{"id":60818,"date":"2025-08-11T16:45:58","date_gmt":"2025-08-11T20:45:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/?p=60818"},"modified":"2025-08-11T16:46:00","modified_gmt":"2025-08-11T20:46:00","slug":"explorer-chartbooks-mark-30-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/people\/explorer-chartbooks-mark-30-years\/","title":{"rendered":"Explorer Chartbooks Mark 30 Years Guiding Bahamas Cruisers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n        <section class=\"hydra-container\">\n\n\t\t\t                <div class=\"hydra-canvas\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Screenshot-2025-08-11-at-4.25.54-PM-1024x768.jpg\" class=\"hydra-image disable-lazyload\" alt=\"Monty and Sara Lewis\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px\" fetchpriority=\"high\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Screenshot-2025-08-11-at-4.25.54-PM-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Screenshot-2025-08-11-at-4.25.54-PM-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Screenshot-2025-08-11-at-4.25.54-PM-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Screenshot-2025-08-11-at-4.25.54-PM-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Screenshot-2025-08-11-at-4.25.54-PM.jpg 2000w\" \/>                <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n            <figcaption class=\"caption margin_top_xs full border_1 hydra-figcaption\">\n                <span class=\"hydra-image-caption\">Monty and Sara Lewis have cruised the Bahamas since 1984.<\/span>\n                <span class=\"article_image_credit italic margin_right_xs\">Courtesy Sara Lewis<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t            <\/figcaption>\n        <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n<p>Since first setting sail with pencil, paper, and hand-drawn maps, Monty and Sara Lewis have transformed their passion into a cornerstone resource for Bahamas cruisers. This September, the Explorer Chartbooks mark their 30th anniversary with fully updated editions of their three essential guides: <em>Near Bahamas<\/em>, <em>Exumas<\/em>, and <em>Far Bahamas<\/em> \u2014 all packed with the latest hydrographic data, marina info, and cruising tips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe id=\"gkstfcayky\" src=\"https:\/\/cruisingworld.dragonforms.com\/gkstfcayky\" scrolling=\"no\" style=\"width:100%;height:165px;border:none;overflow:hidden;\"><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<p>The story behind the charts reads like a classic cruising adventure. Back in the late 1980s, with GPS still years away, the Lewises began filling in gaps on existing charts by collecting soundings and local knowledge on their own voyages. Starting with 20 placemat charts of the Exumas and a simple guide booklet, their grassroots efforts quickly drew attention from the cruising community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n        <section class=\"hydra-container\">\n\n\t\t\t                <div class=\"hydra-canvas\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Screenshot-2025-08-11-at-4.26.37-PM-1024x768.jpg\" class=\"hydra-image\" alt=\"Explorer Chartbooks\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Screenshot-2025-08-11-at-4.26.37-PM-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Screenshot-2025-08-11-at-4.26.37-PM-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Screenshot-2025-08-11-at-4.26.37-PM-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Screenshot-2025-08-11-at-4.26.37-PM-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Screenshot-2025-08-11-at-4.26.37-PM.jpg 2000w\" \/>                <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n            <figcaption class=\"caption margin_top_xs full border_1 hydra-figcaption\">\n                <span class=\"hydra-image-caption\">For 30 years, Explorer Chartbooks have been the trusted guide for Bahamas cruisers. Updated editions debut this September.<\/span>\n                <span class=\"article_image_credit italic margin_right_xs\">Courtesy Explorer Chartbooks<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t            <\/figcaption>\n        <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n<p>Sara recalls, \u201cMonty and I fell in love with sailing through racing sailboats on the Chesapeake Bay\u2026 Our dream was to spend winters cruising the Bahamas once we retired.\u201d In 1991, they set off aboard their Carter 34 <em>Vivacious<\/em>, chasing the thrill of unexplored anchorages beyond the well-charted Abacos and Exumas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Monty\u2019s determination to push further led them to gather and compile data from Bahamian fishermen and local cruisers. They combined this with official topographical maps from Nassau\u2019s Lands and Surveys office to create detailed, reliable charts covering previously \u201cblank\u201d areas like Long Island and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe made charts for ourselves, decided they were pretty good, and people liked them,\u201d Monty says simply. Over time, the Explorer Chartbooks became the \u201cgold standard\u201d for accurate, user-friendly navigation in the Bahamas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n        <section class=\"hydra-container\">\n\n\t\t\t                <div class=\"hydra-canvas\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Screenshot-2025-08-11-at-4.32.56-PM-1024x768.jpg\" class=\"hydra-image\" alt=\"Explorer Chartbooks map\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Screenshot-2025-08-11-at-4.32.56-PM-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Screenshot-2025-08-11-at-4.32.56-PM-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Screenshot-2025-08-11-at-4.32.56-PM-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Screenshot-2025-08-11-at-4.32.56-PM-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Screenshot-2025-08-11-at-4.32.56-PM.jpg 2000w\" \/>                <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n            <figcaption class=\"caption margin_top_xs full border_1 hydra-figcaption\">\n                <span class=\"hydra-image-caption\">Explorer Chartbooks are regularly updated to ensure sailors have the most accurate and current navigation information for safe Bahamas cruising.<\/span>\n                <span class=\"article_image_credit italic margin_right_xs\">Courtesy Explorer Chartbooks<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t            <\/figcaption>\n        <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n<p>Today\u2019s editions reflect decades of evolving technology and hands-on experience but retain the Lewises\u2019 dedication to simplicity and service. For cruisers dreaming of Bahamas passages or planning their next island-hopping adventure, the Explorer Chartbooks remain an indispensable companion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Celebrate this milestone by checking out the newly revised charts coming this September \u2014 and keep exploring those turquoise waters with confidence.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Three decades strong, the trusted Explorer Chartbook series continues to guide sailors safely through the Bahamas\u2019 intricate waterways.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":60819,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":true,"BS_author_type":"BS_author_is_guest","BS_guest_author_name":"Cruising World Staff","BS_guest_author_url":"","hydra_display_date":"","hydra_display_updated":false,"arc_story_id":"","arc_website_url":"","arc_subtype":"","arc_exclude_from_feeds":false,"sponsored":false,"sponsored_label":"Sponsored Content","sponsored_display_label":false,"post_right_rail":true,"post_right_rail_ad_1":true,"post_right_rail_ad_2":true,"post_right_rail_ad_3":false,"post_right_rail_ad_4":false,"post_right_rail_recirc":true,"fixed_anchor_ad":true,"post_top_ad":true,"post_off_ramp":true,"post_taboola":false,"labels":true,"apple_news_api_created_at":"","apple_news_api_id":"","apple_news_api_modified_at":"","apple_news_api_revision":"","apple_news_api_share_url":"","apple_news_cover_media_provider":"image","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_cover_video_id":0,"apple_news_cover_video_url":"","apple_news_cover_embedwebvideo_url":"","apple_news_is_hidden":"","apple_news_is_paid":"","apple_news_is_preview":"","apple_news_is_sponsored":"","apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":[],"apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"footnotes":"","ad_settings_ads_on_this_page":true,"ad_settings_automatic_ad_injection_into_the_content":true,"ad_targeting":"","alternate_title_newsletter":"","alternate_content_newsletter":"","sponsored_image":false,"sponsored_url":"","social_share":true},"categories":[165],"tags":[281,514,774,197],"class_list":["post-60818","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-people","tag-bahamas","tag-charts","tag-exploring","tag-people"],"acf":[],"apple_news_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60818","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=60818"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60818\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/60819"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=60818"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=60818"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=60818"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}