2010 Chart Users Survey

2010 CHART USERS SURVEY
The National Ocean Service (NOAA) is responsible for producing and distributing the nautical charting products covering the coastal waterways of the United
States. The information from this survey will be used to better identify the users of NOAA nautical products, to determine the most efficient and economical
way to fulfill the mission of NOAA.
THIS QUESTIONNAIRE IS EASY TO COMPLETE AND WILL ONLY TAKE 10 MINUTES OF YOUR TIME.

This version confirms the changes - they are all shown in Red – this will form the briefing document for the
SurveyShop team to revise the online version of the questionnaire
Q.1. Which products and services of NOAA are you aware of? CHECK ALL THAT APPLY
Traditional full size Paper Charts
Electronic Navigational Charts (ENC)
Raster Navigational Charts
Print on Demand Paper Charts
Chart No. 1
Co-operative Charting
PocketCharts
BookletChart ™ (on Website)
Historical Charts
Coast Pilot
ENC Direct to GIS
nowCOAST
Tides and Currents
Physical Oceanographic Real Time System (PORTS)
On-line Chart catalog
On-line notice to mariners chart update
On-line Chart Viewer
None of these
Q.2. And which of these activities and services of NOAA have you bought and/or used in the last 12 months?
CHECK ALL THAT APPLY
Traditional full size Paper Charts
Electronic Navigational Charts (ENC)
Raster Navigational Charts
Print on Demand Paper Charts
Chart No. 1
Co-operative Charting
PocketCharts
BookletChart ™ (on Website)
Historical Charts
Coast Pilot
ENC Direct to GIS
nowCOAST
Tides and Currents
Physical Oceanographic Real Time System (PORTS)
On-line Chart catalog
On-line notice to mariners chart update
On-line Chart Viewer
None of these
Q.3 How satisfied are you with the services provided by NOAA? CHECK ONE ONLY

Very satisfied
Satisfied
Neither satisfied nor unsatisfied
Unsatisfied
Very unsatisfied

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Q.4. How likely is it that you would recommend a NOAA chart to another mariner to use? CHECK ONE ONLY
Very likely
Likely
Neither likely nor unlikely
Unlikely
Very unlikely
Q.5. Have you had any of the following contact with NOAA in the last 12 months? CHECK ALL THAT APPLY
Bought a product from a NOAA sales agent in the US
Bought a product from a NOAA sales agent outside the US
Called/emailed NOAA customer services for information
Called NOAA distribution service for information
Placed an order from an online catalog
Called NOAA Business Offices for information
Downloaded an ENC
Visited the NOAA Website
Submitted an inquiry or comment via the NOAA website
None of these
Q.6 How did you find out about NOAA products and services? CHECK ALL THAT APPLY
Recommendation from another mariner
Via a NOAA mailing
Via the NOAA Website
Via a chart agent
From NOAA advertising
From a Trade Show
From Professional Training
From another organization’s website
From a Blog
From a magazine article or advertisement
Coast Guard Auxiliary charting class
Power Squadron charting class
Q.7. Please look at each of the NOAA services listed below and rate each for how satisfied you have been with the services
provided? CHECK ONE FOR EACH
Grid:

Very Satisfied, Satisfied, Neither satisfied nor unsatisfied, Unsatisfied, Very unsatisfied, No opinion

Quality of products
Quality of services
Timeliness of response to requests
Cost of the products
Helpfulness of NOAA staff who dealt with you prior and/or after sale
Knowledge of the staff in dealing with your needs
Clarity and accuracy of responses from NOAA staff to your questions
Ease in reaching correct NOAA office to deal with your request
The format of the NOAA data received
The description of NOAA products and data in Catalogs and the Website
Overall satisfaction with the products and services provided compared with your needs and expectations
Overall satisfaction compared with products and services obtained from a Commercial publisher
Overall satisfaction compared with products and services from other US Federal Government Agencies
Overall satisfaction compared with products and services from foreign chart publishers

Q.8. In previous surveys, NOAA users have made suggestions as to how NOAA can improve its products and
services in the future. Looking at the statements below please indicate for each whether you agree or disagree.
CHECK ONE FOR EACH SERVICE USING THE GRID BELOW
Grid: Strongly Agree, Agree, Neither Agree nor Disagree, Disagree, Strongly Disagree, No Opinion

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NOAA’s products and services have improved over the last 3 years
NOAA should carry out more surveys in Ports and Harbors
NOAA should carry out more surveys in near coast waters
NOAA should carry out more surveys along US coastlines
NOAA should carry out more surveys of sailing routes along US coastlines
NOAA Should produce all charts in metric
I tend to buy Charts published by Commercial Publishers for additional use for navigation
I tend to feel secure using NOAA products and services
I tend to feel secure using charts published by Commercial Publishers
There should be an increase in chart editions
There should be an increase in ENC coverage
There should be more specialty or customized products.
Q.9 Which of the following are closest to your experience regarding Electronic Navigational Charts (ENCs)
and Raster Navigational Charts?
CHECK ALL THAT APPLY
Grid: ENCs

Raster Charts

They are better than paper charts
The additional functionality makes them more difficult to use
The additional functionality makes them more useful
I would pay for the Electronic Navigational Charts/Raster Navigational Charts and updates
I prefer to get the Electronic Navigational Charts for free online without service included
I need to learn more about how to use Electronic Navigational Charts/Raster Navigational Charts
Electronic Navigational Charts/Raster Navigational Charts have more information if you click on features.
Q.10 Do you supplement NOAA charts (paper or electronic) with commercially published charts?
Yes always
Yes sometimes
No not at all
Q.12

IF YOU CHECKED ‘YES ALWAYS OR SOMETIMES’ AT Q.10 GO TO Q.11. IF YOU CHECKED ‘NO’ AT Q.10 GO TO
Q.11 What are your reasons for purchasing non-NOAA published charts – that is charts published by other Governments
or Commercial publishers? CHECK ALL THAT APPLY
The content/information on or with the chart
The price of the chart
The chart coverage area (no NOAA chart available)
The chart publisher
The suite of charts available from the publisher
The size of the chart
The way the material is presented on the chart
I prefer the chart I was trained on at maritime school, chart class and/or sailing school
The most up to date chart
A book of charts is more value for money
The chart is more readily available
Q.12 Which of the following NOAA charts do you prefer? CHECK ONE ONLY
NOAA traditional full size paper charts
NOAA raster navigational charts
NOAA print on demand paper charts
NOAA electronic navigational charts (ENC)
NOAA PocketCharts
NOAA BookletCharts™
NOAA on-line Chart Viewer
Q.13 Have you ever looked at and downloaded a nautical chart from the NOAA Website?
Yes looked at and not downloaded
Yes looked at and downloaded
No
Cannot remember

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Q.14 Below are some statements about NOAA and it’s services and support for recreational mariners. Please answer each
one by indicating whether you agree or disagree by checking the appropriate boxes.
Grid: Strongly Agree, Agree, Neither Agree nor Disagree, Disagree, Strongly Disagree, No Opinion
NOAA’s products and service tend to help commercial mariners more than recreational mariners
Over the last five years NOAA has not provided as much support for recreational mariners as it does for commercial
mariners
NOAA supports recreational mariners with its products and services as much as it does commercial mariners
NOAA could provide more charts designed for the recreational mariner
If NOAA provided more charts and other products for recreational mariners I would buy less charts from private
publishers and cruising guides.
In the past three years I have used more NOAA charts as they have become more available via the NOAA website
Q.15 Would you say that you are sailing more, the same or less in US waters than you were….
1 year ago, 3 years ago and 5 years ago? CHECK ONE FOR EACH YEAR
Grid: More, Less, Same
One year ago
Three years ago
Five years ago
Q.16 Would you say that you are sailing more, the same or less in International waters than you were….
1 year ago, 3 years ago and 5 years ago? CHECK ONE FOR EACH YEAR
Grid: More, Less, Same
One year ago
Three years ago
Five years ago
I don’t sail in International waters
Q.17 Which of these would you prefer for nautical publication (Coast Pilot) information?
As a digital stand alone application
As a paper book format
On line or print on demand
None of the above
I do not use nautical publication information
Q.18

Below there are some statements which chart users have made about their use of charts. Please answer each
one by indicating whether you agree or disagree by checking the appropriate boxes.
Grid: Strongly Agree, Agree, Neither Agree nor Disagree, Disagree, Strongly Disagree, No Opinion
The current economic climate means that I am making less trips than last year
The current economic climate means that I will sail less in future, but still buy as many charts as last year
The current economic climate means that I will sail less and also buy fewer charts than last year
I find it difficult to buy paper NOAA charts in the waters I sail in
I find it difficult to buy paper NOAA charts when I am sailing in non-US waters
In the last 12 months I have not changed the routes/or places I sail to, so it has been sufficient for me to update the
Charts I bought last year/two years ago
I would buy paper charts direct from NOAA if I got a better discount as other publishers’ charts are cheaper
I tend to rely on an electronic chart and paper chart updates, rather than buying new paper charts
I tend to update my paper charts until they are difficult to read and then I buy a new paper chart
As a result of the current economic climate I am more likely to download a free chart from the NOAA or another
website
I am buying fewer paper charts than in the past as I now download free charts on-line.

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Q.19

A significant number of recreational boaters do not use nautical charts or Coast Pilots.
Thinking about your recreational boating and that of people you know, what do you think are the main
reasons for this?
PLEASE WRITE IN THE REASONS

Q.20

Mariners in other surveys provided the following reasons why recreational boaters might not use charts,
Please answer each one by indicating whether you agree or disagree by checking the appropriate boxes.
Grid: Strongly Agree, Agree, Neither Agree nor Disagree, Disagree, Strongly Disagree, No Opinion
Chart content is not helpful
Information is outdated
The scale of chart is not well suited for a recreational boater’s use
Size is inconvenient
The chart has the wrong physical properties (layout, waterproof, small printing…)
Cost of the chart
The appropriate chart is not available
I do not know where to get charts
I am not convinced of any benefit from using charts
I do not need a chart as I stay in a small well known area
Just never started using them.

Q.21
safe?

In the areas that you boat, do you have a reliable Internet service? ‘Reliable’ means that if NOAA provided
navigation services in real-time over the Internet, that your reception of those services would be useful and
Yes it is reliable
No it is not reliable
Do not know

Q.22
usef

In the areas that you boat, do you have a reliable cell phone service? ‘Reliable’ means that if NOAA
provided navigation services in real-time by cell phone, that your reception of those services would be
ul and safe?
Yes it is reliable
No it is not reliable
Do not know

Q.23a

Have you ever had or observed a boating accident and/or incident when sailing in a recreational vessel?
I have had a boating accident and/or incident
I have observed a boating accident and/or incident,
I have not had a boating accident and/or incident
IF NOT HAD A BOATING ACCIDENT AND/OR INDCIDENT GO TO Q.24. ALL OTHERS
ANSWER Q.23B

Q.23b

Which of the following is closest to the situation that related to this accident and/or incident?
Check all that apply
The boating accident could have been prevented or made less severe if a nautical chart had been used
The boating accident could not have been prevented or made less severe if a nautical chart had been used
I do not know if the boating accident could have been prevented or made less severe if a nautical chart had
used
The accident and/or incident was entirely human error and had nothing to do with having a
nautical chart or not
The boating accident could have been prevented if the information on the nautical chart was more accurate

been

Q.24

Below are some statements about the NOAA website, www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov. Please answer each one
by indicating whether you agree or disagree by checking the appropriate boxes.
Grid: Strongly Agree, Agree, Neither Agree nor Disagree, Disagree, Strongly Disagree, No Opinion
The information on the website gives me everything I need to know about charts
The website is easy to navigate
The Chart Downloader is easy to use
The website has useful information for recreational mariners
I don’t use the web

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Q.25
last

Which of the following Marine magazines, Journals and TV shows have you read, looked at or seen in the
12 months?
Boating
Professional Mariner
Cruising World
Yachting
Ocean Navigator
Motorboating
Powerboat
Sail
Power and Motor Yacht
Ocean Voyager
Safety at Sea International
Sailing World
Fairplay
Boat US
Boating Life
Ship Shape TV

Q.26. How long have you been a professional, commercial or recreational mariner?
CHECK ONE AS APPROPRIATE YEARS
Grid: Professional, Commercial, Recreational
Less than 2 years
2 to 5 years
6 to 10 years
11 to 15 years
16 to 20 years
21 to 25 years
Over 25 years
Q.27

What is your primary use of NOAA products or services? CHECK ONE ONLY
Commercial Navigation
Recreational Navigation
Scientific Research
Educational studies
Reference/Library use
Legal use
General information
Coastal zone or other management uses
Q.28 Which type of vessel do you operate, work on or sail? CHECK ONE ONLY
Powerboat (Recreational)
Sail Boat (Recreational)
Fishing Boat
Small recreational vessel e.g. Kayak
Not applicable to my use of charts
Q.29 What type of Recreational Boat do you own?
Sail
Cruiser
Fishing
Runabout
Personal water craft
Houseboat
Small recreational vessel e.g. Kayak
Do not own
Q.30 What is your prime use for a Recreational Boat?
Sailing
Cruising
Regatta
Fishing

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Skiing
Scuba
Entertaining
Kayaking/Canoeing
Personal use and charter
Other (Write in)
Q.31 When did you purchase your Recreational Boat?
Within the last year
Within the last five years
Within the last 10 years
More than 10 years ago
Do not own a recreational boat
Q.32 Please indicate if you belong to any of the following organizations:
United States Power Squadron
United States Coast Guard Auxiliary
US Sailing
B.A.S.S
Local Yacht club/Fishing Club
Other Boating Fishing organization
BoatUS
Q.33 Where do you primarily Boat?
Atlantic Ocean Bays and Tributaries
Pacific Ocean Bays and Tributaries
Florida
Gulf of Mexico
Chesapeake Bay and Tributaries
Puget Sound
Great Lakes
Inland Freshwater Rivers and Lakes
Canada
The Bahamas
Mexico
Pacific Ocean
Alaska
Other international waters
Other (Write in)
Q.34

Please indicate in which age group you fall:
Under 25
25-29
30-39
40-49
50-59
60 – 69
70 or above 

Q.35

Are you interested in taking part in future research completed by NOAA?
Yes
No

Q.36

Are you interested in receiving a Summary of the Research?
Yes
No

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PLEASE PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION TO ASSIST US WITH CLASSIFYING THE
SURVEY INTO A STATISTICAL ANALYSIS
(This section is optional so you can complete the survey without giving NOAA this
information)
Your name:………………………………………………………………………………………………
Your Job Title:…………………………………………………………………………………………..
Your Organisation:……………………………………………………………………………………..
Your Address:…………………………………………………………………………………………...
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
Tel: ( )
Fax:( ) E-Mail:……………………….

THANK YOU FOR GIVING US THIS INFORMATION IN THE SURVEY

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