrographic Service Marine Charts

If you’re planning on boating in Canada, it’s important to get the most up to date Canadian charts available to be sure you have accurate information about topography and water depth. Even if you are quite familiar with the area you’ll be boating on, it’s important to have accurate charts to ensure that deviations from a standard course or changes to the water’s landscape don’t result in damage or injury. Additionally, the Canadian Shipping Act requires almost all vessels to carry charts, including recreational boats. Beyond the practical reasons, accurate charts can also enhance your enjoyment of the trip – today’s digital charts provide a wealth of information and can make it easier to pinpoint prime fishing spots based on water depth, bottom composition and shape.

The charting of Canadian waterways is carried about by the CHS (Canadian Hydrographic Service). Because Canada shares its borders with 3 oceans, this is an enormous task. The conventional method of charting waterways involved dropping lead weights at certain locations to measure the water depth. Fortunately, advances in technology have led to more efficient – and more accurate – methods of charting bodies of water, making it possible to provide more accurate Canadian charts on a more regular basis.

• West Coast Digital Charts

• Central Digital Charts

• East Coast Digital Charts