We are pleased to help promote the new, updated sixth edition of “The Intracoastal Waterway Chartbook,” authored by yours truly’s dear friends (and frequent SSECN contributors), Captains John and Leslie Kettlewell.
I truly don’t think there is a better paper chartbook for the AICW anywhere than this one. John and Leslie, kind of like this fellow, have been at this for 25+ years. So, not only do you get the latest charts, but you get the benefit of all their experience as well.
So, if you are in the market for a paper chart book, run, don’t walk to your nearest bookshop and pick up a copy of the just released sixth edition!

August 27, 2012

New Sixth Edition of ICW Chartbook Released

The new sixth edition of The Intracoastal Waterway Chartbook, published by International Marine/McGraw-Hill, is now available at major book and marine stores. The book was created by chart editors John and Leslie Kettlewell, who have been doing the “Ditch” for more than 25 years.
The new edition includes all the latest NOAA charts, at full scale and in full color, all in the unique “flip-chart” format that has made this book so popular. Just start at page one and proceed down the entire 1090 miles of the ICW, flipping from page to page, all in order. This is still the handiest way to navigate as you proceed down the Waterway, but if you also use an electronic chart plotter this book is a perfect companion to it. Let the electronics keep track of exactly where you are, while you use the chartbook to look ahead and plan for what is coming up. Or use the chartbook to look for a marina, fuel dock, or anchorage for the night. New in this edition, the locations of marinas are identified right on the charts, and then a separate marina listing appendix provides GPS coordinates and the marina phone numbers. The best way to make marina reservations, get pricing, or to get the latest approach information is just to give them a call on your cell
phone. Of course, like in the past, hundreds of great anchorages are marked on the charts, and brief descriptions are in an appendix. The sixth edition features many new anchorages.
All the major alternate routes, like the Dismal Swamp Canal and Umbrella Cut, are included, as well as charts to get you in and out of all the major inlets.
It would cost many hundreds of dollars to purchase all the paper charts needed to match the coverage in the chartbook, and you still wouldn’t have all the unique local information and the handy mile-by-mile, flip-chart format.
John Kettlewell is a long-standing member of Boating Writers International, and he and his wife, Leslie, have been cruising the waters between Labrador and the Caribbean for more than 30 years. They are members of the Taunton and Cuttyhunk Yacht Clubs, and they currently keep their motorsailor in New England.
For more information contact: John J. Kettlewell, jjkettlewell@gmail.com