Bluewater Books & Charts' FAQ

Bluewater's FAQ

Home of America's largest selection of nautical and electronic charts

Bluewater's FAQ

What is Bluewater Books & Charts?
Bluewater is America's largest nautical bookstore and nautical chart agency, and we specialize in serving yacht owners and crew. Bluewater operates from a two locations: Fort Lauderdale, Fl. and Newport, RI. Bluewater is now in its 18th year and has over 30 employees to help you get what you need quickly and painlessly. Whether you shop here on the World Wide Web, through Bluewater's catalog, on the telephone, or in person, here's what you'll find at Bluewater:

Over 35,000 nautical books and charts
The world's largest selection of cruising guides
A $500,000 in stock selection of electronic charts
Flags for all maritime nations
Knowledgeable, friendly experts to assist you
A no-hassle 30-day money back guarantee on most items

BLUEWATER FACT: The average Bluewater sales associate has over 25 years of boating experience!

How fast does Bluewater ship orders ?
For UPS orders: Order by 2 p.m. Eastern Time and Bluewater can normally ship the same day. Most UPS surface orders are usually delivered within 2 - 5 business days, though it sometimes takes longer for orders west of the Mississippi.

For Federal Express orders: Order by 5 p.m. Eastern Time and Bluewater can normally ship the same day. FedEx can deliver overnight, next day or second day in the U.S. and within two to three days for most overseas locations.

If ssame day shipping is important to you, please telephone your order to Bluewater on our toll free line (U.S. only) 1-800-942-2583 or, for international orders, 954-763-6533. Be sure to tell us you need your order quickly!

BLUEWATER FACT: Bluewater ships over 90% of its orders the same day!

What if something is out of stock ?
If something you order from Bluewater is out of stock, we'll normally tell you about it when you place the order, and you can decide whether you'd like the item backordered. If you'd like it backordered, we will ship it within one business day of the day we receive it.

BLUEWATER FACT: With more than 35,000 nautical books and charts, Bluewater is rarely out of a book or chart you need! If it's available from its publisher, you'll probably find it IN STOCK at Bluewater!

What if I don't know what books or charts I need?
That's why Bluewater has experts on staff! Just call, fax or email us with your questions or requirements and we'll get you the answers you need. Or check out this website and you may find exactly what you need.

Many captains and navigators find it useful to get catalogs from Bluewater, then hand pick the charts they need from the catalogs. Most chart catalogs are free, and Bluewater ships them free with any order. Just tell us the area you're interested in and we'll send you the right catalog(s). There is a charge for shipping catalogs to non.S. mailing addresses.

BLUEWATER FACT: Most chart catalogs are free, but there is a charge for the British Admiralty chart catalog.

How does Bluewater differ from other companies?
In many ways:

Nautical books and charts and electronic charts ARE our business-they are not a sideline.
Bluewater is America's largest nautical bookstore and chart agency.
Bluewater stocks more nautical books and charts than anyone else.
Bluewater focuses on yachts-and those who own and sail them.
Bluewater has on-staff experts who've probably sailed where you're bound.
Bluewater's customers are going places aboard their yachts!
Bluewater has over $500,000.00 worth of electronic charts in stock.
Bluewater ships same day over 90% of the time.
Bluewater has a 30-day money-back guarantee on books, paper charts and flags.

BLUEWATER FACT: We live by the Bluewater principle, which asks:

Is it good for our customer?
Is it good for Bluewater?

What kind of electronic charts does Bluewater sell?
Just about any kind you need.

If you have a computer-based electronic navigation system such as Visual Navigation Suite, NavTrek, Maptech, The Cap'n or Laserplot, Bluewater stocks all the raster charts on CD that you need. We have the full inventory from BSB/NOAA, Maptech, Laserplot and the new Canadian Hydrographic Services charts by NDI. We can also make custom CDs with prices starting at $60.00.

If you have a dedicated plotter such as the Northstar 951XD, Trimble NT or Garmin 210 or 220, Bluewater has the vector charts you need. With proprietary software from Navionics, Bluewater can quickly "make" any chart in the Navionics inventory while you wait. We also stock a large inventory of C-Map cartridges (both the original CF-85 format and the NT CF-95 format) as well as a good selection of cartridges for Garmin plotters.

Don't know what you need? Call one of our electronic charting specialists for help or go directly to our electronic charts page.

BLUEWATER FACT: Electronic charting puts your boat on the chart so you always see where you are. Entering waypoints is as simple as point-and-click! See why everyone's switching to electronic charting.

What if I order something and don't like it ?
At Bluewater, we're not happy unless you're happy. We want your business on a continuing basis, and we figure we can earn it only if we keep you happy.

Bluewater offers a no-hassle 30-day money-back guarantee on all nautical books, flags, and paper charts. If you're not happy with something you receive from Bluewater, just call our toll free number and ask for a return goods authorization (RGA). Then return the item(s) to Bluewater in the original packaging, and we'll issue a credit or a refund within one business day of the date we receive it.

BLUEWATER FACT: Bluewater's return rate is very low because we ship only what we believe you want and need. If we recommend something, you can be pretty darned sure it'll serve your needs. But you're free to return it if you're not happy with it.

Who owns Bluewater Books & Charts?
Bluewater was started as a family business in 1986 by Milt and Judy Baker, and it was acquired in February 2000 by Far Horizons LLC, a new Florida company owned by John J. Mann III and Vivien P. Godfrey.

John is a native of Gloucester, MA. After growing up by the ocean, he has been landlocked with major U.S. corporations (General Foods, Pillsbury, Jostens) for 30 years in various sales, marketing and general management positions. John is a sailor.

Vivien grew up in London, England, and lived in five countries before moving to the U.S. in 1992. She trained as a geographer at Oxford University, but her career to date has been in consulting with McKinsey & Company and in the food industry with Diageo PLC. Her father and grandfather were both in the map and travel book business in the UK.

John and Vivien were married in 1997.