| In 1995, Lewis Offshore LTD began its quest to provide cruisers with the most accurate and easy-to-use charts for the Exuma Cays. As long-time cruisers ourselves, we (authors Monty and Sara Lewis) knew personally the need for reliable cruising information so we used our own notations and surveys to produce the first Explorer Chartbook for the Exumas. The first edition, EXPLORER CHARTBOOK EXUMAS, was a looseleaf set of 24 charts accompanied by a small guidebook, followed by the second edition in 1996 which was the first bound chartbook. |
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The Best Charts of the Bahamas
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- We offer the most extensive coverage and large-scale detail.
- Features like our Accu-GridTM, border scales, accurate on-scene waypoints, numerous routes, courses, and distances, magnetic variation updated with each new edition make these charts the easiest to use.
- Our experience and continual surveys make the difference. We're there!
- We give you the most current information in the quickest-to-find, easiest-to-use format.
- Concise style means no searching through pages of lengthy text to find the information you want.
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Why Use the Explorer Charts?
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- Our system of prompt revisions provides the most current information on navigation-related changes and rapidly changing services in the Bahamas.
- Updates, revisions and correction sheets are inserted in current editions and posted on this web site, as well as on the Bahamas Explorer chat group.
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Chartbook Features
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- SCALE - Large-scale generally 1:25,000, 1:31,250 or 1:50,000 with even larger-scale closeups of harbours and settlements, plus a lat-lon scale on the chart's edge for easy use.
- ACCU-GRIDTM - One-minute grid (or finer) of latitude/longitude superimposed on each chart for quickly finding position.
- DATUM - WGS 84 map datum for GPS navigation with frequently updated soundings, bottom contours, routes and waypoints.
- METRICS - All soundings in meters in keeping with international standards. (Meters-to- feet conversion scales shown throughout the book.)
- TRUE COURSES -- All courses in true. (It's easy to set your GPS to read true and more accurate in calculating courses.)
- COMPASS ROSE - Magnetic variation updated with each new edition
- TOPOGRAPHICAL FEATURES - Land elevations and other important notations included on the charts. Actual "road maps" of certain settlements.
- IMPORTANT FACILITIES - noted on each chart.
- JOINS CHART - notation on each chart as to adjoining chart page.
- CRUISING GUIDE - All the essential instructional information for boaters including general articles on Customs, history, weather, anchoring, piloting, use of GPS, communications, navigating the Bankside, reading the water, snorkeling and dinghy safety, plus an expanded alphabetized list of specific tips in the Help Menu. Need-to-Know Info sections of facilities and services for each settlement.
- FULL-COLOR ENHANCEMENTS - intuitive water color contours plus photos throughout the book!
- Long range TIDE TABLES
- NEW table of recommended marinas and services for all of the Bahamas
- SPECIAL ARTICLES (See each Chartbook for specifics)
"The 'been-there, done-that, got-the-tee-shirt' cruisers flock to these charts," says Bruce Van Sant, author of Passages South. We hope you will too! |
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How to Use Your Chartbook
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| Each chartbook's back cover gives you a pictorial sketch of the chart coverage for a general overview. It refers you to specific small-scale charts for planning and large-scale charts for navigating. In planning your entire cruise or just an island hop, first look at the small- and medium-scale charts of the particular area for an overall perspective; then refer to the large-scale charts for details and closeups, as well as essential "Need-to-Know Info" to help you locate what you need ashore. |
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