Electronic Charts

Electronic charts are not all the same. Official Electronic Navigational Charts (ENCs) are vector charts designed for ECDIS and approved systems. Raster charts are scanned or image-based versions of paper charts. Private chart databases may be useful but may not carry the same status or update process.

Vector charts can hide or show information depending on scale, settings, and safety contour choices. Raster charts show the familiar paper-chart image but do not behave like vector data. Yachtmaster-level use means understanding what chart type is loaded, when it was updated, and which safety settings affect what you see.