How to Get a Paper Nautical Chart in 2026

Can you still get paper nautical charts in 2026? Yes - but the way you get them has changed. In this video, we show you how to use NOAA Custom Chart to create and print your own paper nautical chart for U.S. waters. Using Avalon Harbor on Catalina Island, California, as an example, we walk through how to choose the exact area you want, select your own chart scale, set depths, add a compass rose, and export the finished chart as a PDF. One of the biggest advantages of NOAA Custom Chart is flexibility. Instead of being limited to a preprinted chart with a fixed geographic area and scale, you can create a chart covering exactly the waters you want at the scale that works for you. In this example, we create a detailed chart of Avalon Harbor at a 1:2,000 scale, but you could also create a more detailed chart at 1:1,000 or choose a broader area at a smaller scale. Once the chart is created, NOAA generates a PDF that you can print yourself or send to a large-format printer for a full-size paper chart. So, paper nautical charts have not disappeared. What has changed is the old system of buying predefined paper charts. Today, you can build a custom chart from official NOAA electronic navigational chart data and print exactly what you need. If you sail, powerboat, cruise, or want a paper backup for marine navigation, this is a useful tool to know. #sailing #boating #marine #yacht