Admiralty charts Vs Imray

[bbg]

AntarcticPilot - out of curiosity, are you familiar with SHOM charts? My boat is based in France and I tend to buy SHOM - which I actually prefer to either Admirality or Imray. Perhaps it is just a case of liking what you know.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

AntarcticPilot - out of curiosity, are you familiar with SHOM charts? My boat is based in France and I tend to buy SHOM - which I actually prefer to either Admirality or Imray. Perhaps it is just a case of liking what you know.

No, I am afraid I am not. however, I've just looked at their web-site, and they support the INT series of charts (see, for example, their chart 7043 = INT 13), so I presume that they fulfil the same role as the UKHO, and adhere to the same standards - indeed, they must in order to participate in the INT mapping.

I do like their "Cartes Littorale", which appear to provide much more terrestrial detail than Admiralty charts do, while adhering to the usual international standards for marine charting aspects. To the amusement of some, I carry OS maps for much of my usual cruising area to provide exactly this information!

However, I cruise the West Coast of Scotland, so SHOM charts are not of much relevance to me! If they produce relevant charts, they will be INT versions of UK charts produced by the UKHO.

The main point I am making is that this is an area where standards are important. Imray (and other similar charts) are fine if you never expect to move out of their area of coverage. But, given that their use of colour to indicate depth very different from the INT standards, if you move from Imray to a chart produced by a member of the IHO (or vice-versa), there is a serious potential for misinterpreting the chart, especially in an emergency when learned responses to patterns may well over-ride the more usual consideration of what is before you.

 

[Andrew_Fanner]

For no especially justifiable reason all my South Coast charts are Admiralty, from The Exe to North Foreland, all my North Sea, Thames and Medway charts are Imray. I'm happy with both formats but am attracted to the Imray plotter 'cos its cheap! Just trying to persuade the phone that it should send its GPS signal to the lappie

 

[Poignard]

I like the Imray charts because they are divided up into a one degree grid which makes plotting a position very quick and simple.

Also the latest ones have useful lists of waypoints on the face.

The only thing I don't like is that pencil marks don't show up well.

 

[Doghousekeeper]

I am another fan of Admiralty charts - especially under red light at night, when I find the Imray chart colours are not very clear

 

[jerrytug]

Admiralty every time for me,the folios are obviously good value. I used an Imray to make a very detailed pilotage plan in to Portsmouth,and the big blobs they use to indicate lights seemed to obscure eveything else. There are big gaps in the Lat/Long scales at the edges as well,Imray Hydrographic,Chief Surveyor Mr M.Mouse. Jerry