I do not have a very good system for storing paper charts on my boat. In fact I have no system. How do you sailors out there store your paper charts so you can retrieve the right chart without sorting thru an unnamed/unreferenced pile of folded paper charts?
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Waterproof tube.
A waterproof tube, about 36" I think, has several rolled charts in it. I only use the outside chart due to limited distance sailing. But I would simply keep then in order of use on the roll. But honestly I seldom use them. The chartbook in the nav table has all the detail that I need. Add to that a new chartplotter for the coming season.
A waterproof tube, about 36" I think, has several rolled charts in it. I only use the outside chart due to limited distance sailing. But I would simply keep then in order of use on the roll. But honestly I seldom use them. The chartbook in the nav table has all the detail that I need. Add to that a new chartplotter for the coming season.
4 Tube holes at Nav Station
We mostly use chartplotters but keep paper charts of our sailing waters in the navigation table. Charts of other waters we keep at home to be used as needed.
We mostly use chartplotters but keep paper charts of our sailing waters in the navigation table. Charts of other waters we keep at home to be used as needed.
I just use chart books
and a depth sounder. That makes me about a thousand times better off than Capt Smith was when he explored the chesapeake bay. My depth sounder is also a fish finder so it shows the bottom contours. I don't have room for rolled paper charts although I have many here at home for study.
and a depth sounder. That makes me about a thousand times better off than Capt Smith was when he explored the chesapeake bay. My depth sounder is also a fish finder so it shows the bottom contours. I don't have room for rolled paper charts although I have many here at home for study.
Peter, if the chart book says Not for ...
navigation", do not use it. I store my paper charts in a cardboard tube in the engine room. My main source for navigation is our Garmin 178C located at the helm. It uses a 32MB data card, about half the size of a book of matches, to store 250 navigation charts covering from the south end of Puget Sound to the north end of Vancouver Island. Check e-bay for discounted new chart plotters. I have our 178C wired to the autopilot. I program our route the day before we head out, then run the course to make sure of a clear way. It is spot on. Terry
navigation", do not use it. I store my paper charts in a cardboard tube in the engine room. My main source for navigation is our Garmin 178C located at the helm. It uses a 32MB data card, about half the size of a book of matches, to store 250 navigation charts covering from the south end of Puget Sound to the north end of Vancouver Island. Check e-bay for discounted new chart plotters. I have our 178C wired to the autopilot. I program our route the day before we head out, then run the course to make sure of a clear way. It is spot on. Terry
Terry, all printed paper charts are obsolete
by the time they get to the chandlery. That's why there is the "notice to mariners" but the basics of a chart won't change enough for the average sailor to matter very much if you follow the advise of not relying on any single aid to navigation. The caveat "not for use for navigation" is primarily an effort to avoid liability if someone relies solely on the chart and runs afoul with the world.
by the time they get to the chandlery. That's why there is the "notice to mariners" but the basics of a chart won't change enough for the average sailor to matter very much if you follow the advise of not relying on any single aid to navigation. The caveat "not for use for navigation" is primarily an effort to avoid liability if someone relies solely on the chart and runs afoul with the world.
I keep mine rolled up too.
At home in our bedroom closet. I have charts from Alaska (far side) to Trinidad on my laptop. In case of failure, I've got a second laptop aboard. It's time we let paper chart go.
At home in our bedroom closet. I have charts from Alaska (far side) to Trinidad on my laptop. In case of failure, I've got a second laptop aboard. It's time we let paper chart go.
Cardboard tubes in a hanging locker
If I'm just sailing around the Bay we use chart books. When we take a trip I assemble all the charts we will be needing on that leg and put them in order first to be used on top to last on bottom and then roll them up for storage in a cardboard tube I stash in a hanging locker. When I need the next chart it will be the one on the "inside" of the tube and I just have to fish it out. Unused charts go in a seperate tube which also gets stored in the locker. Since I plan the trip ahead of time most of the mess is for about an hour while I am doing the planning and organizing. Having the Hunter 37.5's big salon table is a real help here. We don't have a chart ploter but do use the lat/long off of a GPS as an additional source of nav data. Redundency, the key to success
If I'm just sailing around the Bay we use chart books. When we take a trip I assemble all the charts we will be needing on that leg and put them in order first to be used on top to last on bottom and then roll them up for storage in a cardboard tube I stash in a hanging locker. When I need the next chart it will be the one on the "inside" of the tube and I just have to fish it out. Unused charts go in a seperate tube which also gets stored in the locker. Since I plan the trip ahead of time most of the mess is for about an hour while I am doing the planning and organizing. Having the Hunter 37.5's big salon table is a real help here. We don't have a chart ploter but do use the lat/long off of a GPS as an additional source of nav data. Redundency, the key to success
Chart tubes
The best thing I have found to store charts is a piece of PVC pipe slightly longer than the chart. Glue one end cap on and make a handle for the other end to make it easier to remove the end cap. If your charts aren't waterproof, drop a silica pack that comes in electronics and other packaging in the tube. I've seen the tubes mounted under the nav station. but I keep mine in the compartment just behind the nav station in the aft berth.
The best thing I have found to store charts is a piece of PVC pipe slightly longer than the chart. Glue one end cap on and make a handle for the other end to make it easier to remove the end cap. If your charts aren't waterproof, drop a silica pack that comes in electronics and other packaging in the tube. I've seen the tubes mounted under the nav station. but I keep mine in the compartment just behind the nav station in the aft berth.
A Tip I Picked Up Here a While Back
Store charts in a vinyl fence post. They have caps and do not roll off the table or all around at night keeping you up. I always have paper charts on the boat or in the air. When the stuff hits the fan you never know what you may be left with. A paper chat is all you may have. A paper chart and a match will start a fire quicker than a laptop.
Store charts in a vinyl fence post. They have caps and do not roll off the table or all around at night keeping you up. I always have paper charts on the boat or in the air. When the stuff hits the fan you never know what you may be left with. A paper chat is all you may have. A paper chart and a match will start a fire quicker than a laptop.
Ross, there are paper charts designed...
for navigation purposes. These normally do not have the "not for navigation" disclaimer. They have the necessary detail for safe passage when properly followed. Other charts, such as chart books, place mats, etc., have this disclaimer because they lack the necessary detail and information for safe passage. I recommend the proper use of the most current official navigation charts for safe passage and use the others for a handy reference in the cockpit. If there is any question about a route always, I mean always, defer to the offical navigation chart. Terry
for navigation purposes. These normally do not have the "not for navigation" disclaimer. They have the necessary detail for safe passage when properly followed. Other charts, such as chart books, place mats, etc., have this disclaimer because they lack the necessary detail and information for safe passage. I recommend the proper use of the most current official navigation charts for safe passage and use the others for a handy reference in the cockpit. If there is any question about a route always, I mean always, defer to the offical navigation chart. Terry
I was not quite specific enough in my posting. 80% of the cruising I do is in the areas of Vancouver East, the Gulf Islands, Desolation Sound etc. Two official Canadian Hydrographic Service chart atlases cover that most of that area. I have about 14 other smaller detail paper CHS charts that are folded up and filling my nav table drawer to bulging. It was how to store those charts in a tube or whatever for quick access that I was asking about. I am considering a chartplotter but will always keep those paper charts at hand. Some great ideas though. Thank you.
Terry, I agree that there are paper charts
designed and published for navigation. I have many and have compared them closely to the chartbook covering the same waters. As long as the scale is the same the detail is always the same, if both publications are current. The surveys are not updated each year. After a tropical storm or a flood, silting will have occured and until these areas have been reported, no change can be made and no "notice to mariners" will reflect the change. Therefore we must use prudence when we cruise and not put our trust entirely in any chart. Simply because we bought the latest point of purchase printed charts there is no assurance that these will be perfectly accurate.
designed and published for navigation. I have many and have compared them closely to the chartbook covering the same waters. As long as the scale is the same the detail is always the same, if both publications are current. The surveys are not updated each year. After a tropical storm or a flood, silting will have occured and until these areas have been reported, no change can be made and no "notice to mariners" will reflect the change. Therefore we must use prudence when we cruise and not put our trust entirely in any chart. Simply because we bought the latest point of purchase printed charts there is no assurance that these will be perfectly accurate.
No great idea...but
I was hoping for some alternative methods of storage, but unfortunately they aren't here. I have used the tube method and I don't like it. The charts out of the tube are a hassle to use, they want to roll, and can sometimes be hard to put back. If you have two or more charts in the tube, they get harder to store. I'm thinking that something that will store a chart, quarter folded might be more appropriate. I too will have a chart plotter (and radar) once I finish upgrading my electrical, but I do know you want to have a hard copy of your area as back up. I too sail the same areas you do.
I was hoping for some alternative methods of storage, but unfortunately they aren't here. I have used the tube method and I don't like it. The charts out of the tube are a hassle to use, they want to roll, and can sometimes be hard to put back. If you have two or more charts in the tube, they get harder to store. I'm thinking that something that will store a chart, quarter folded might be more appropriate. I too will have a chart plotter (and radar) once I finish upgrading my electrical, but I do know you want to have a hard copy of your area as back up. I too sail the same areas you do.
Print your own?
How about printing your own charts? Use your trip-planning software and the latest official electronic charts to plan the route. Mark all your way points, ranges etc, then print the route off. You can keep your DR track and do all your chartwork on standard sized paper and have all the custom insets in the order that you need them. It all fits in a binder and is no hassle at all. You have your chartplotter, the binder of custom charts and maybe one paper chart that covers the whole route as a back-up.
How about printing your own charts? Use your trip-planning software and the latest official electronic charts to plan the route. Mark all your way points, ranges etc, then print the route off. You can keep your DR track and do all your chartwork on standard sized paper and have all the custom insets in the order that you need them. It all fits in a binder and is no hassle at all. You have your chartplotter, the binder of custom charts and maybe one paper chart that covers the whole route as a back-up.
Some time ago, years perhaps,...
one skipper stored his charts under his double berth mattress between two large sheets of cardboard or paperboard. They remained flat, protected with several charts together in their proper numerical order. Now that I recall that idea (they come slower as I get older) I'm going to do the same. Please don't ask me why it was never adopted. Again, probably an age thing. Terry
one skipper stored his charts under his double berth mattress between two large sheets of cardboard or paperboard. They remained flat, protected with several charts together in their proper numerical order. Now that I recall that idea (they come slower as I get older) I'm going to do the same. Please don't ask me why it was never adopted. Again, probably an age thing. Terry
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