If you are like me and own a smaller or medium sized boat (catalina 27 for me), you went out and bought one of those stupid tubes to hold your charts. And if like me you have more than 4 charts in it, you have discovered the tube is the pits to get the charts out; and the tube can wreck the end of your charts. I spotted this at a store that primarily sells charts, boating books, and clothing odds and sods at Granville Market in Vancouver. The product is out of Bellingham, Washington - a hop skip and jump down the road from Vancouver. The product is not designed for boaters but construction guys as you will see in the spiffy home page, boats are not even mentioned. What it is, is a roll up do-hicky that comes with 3 plastic envelopes to hold items that are 2 foot by 3 foot. The sleeves are held in by velcro and you can add up to 3 more. What I like is you can unroll the product and look at your chart in the sleeve. Or, you can take the sleeve out and take it into the open cockpit when it is raining, and the chart will remain dry. Without the three extra sleeves, it was around $70 Canadain (I'm sure cheaper in the states). This product was designed for structural engineers and builders in the "field." No, this isn't spam, just a product I think will make Tube owners happy.
New product - chart holder
- Thread starter rsn48
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I've Got One
It is the half size of the one shown and it holds either a folded chart or the smaller size Chart Kit book. We give them in a goodie bag to each new member of our club (see link) and they are very nice. Even on larger boats, they keep the wind off the charts and works well.
It is the half size of the one shown and it holds either a folded chart or the smaller size Chart Kit book. We give them in a goodie bag to each new member of our club (see link) and they are very nice. Even on larger boats, they keep the wind off the charts and works well.
Chart Slickers
I use Chart Slickers. Dont have them handy but i think they are about 2 ft. by 3 ft. They are like giant zip lock baggies. I have been using them for the last 15 years. Havent bought any recently but they are available at Worst Marine. They run 2 for around $12. Also, I never roll my charts. If you need one in a hurry, better have a lot of weights to hold them down so they dont want to roll up. I just gently fold them and if there is no weight on top of them, thew wont have creases.
I use Chart Slickers. Dont have them handy but i think they are about 2 ft. by 3 ft. They are like giant zip lock baggies. I have been using them for the last 15 years. Havent bought any recently but they are available at Worst Marine. They run 2 for around $12. Also, I never roll my charts. If you need one in a hurry, better have a lot of weights to hold them down so they dont want to roll up. I just gently fold them and if there is no weight on top of them, thew wont have creases.
Chart Holder
I have had a thought to make a chart holder to solve this problem. Idea is to have a wood backing with a plexiglass cover on hinges. I could put a folded chart under the plexiglass and lock it down. Using a grease pencil I could mark up the chart on the plastic cover. It would keep things flat and relatively dry. Only problem I see is if course takes me off of the displayed section, marks would be lost. Thoughts???
I have had a thought to make a chart holder to solve this problem. Idea is to have a wood backing with a plexiglass cover on hinges. I could put a folded chart under the plexiglass and lock it down. Using a grease pencil I could mark up the chart on the plastic cover. It would keep things flat and relatively dry. Only problem I see is if course takes me off of the displayed section, marks would be lost. Thoughts???
TIM......Use the Chart Slicker
A stiff backing such as wood would be real nice, but not everyone can afford the space. Also, along with your idea, as long as the chart is folded in quarters, you can always read the lat and long. OR......... Go to any office supply store and get marking pens made for plastic and are water removable. A Damp cloth will wipe the marker off. Run some tape on one of the edges of the chart so that it wont slip inside the baggie.
A stiff backing such as wood would be real nice, but not everyone can afford the space. Also, along with your idea, as long as the chart is folded in quarters, you can always read the lat and long. OR......... Go to any office supply store and get marking pens made for plastic and are water removable. A Damp cloth will wipe the marker off. Run some tape on one of the edges of the chart so that it wont slip inside the baggie.
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