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How to Use Google Maps for a Boat Route

It's a fun trick to get Google Maps directions that cross a major body of water, but the route is never any more specific than "kayak across the Pacific Ocean." However, Google Maps has allowed people to access the Application Programming Interfaces so that it can be adapted for nautical uses. Some options for boat route planning resources that use the Google Maps API are: Chart Viewport, What Tide Is It? and Earth NC.

Instructions

- 1
  Check the tides for your next trip by browsing to whattideisit.com. Enter the beginning day for the tides that you want to check. Select the number of days for which you need the tides and then type in the location for which you need the tides. You can enter an address, ZIP code or GPS coordinates. The Google Map will re-center to your location. Click on the red dot that's closest to your route. The map will zoom in on that location. Keep clicking on the red dot you want until the tide details on the right change to match the location you've selected. Click "Print Tide Chart" below the tide information on the right so you can take the details with you on your boat trip.
- 2
  Download the chart for your next boat trip by visiting chartserver.bbn.com. Click and drag on the map to center it on the area where you will be traveling. Scroll up to zoom in and scroll down to zoom out. Once you're close to the area of your trip, right-click on the map and select the chart you need for your journey. Once you've selected the chart you want, click the "Download BSB" link from the pop-up menu on the right side of the chart. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration chart will be downloaded to your computer in the BSB format. Open it with your BSB map viewer application. Some options are DWG Viewer, TatukGIS Viewer and Seavus Project Viewer.
- 3
  Plan your route from start to finish by browsing earthnc.com/chartviewer. Click on the "Router" button, which is in the top-middle of the page next to the compass rose. Click the location on the chart where you want to start your trip. Click on the next location and so on until you've reached the end of the boat trip and then double-click to set the final location. From there you can click to send the trip route to Google Earth, GPX or create a printable PDF file.

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