A sign of the times..

[veshengro]

During the process of buying an Imray Chart on line I managed to misquote a reference number, not the Chart number, I can manage that, the sales index reference. In response to an email asking me to clarify, I telephoned the seller. The lady told me during general conversation that the sale was the first of a paper chart since October 2023 !!.

I didn't clarify if that was for my requested area or paper charts in general, but I think everyone is aware that Imray will no longer be printing paper charts after late summer 2025.

 

[LittleSister]

I'm fairly sure it would be the particular chart, not all paper charts. Also, most of their paper chart sales would be via chandlers and other outlets, rather than direct to the public.

But the imminent loss of their paper charts is indeed sad, and a blow to the likes of me.

 

[dunedin]

During the process of buying an Imray Chart on line I managed to misquote a reference number, not the Chart number, I can manage that, the sales index reference. In response to an email asking me to clarify, I telephoned the seller. The lady told me during general conversation that the sale was the first of a paper chart since October 2023 !!.

I didn't clarify if that was for my requested area or paper charts in general, but I think everyone is aware that Imray will no longer be printing paper charts after late summer 2025.

Actually Imray has announced in principle a joint venture with an Austrian land map publisher which is hoped will extend the life of their paper charts. FB Imray

How this will change the fundamental issue that preparing paper charts from vector data is expensive and sales are dropping off a cliff, is leads clear.

 

[Wansworth]

Not being able to “pour” over a chart indeed breaks one of the links with our forefathers and those early chart makers like Mercator.I have a roll of charts covering the Baltic to the Morrocan coast.

 

[[70521]]

During the process of buying an Imray Chart on line I managed to misquote a reference number, not the Chart number, I can manage that, the sales index reference. In response to an email asking me to clarify, I telephoned the seller. The lady told me during general conversation that the sale was the first of a paper chart since October 2023 !!.

I didn't clarify if that was for my requested area or paper charts in general, but I think everyone is aware that Imray will no longer be printing paper charts after late summer 2025.

I think you may have miss heard/understood the lady on the telephone.

I have purchased several Imray charts in both 2024 and 2025. They needed to be ordered from Imray as my chart agent did not stock the spiral bound charts for the area I required.

You may want to check Imray's web pages as some weeks ago they 'merged' with another company and have made a commitment to continue printing paper charts.

 

[Buck Turgidson]

I think you may have miss heard/understood the lady on the telephone.

I have purchased several Imray charts in both 2024 and 2025. They needed to be ordered from Imray as my chart agent did not stock the spiral bound charts for the area I required.

You may want to check Imray's web pages as some weeks ago they 'merged' with another company and have made a commitment to continue printing paper charts.

Not before I shelled out several hundred quid for charts that I may or may not use in the future. Great way to get a rush of orders if cash flow is tight

 

[[70521]]

Not before I shelled out several hundred quid for charts that I may or may not use in the future. Great way to get a rush of orders if cash flow is tight

Were they ordered since October 2023? If they were that would support my concern about @veshengro either not hearing or misunderstanding the lady on the telephone.

 

[Seven Spades]

It is difficult to calculate aa accurate course to steer if you don't have a paper chart. one day I suspect that RayMarine will be able to calculate it for you.

 

[S04]

Not being able to “pour” over a chart indeed breaks one of the links with our forefathers and those early chart makers like Mercator.

I think if they did "pour" over a chart then it could quickly become useless so they couldn't pore over it any longer.

 

[newtothis]

Not being able to “pour” over a chart indeed breaks one of the links with our forefathers and those early chart makers like Mercator.I have a roll of charts covering the Baltic to the Morrocan coast.

The only thing you should "pour" over a paper chart is a fine single malt.

 

[Wansworth]

The only thing you should "pour" over a paper chart is a fine single malt.

Tea and coffee stains

 

[veshengro]

Just to clarify the "not since 2023". That was not from Imray or indeed a Chandlery. The chart arrived marked " Paper Back Book Co: Nautical Charts were only a small part of a whole range of items, many with no nautical connection sold, so perhaps it's not surprising that my purchase registered as noticeable with the Sales Lady.

" Actually Imray has announced in principle a joint venture with an Austrian land map publisher which is hoped will extend the life of their paper charts. FB Imray "

Well that's good news, hopefully I'll still be able to get charts sent here to Jurassic Park.

 

[johnalison]

It is difficult to calculate aa accurate course to steer if you don't have a paper chart. one day I suspect that RayMarine will be able to calculate it for you.

The Navstar Decca that I bought in 1988 (£400+!) would calculate the tidal offset for you, though my current Raymarine one doesn't. Personally, I don't find it hard to add the hourly offsets taken from whatever source and set them as a mark on the plotter in the same way I would on a paper chart.

 

[SaltyC]

Were they ordered since October 2023? If they were that would support my concern about @veshengro either not hearing or misunderstanding the lady on the telephone.

Ditto! Mine were ordered after October 2023.

 

[Buck Turgidson]

Were they ordered since October 2023? If they were that would support my concern about @veshengro either not hearing or misunderstanding the lady on the telephone.

yes

 

[Jodel]

It is difficult to calculate aa accurate course to steer if you don't have a paper chart. one day I suspect that RayMarine will be able to calculate it for you.

There is an app fro iPad called Angel Nav which can do that easily for you. Pic attached... (I believe they are working on and Android version).

 

[AllWinds]

Not being able to “pour” over a chart indeed breaks one of the links with our forefathers and those early chart makers like Mercator.I have a roll of charts covering the Baltic to the Morrocan coast.

Scrolling across a screen is just not the same as looking at the chart. I much prefer the overview a paper chart gives and somehow for me the imagination conjours up much more a sense of adventure when planning off paper charts. I'm still happy to use Navionics, plotters etc, but I still love to plan my passages off a chart and a cruising guide.

 

[johnalison]

Scrolling across a screen is just not the same as looking at the chart. I much prefer the overview a paper chart gives and somehow for me the imagination conjours up much more a sense of adventure when planning off paper charts. I'm still happy to use Navionics, plotters etc, but I still love to plan my passages off a chart and a cruising guide.

My planning was largely a matter of setting routes into the plotter. I would have the paper charts of course and would refer to them to ensure that I hadn't overlooked a hazard due to an error of scale. Before plotters, the waypoint business was very tedious and could take 3/4 hr just to key in the waypoints for a day's trip, but now it's just a matter of telling the plotter I want to go from here-click, tpo here-click, to here-click etc. After a sea crossing to get somewhere much of our cruising was coastal and could involve a dozen or more waypoints, so setting up a route saved a lot of time.

 

[Humblebee]

I'm with AllWinds on this. My practice is to plan a voyage the day before, using paper charts, portland plotter etc then use Satnav once we set off. It's good to have the corroboration between the two, gives me some confidence when I get a close match.

 

[Imray]

During the process of buying an Imray Chart on line I managed to misquote a reference number, not the Chart number, I can manage that, the sales index reference. In response to an email asking me to clarify, I telephoned the seller. The lady told me during general conversation that the sale was the first of a paper chart since October 2023 !!.

I didn't clarify if that was for my requested area or paper charts in general, but I think everyone is aware that Imray will no longer be printing paper charts after late summer 2025.

Hello all,

Imray here - thanks for your support!

Just so you have heard it from us - Imray will continue support and publish paper charts after summer 2025.

The announcement that we put out last autumn generated significant interest and is resulting in a new joint venture with Freytag & Berndt, a long-established and well respected land-mapping company.

The economies of scale that we achieve by working with another cartography company mean that it becomes viable to continue to produce paper charts for the foreseeable future. We've nearly completed the paperwork and are aiming for the new company to 'go live' within the next few weeks.

We published some new editions this spring and continue to support them (and all our charts) with Correction Notices (Notices to Mariners) on our website.

We'll keep you updated about the new venture via our website, the yachting press and our email newsletters (which you can sign up to via our website). Let us know if you have further questions.