BoatWaypoint deliberately exposes the metadata needed to understand a number rather than collapsing everything into a black-box “safe / unsafe” score.
BoatWaypoint requests the NOAA CO-OPS Data API air_gap product for a station. We display NOAA’s value in feet and observation time. NOAA describes these systems as bridge-clearance information at a designated reference point; observations can be preliminary.
The Tide Window tool requests high/low predictions, uses the MLLW datum and asks NOAA for the station’s local standard/daylight time output. We do not silently convert those predictions into bridge clearance.
NOAA Tides & Currents ↗The Station Finder uses NOAA’s metadata service to discover stations advertised for air-gap or tide-prediction products. Search results are filtered in BoatWaypoint but station facts remain source-led.
NOAA Metadata API ↗The ENC Bridge Finder queries NOAA’s current Harbor, Approach and Coastal GIS services for charted bridge features around a waypoint. We expose chart attributes such as VERCLR and HORCLR when present and preserve NOAA’s warning that the GIS conversion is not certified for navigation.
NOAA Nautical Charts ↗Planning margin = latest measured air gap − entered boat air draft − entered buffer.
BoatWaypoint does not add hidden safety factors. A positive result means only that the arithmetic is positive for the specific NOAA observation and inputs shown.
If NOAA is unavailable, returns an error, or has no value for a station, the tool returns an unavailable state. We do not fill missing live data with estimates.
If a station label or explanatory statement needs correction, send the page URL and a reliable source to contact@boatewaypoint.com.