This is a collection of links that may be useful to boaters in SouthWest Florida. Please be sure to read the disclaimer statement regarding external and commercial web sites. Please be aware that these web sites are not USPS sites, and that you are leaving the USPS domain when you click on these links.

Boating Safely Links

Nautical Chart Updates from The National Ocean Service (NOS)
The "Nautical Chart Updates" web site allows mariners to update their nautical charts from one database that includes information from NOS, the NIMA Notice to Mariners, the Coast Guard Local Notice to Mariners and the Canadian Coast Guard Notice to Mariners. This site also contains U.S. Chart No.1, Nautical Chart Symbols and Abbreviations. Some of the files are rather large, so be patient when clicking on the contents of the web page.

Federal Manatee Protection Area Maps Index
This is an index for Maps showing Federal Manatee Protection Areas in Florida. These maps are available in HTML or PDF format by area.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Boating Home Page
This is the home page for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The page contains links to various areas of interest to Florida boaters including a link to a list of public boat ramps in Florida.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Boating Regulations
This site contains a summary of Florida's Boating laws. According to the site it is accurate as of January 2010 and is subject to change in May of each year.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Boating Safety Education Page
This is the Safety Eduations page for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The page contains links to safety and education links. Some of the links include requirements for a Boater ID required for all boaters born after 1 January, 1988 and a list of NASBLA approved classes available throughout Florida.

US Coast Guard Navigation Center
This site contains links to Navigation updates, electronic aids to navigation notices such as GPS and LORAN, Notices to Mariners, maritime communications, and light lists.

Boating Safety "Sidekicks"
This site explores and explains the world of safe boating to kids. Contains safety tips, boating facts, fishing information, games, and coloring books available for downloading.

Coast Guard Office of Boating Safety
Contains safety tips, news, recalls, defects, and laws and regulations.

Canadian Sail and Power Squadrons
The Canadian equivalent of the United States Power Squadron. This site has the option of viewing it in either English or French.

Sea Scouts, BSA
The Sea Scouts, BSA is an organization, open to males and females between the ages of 14 and 21, that promotes member's boating skills and knowledge through instruction and experience. The USPS has partnered with the Sea Scouts giving Sea Scouts the opportunity to take USPS boating and navigation courses and join USPS as apprentice members.

FEMA Storm Watch
FEMA Region IV News and Resources. This site provides information on disasters in Florida.

Lee County Emergency Management
Disaster and Emergency information specific to Lee County, Florida. This site covers all types of disasters and emergencies.

Weather Related Links

Fort Myers News-Press Weather (includes tides)
Current conditions, 6 day forecast, and weather radar for the Fort Myers area. This page also has national weather maps and highs and lows for various cities worldwide.

NBC-2
Select the weather tab and then the item to display. These include the a Boater's Forecast, daily planner, tides, 5-day planner, Doppler radar, and satellite maps.

Fox-4 Weather
Local weather forecast. You will need to click on the weather entry on the menu at the top.

WINK-TV Weather
WINK TV weather page with 5 day forecast. Includes links to Lee County Climate, Collier County Climate, Boater's Forecast, Doppler Radar, various Florida maps, and other weather links.

ABC-7 Weather
Select the weather tab and then the item to display. These include the a Boater's Forecast, daily planner, tides, 5-day planner, Doppler radar, and satellite maps.

The Weather Channel
Various weather maps and weather forecasts. You can enter a city or zip code, choose an activity, and view current conditions and your activity related forecast.

Piloting and Celestial Navigation Tools

GPS Nuts
A private site on GPS. The site provides practical guides, tips, tricks, and equipment and software reviews submitted by other GPS users.

Water Level Station Monitoring
Tides Online site by NOS NOAA showing predicted tides and actually observed levels. Selectable by region then station.

Salt Water Tides
View tide tables for a range of days at a selected location

Sea Clear GPS Navigation Software
SeaClear is a freeware navigation program for Windows 95 and up you can download. (The author recommends running under Windows 2000, XP, Vista, or 7.) The program enables a computer which is connected to a GPS (or other unit capable of transmitting NMEA position data) to display the vessel on a chart, with the current position, speed and direction. New charts are loaded as needed. The track may be saved to a file for later reviewing, and log book entries may be manually and automatically entered. An unlimited number of routes and waypoints may be created and used to assist in the navigation.

Tide App for Android or iPhone
This site has a program you can download and run on your Android or iPhone. The program will give you a chart or table of the tide or current for any date and location you choose.

Stellarium
This site provides downloads for various PC platforms: UNIX, MAC, or Windows for software that will provide you with view of a realistic night sky. The program provides details on names, magnatude, and position of various bodies in the sky.

WXTide32
WXTide32 is a free Windows tide and current prediction program that can be downloaded from this site.

SW Florida Boating

Southwest Florida Marine Industries Association
This site has local boating information including boat shows, special events, current news, and marinas.

Other Commercial Links

BoatUS
This site has boating safety information, classified ads for boats and boating equipment, tides and weather information, and membership to their towing services.

SeaTow
Sea Tow is a membership towing company. The site provides a template site to file a USPS float plan.

International Burgee Registration
View yacht club and squadron burgees from around the world.