Understanding Route Details
The route detail page is the heart of BoatRoutes. It brings together your route, environmental conditions, and station data in a single view. Here is what each section tells you. To learn how these routes are built in the first place, see Route Planning.
The Route Header
Section titled “The Route Header”At the top of the page you will see:
- Origin and destination names, linked to their location pages
- Distance in nautical miles
- Estimated travel time based on your boat speed setting
- Route variant tabs — switch between the available route variants for this pair
Direction Toggle
Section titled “Direction Toggle”A route runs both ways. The direction toggle flips the route between forward (origin to destination) and reverse (destination to origin).
Direction matters because of the current. A passage that pushes you along in one direction will push against you on the way back. When you flip the direction, the current overlay and the timing update to match the way you are actually going. Flip it to plan your return leg without leaving the page.
The Map
Section titled “The Map”The interactive map shows your route plotted on nautical chart tiles. You can:
- Pan and zoom to explore the route
- Toggle between chart and satellite base maps
- See the route line with directional indicators
- View nearby tide and current stations as markers
Tide Overlay
Section titled “Tide Overlay”When the tide overlay is active, the route line is color-coded to show predicted tide heights at your departure time. This helps you understand water depths along your path, which is especially important in shallow areas.
- Blue shades indicate the tide height at each point along the route
- The legend shows the mapping between colors and tide heights in feet above MLLW (Mean Lower Low Water)
- Higher tides mean more water under your keel; lower tides mean less clearance
Current Overlay
Section titled “Current Overlay”The current overlay shows tidal current predictions along your route. Arrows indicate the direction and speed of currents you will encounter.
- Green arrows indicate favorable currents (pushing you in your direction of travel)
- Red arrows indicate opposing currents (pushing against you)
- Arrow size corresponds to current speed — larger arrows mean stronger currents
- The impact summary shows the net effect of currents on your travel time
Station Data
Section titled “Station Data”Below the map, you will find data from nearby tide and current stations:
- Tide stations show predicted tide heights over 24 hours, with high and low tides marked
- Current stations show predicted current speeds and directions, with slack water times highlighted
- Each station card includes a sparkline chart for a quick visual overview
- Click on a station name to visit its full detail page
Stops Along the Way
Section titled “Stops Along the Way”Some routes pass close to marinas, anchorages, or marine parks. The Stops Along the Way section lists these spots so you can break a long passage into shorter legs.
Each stop shows its name, its type, and how far it sits along the route. Use it to plan a fuel stop, an overnight anchorage, or a place to wait out weather. Click a stop to open its location page.
Route Comparison
Section titled “Route Comparison”When a pair has more than one variant, the Route Comparison section puts them side by side. You see each variant’s distance, estimated time, and how much the current helps or hinders it.
This makes the trade-offs clear at a glance. One variant may be shorter but fight more current. Another may add a few miles to stay in calmer water. Pick the row that fits the day, then load that variant on the map. To learn what each variant name means, see Route Variants.
The Route Table
Section titled “The Route Table”If you arrived from a location page, the route explorer table shows all available routes with:
- Destination name and distance
- Estimated travel time at your speed
- Current impact rating (how much currents help or hinder the passage)
- Links to each route variant
- Toggle between overlays using the overlay controls above the map. You can view tide and current data independently.
- Change your departure time to see how conditions shift throughout the day. Current directions reverse roughly every six hours.
- The current impact rating gives you a quick way to compare departure times — a “favorable” rating means currents will generally push you in the right direction.
- Use the station sparklines to identify the best departure window for slack water through narrow passages.