A lot of opinions swell around electronics when it comes to navigation. A USCG captain course instructor recently commented that charting and plotting on paper charts is not used as much, especially among younger sailors. How many use paper charts for navigation?
Charting and Plotting
- Thread starter Raven34
- Start date
Paper charts are like maps. They are required on larger vessels but not so much on a private vessel. I doubt if you get boarded the CG will give you a citation for not having charts. Also, NOAA is updating charts that can be downloaded but are not printing them anymore. I believe that paper charts are only available from third party suppliers. If one has a plotter one can print their own charts. I think the minimum width is 36". However, I cannot seem to find the required DPI for acceptable charts.
To answer your question, I have a book of charts on my boat for my area but it is about 10 years old.
To answer your question, I have a book of charts on my boat for my area but it is about 10 years old.
I use them for planning purposes, for both navigating and diving... and keep them handy for backup and being able to see a bigger picture than what shows on the gps/bluechart screen, which is what im normally looking at while underway...
And even though they arent required on non-commercial/private boats, in certain locations, such as where there are rocks, reefs or other submerged hazards, it is foolish and dangerous to go out very far without having one of the area you're boating in, and consulting with it...
in other locations where there are no submerged dangers, a basic compass will get you back to shore.
But its good knowing how to plot on paper, and what the lat/long numbers mean and how to use them on a paper chart.
It can even be interesting once you learn what it all means and how it works together....
And even though they arent required on non-commercial/private boats, in certain locations, such as where there are rocks, reefs or other submerged hazards, it is foolish and dangerous to go out very far without having one of the area you're boating in, and consulting with it...
in other locations where there are no submerged dangers, a basic compass will get you back to shore.
But its good knowing how to plot on paper, and what the lat/long numbers mean and how to use them on a paper chart.
It can even be interesting once you learn what it all means and how it works together....
I like paper charts... Oops, I've dated myself again. Drat. I've been using them since I was about 12 years old and they just make sense to me. I can write on them - OK, I guess you can do that on electronic charts but I don't know how. There are no menus to deal with, or zoom levels, or panning problems. Maybe I just like a physical affirmation of information. I can cite instances where reliance on electronic media has cost mariner's significant sums of money for repair. And vice versa. I still like that chart on the saloon table while underway.
As others have mentioned, I use paper for planning and general overview of areas. I use electronic while sailing but if in unfamiliar waters, I will plot my position on paper every 30 minutes as backup.
After navigating with a sextant, hand bearing compass, RDF and paper charts for about 20 years (long before cruising guides were available, too), I take full advantage of the freedom and ease that electronic navigation offers me. There are a few general charts around somewhere on the boat (Int 400 being my favorite as it covers the whole Bermuda Triangle), in the unlikely event I may need them, but I really doubt it will ever come to that unless I'm teaching someone plotting.
On passages we record our position every 4 hours (in good weather) in the log, so we've a pretty good idea where we are should we need to know at any time. Putting all kinds of marks on a chart seems a bit redundant these days.
On passages we record our position every 4 hours (in good weather) in the log, so we've a pretty good idea where we are should we need to know at any time. Putting all kinds of marks on a chart seems a bit redundant these days.
I always have my paper chart book open on the nav table. I like the large format so I can see relative position to so much more all at once. I also have plotted course lines over the years, so whenever I am going somewhere (pretty much been everywhere around here) the bearings and distances are already filled out. I do transfer that information into my GPS/plotter that is at the helm and either follow the magenta line or a previous bread crumb trail. The paper chart is much easier to plot a buddy's position allowing range and bearing to him/her, and subsequent intercept. I don't know how to do that on the GPS and still monitor course and data. My GPS is set for a close up view. Its a nuisance to keep having to zoom in and out mainly because the display is small. I still love my paper charts and just need to remember that True is Less when West.
These days I basically use the spiral-bound chartbook for my area. If going somewhere not in that book, say when chartering, I try to get the full-sized paper chart for planning, and then take it w/me when I go, etc. I also use 'em at home when explaining our course and destination to crew. The chart of the area I'm traversing is always open on the nav desk with dividers and parallel rules at hand. If anchored at the island the inset or full chart for that site is open on the desk. As for plotting, I do plot the course I'm making but not always. It depends. On familiar runs I pretty much know where I am, but if there is a question I just go below and plot the GPS position on the chart. (I have two GPS stations on the boat; one at the helm and one at the nav desk.) If close to shore I sometimes take running fixes for practice. I just would not leave home w/o one.
We have chart books for our cruising grounds. They are always open in the cockpit when we are moving. I keep an eye on it. I don't really plot anything on them. They do have some notes and pencil lines to indicate the best approach into an anchorage or through a cut. We keep 4 GPS units on board. We zoom out on the 12" MFD chart until we get near a hazard then zoom in. The paper (plastic these days) chart is used to decide when we need to zoom in. We are always comparing the 3 electronic charts with what we see in the book.
Bob
View media item 23055View media item 24062
Bob
View media item 23055View media item 24062
I AGREE WITH THE GUYS THAT ALSO USE PAPER CHARTS.
Remember the rule from your USCG captain's course that, "The prudent navigator will not rely on only one form of navigation."
I do however find that using a spiraled chart book like Maptech a bit cumbersome at times. You may have to remove it from the protective cover & flip to the chart you need & sometimes in a windy cockpit.
I cut out all the charts for the coasts of Florida both coastal & some offshore charts. I took them to a printer & had them sealed in a thicker plastic. I keep only the ones necessary for most of my sailing. If planning a trip, I add the extra charts I need. I keep the other charts & book at home.
The plastic covered charts stow very nicely under my cushion near the nav station & make for a quicker reference. You can also use an erasable marker if hand charting on the plastic cover instead of marking up your paper charts.
CR
Remember the rule from your USCG captain's course that, "The prudent navigator will not rely on only one form of navigation."
I do however find that using a spiraled chart book like Maptech a bit cumbersome at times. You may have to remove it from the protective cover & flip to the chart you need & sometimes in a windy cockpit.
I cut out all the charts for the coasts of Florida both coastal & some offshore charts. I took them to a printer & had them sealed in a thicker plastic. I keep only the ones necessary for most of my sailing. If planning a trip, I add the extra charts I need. I keep the other charts & book at home.
The plastic covered charts stow very nicely under my cushion near the nav station & make for a quicker reference. You can also use an erasable marker if hand charting on the plastic cover instead of marking up your paper charts.
CR
I have paper charts on board, but only use electronic now. I was an Air Force pilot when all we had was paper. It was cumbersome, needing constant updating and now with chartplotters IPads, IPhones, etc. I am very redundant, but have the latest information at hand. Of course, I know lightning can strike and wipe out my electronics, but I will take that chance and then fall back to paper if it happens. I still have a mag compass and know how to use it.
I have paper for all the traveling I've done for the Gulf Of Mexico, Bahamas and all of the Caribbean (just finished my circumnavigation of the Caribbean sea). I haven't touched my paper charts. I like my tablet or my phone. I have two tablets and two phones with the whole world on them all for about a 10th of the price of paper.
People say "but GPS may go out" -- so what, I still have the charts on the devices. People say "things break" -- that is why I have backups. Do you have two sets of paper? Paper gets destroyed a lot easier than a tablet. People say "what if you get struck by lighting" -- When in danger of that, I put one phone in my pocket, one tablet and one phone in the micro-wave, and the other tablet in the oven. All should survive a strike based on facts I got from sailors who have been struck....lots of them down here
I'm leaving Panama City on Feb 20th to cross the South Pacific. Not going to waste my time, money or storage space for paper charts. As a matter of fact, in some countries, no charts are worth much except the paper charts you get from the local Navy if they will give them to you...but you are already there by then
People say "but GPS may go out" -- so what, I still have the charts on the devices. People say "things break" -- that is why I have backups. Do you have two sets of paper? Paper gets destroyed a lot easier than a tablet. People say "what if you get struck by lighting" -- When in danger of that, I put one phone in my pocket, one tablet and one phone in the micro-wave, and the other tablet in the oven. All should survive a strike based on facts I got from sailors who have been struck....lots of them down here
I'm leaving Panama City on Feb 20th to cross the South Pacific. Not going to waste my time, money or storage space for paper charts. As a matter of fact, in some countries, no charts are worth much except the paper charts you get from the local Navy if they will give them to you...but you are already there by then
I only use electronics but have a GPS, back-up handheld GPS, tablet and cell phone that all have mapping software and GPS capability. I usually run the GPS and tablet at the same time. But basically I have 4 options but no paper charts.
I exclusively used my iPhone with the garmin BlueChart app. It has the active captain data overlayed on the map. So if you want to go to marina "X", you click on it's icon and the app will tell you the phone number, price of dockage, price of gas/diesel, if diesel is available, reviews on the marina, reviews on the restaurant, and it's a very user friendly interface. It will also tell you tides closest to you, wind direction and speed or overlay weather if you so choose. Name one paper chart that can do all that and by all means I will switch. That and when you are navigating a treacherous waterway there is no guessing where you are "instant" feedback. I understand it's about 7 seconds behind but going two or three knots I can't change my posturing much in seven seconds anyway. It works off of GPS so it will work out of cell phone range because it downloads the maps and info and just uses the phones GPS function. WE LITERALLY TURNED DATA OFF when we went to the Bahamas and it was right there guiding us into Bimini.
-Chris on sailing vessel Moondance
-Chris on sailing vessel Moondance
Last edited:
I keep paper charts aboard for areas I cruise plus a backup handheld gps. But, I do not use these routinely. Expecting someone to navigate using paper in this age of realtime updatable 3d echarts would be like expecting a mathematician to use an abacus instead of a computer! Come on!
Everyone likes their electronic toys but, what happens when all these devices go belly up?
Electronic instruments & gadgets fail all the time & if so & not having paper charts & plotter tools
and/or a sextant now what do you do? Scientists believe we are in store for the next big solar blast then what?
Sadly, we've become so dependent on our personal devices we don't think about "what's my backup, just in case."
I do know that all the digital gadgets available today have made many complacent & this is not a good thing guys.
Agree or disagree with me but, I have my backups & they won't crash.
CR
Electronic instruments & gadgets fail all the time & if so & not having paper charts & plotter tools
and/or a sextant now what do you do? Scientists believe we are in store for the next big solar blast then what?
Sadly, we've become so dependent on our personal devices we don't think about "what's my backup, just in case."
I do know that all the digital gadgets available today have made many complacent & this is not a good thing guys.
Agree or disagree with me but, I have my backups & they won't crash.
CR
True- that's true, but you have to remember that for most people it's always a choice--do I buy this, or that, for the boat? A $100 chart book and a good pair of binoculars that effectively never wear out, or ....... n generations of the latest gadetry plus plan contracts & upgrades just to find one's way 17 - 24 n. mi. across the channel to an island you can usually see from the starting side!! I guess to me it's mostly a matter of the [ongoing] degree of the investment in electronics. So many fine boats out there never properly cared for--money spent elsewhere? I remember being astonished in FL when a friend of mine invested so many hundreds of dollars in a chart plotter and GPS to basically navigate between St. Petersburg and the Sunshine Skyway Bridge or to the entrance to the ICW at the "bulkhead"-- a grand total of 15 n.mi. one way at the most distant. I think some of these "sailors" rely on this stuff to even stay in the ICW--no binoculars, I suppose, powerful enough to "read" the daymarks and no paper chart aboard.
Last edited:
In bad enough weather one loses GPS signal. So it won't matter how many redundant electronic devices one has they could all fail by a simple cause.