What is a scale on a chart?

A chart's scale is expressed as a ratio, such as 1:2500 or 1:1,000,000. This refers to the ratio physical distance on the chart to physical distance in the real world. On a chart with a 1:25,000 scale, one inch on the paper chart equals 25,000 inches in the real world. One millimeter on the same chart represents 25,000 millimeters.

What do you know about a chart?

But the most critical thing to know about any chart is its "SScale." A chart's scale is expressed as a ratio, such as 1:2500 or 1:1,000,000. This refers to the ratio physical distance on the chart to physical distance in the real world. On a chart with a 1:25,000 scale, one inch on the paper chart equals 25,000 inches in the real world.

What scale nautical chart should I use?

The best scale nautical chart to use is the largest scale available. For example, as you approach the coastline, you might start by navigating on a general chart, but as soon as you are within the boundary of the coastal chart, you should switch across to that one.

What is a small scale navigation chart?

Small scale navigation charts, often called General Charts, Sailing Charts, or Planning Charts offer the lowest detail but cover the largest geographic area. These charts often have a scale from 1:500,000 up to 1:5,000,000 for general charts and 1:100,000 to 1:500,000 for sailing charts. Small scale charts: