Isle Royale Maps

[john j]

Jason;

If you are going to be using your map for nautical navigation, I strongly suggest you get a chart that is from N.O.A.A. or at least a chart that is based on N.O.A.A. data and is intended for nautical navigation. This type of chart will show depth contours, navaigation aids, like buoys, lights, docks, etc. as well as notable visual features on land for help in navigation. N.O.A.A. chart # 14976 is a very detiled nautical navigation chart of Isle Royale. You can get it at a map store like Latitudes in St. Loius Park. (952-927-9061) Cost will be about $20. This chart will be very detailed and show all the little bays, channels and islands that you might need to see. The down side of this map is that it is pretty large (about 2 ft x 3 ft) and you have to fold it several times to make it a manageable size. it will eventually wear out along the folds. If you want a really great full set of N.O.A.A. maps that covers all of Lake Superior, get a Richardson's Chartbook for Lake Superior. Cost will be about $70 but it is a nice size that fits on your lap while you drive your boat, it's in a spiral binder, has a location index and information on marinas and harbors plus it covers all of Lake Superior. It's really an awesome book of maps that has everything you need in it for Lake Superior navigation. Another book I suggest is "The Superior Way" by Bonnie Dahl. This book has chapters dedicated to each area of the lake and while it isn't a navigation chart, it has tons of information about where anchorages and harbors are, depths at docks, local points of interest, weather conditions, navigation tricks, little known bays and inlets and all kinds of other stuff that would take a person years to learn about any given area. A very good book that I constantly refer to on trips with my boat. This book and the Richardson's Charts book can be purchased at West Marine or Boat U.S. in the twin cities as well as other places I'm sure.