What is a Coast Pilot?

The Coast Pilot is a series of nautical books that supplement nautical charts. The books provide additional information difficult to portray on a chart to navigators in coastal and intracoastal waters and the Great Lakes. Today, there are nine volumes in the Coast Pilot series.

Topics in the Coast Pilot include channel descriptions, anchorages, bridge and cable clearances, currents, tide and water levels, prominent features, pilotage, towage, weather, ice conditions, wharf descriptions, dangers, routes, traffic separation schemes, small-craft facilities, and federal regulations applicable to navigation.