No. As part of the Chart Confidence course, you are given a printable nautical chart so you can start practising straight away at no extra cost. To begin, all you need is a simple pencil compass (or a pair of dividers if you already have them). This is enough to start learning and practising the core skills immediately.
To measure direction accurately, you will need either a Portland plotter or a set of parallel rulers. These are not included in the course. We recommend a Portland plotter, as it is simpler to use and well suited to learning.
If you would like a complete setup, you can purchase a full chart and navigation kit separately, which includes a chart, Portland plotter, compass pencil, and dividers.
Optional coastal navigation books
We also offer two coastal navigation manuals for those who like a printed reference. One manual covers step-by-step navigation techniques, closely aligned with the full online navigation course, with slightly more detailed explanations and exercises. The accompanying Q&A manual works through each step with questions, answers, and clear explanations of how the answers are reached. These books are entirely optional and not required to complete the course.