Aft facing Chart Tables

[Litotes]

There are some Dehlers IIRC where the table faces one side?
That might be OK in a submarine, but very awkward on a yacht that heels IMHO.

By no means. You just need a bum strap and you can be very secure. On the other hand, I have found a forward facing table, and especially one with a seat on the end of a quarter berth, very awkward when heeled, especially on the starboard tack. This, of course, assumes that the chart table is positioned to starboard as it should be if it is opposite the galley, which, as any fule kno, should be on the port side.

 

[jac]

The first yachts I cruised were Sonatas, we used a board for the chart as there was no table.
We did more proper 'nav' on those boats than the total of what I've done since.
They had no instruments other than a steering compass, hand bearing compass and a towed log. Oh, and a lead line!

That wasn't RYA young skippers by any chance was it?

 

[Vara]

Shipman 28 used dinette table, used facing forward as that was seat closest to companionway, Nic 32 had an aft facing chart table, had no problems using it, Vara has a sideways table with bum strap and button seat, no problems with that either.

Heresy time, with GPS actual plotting time at table is very low, could quite happily exist without chart table, space would be better utilised as a showerstall.

 

[jwilson]

I seem to be ruling a lot of designs out because the chart table faces the wrong way. In practice I use the chart table for planning and only for a quick plot/ check when underway so it's not even as I'd ever spend a long time perched there to get affected by travelling backwards!

Is this irrational decision making ??

I have never minded where the chart table was or which way it faced as long as there was one. Although I love chartplotters, I have not yet quite sold into the idea of no chart table.

 

[DaveS]

Well, given a free choice I think I would prefer a forward facing chart table but, a point that no-one has yet raised, if using half folded Admiralty charts, then about half of them will be laid out at 90 degrees to the "facing" axis of the chart table so you have to use these "thwart ships" anyway.

 

[Elessar]

I seem to be ruling a lot of designs out because the chart table faces the wrong way. In practice I use the chart table for planning and only for a quick plot/ check when underway so it's not even as I'd ever spend a long time perched there to get affected by travelling backwards!

Is this irrational decision making ??

yep.

why waste any space on a chart table?

 

[prv]

a point that no-one has yet raised, if using half folded Admiralty charts, then about half of them will be laid out at 90 degrees to the "facing" axis of the chart table so you have to use these "thwart ships" anyway.

My chart table is nearly square, so they can go either way round

Pete

 

[LadyInBed]

it's not even as I'd ever spend a long time perched there to get affected by travelling backwards!

Is this irrational decision making ??

Yes!

Which way does your heads face

 

[jac]

Yes!

Which way does your heads face

Doesn't that depend what you're using it for!!!!

 

[wazza]

I disliked the idea of having an aft facing chart table, then bought a boat with one....totally fine with it..

 

[maxi77]

There are some Dehlers IIRC where the table faces one side?
That might be OK in a submarine, but very awkward on a yacht that heels IMHO.

You've never tried to plot a fix in a boat running on the surface in an atlantic gale then? You need four arms and three legs.

 

[macd]

Mine's athwartships, but I've really no aversion to its facing any other direction...except down.

 

[DaveS]

My chart table is nearly square, so they can go either way round

Pete

Gosh, you must have a big one!

(As the actress said to the bishop...)

 

[Kukri]

Outboard facing, 30" square, with a recess under the bookcase so you can slide the chart outboard and no lip on the inboard edge, just a handrail clear of the chart (so you can slide it inboard and under the rail). This lets you use BA charts folded once, either way. Heel does not matter.

A chart table that you stand at rather than sit down to saves time, so long as you can chock yourself at it.

 

[prv]

Gosh, you must have a big one!

Well, I mostly use Imray 2000-series charts, which are A2 in size (594 x 420 mm / 23.4 x 16.5 in apparently). With the long edge fore-and-aft (like the Southampton Water or Salcombe charts) they just fit on, with the long edge athwartships (most charts) there is plenty of room, about six or eight inches both above and to the side.

EDIT: For clarity, based on the above facts I make it just over 30" x 23". There's also an extra bit down one side just big enough (purely by coincidence) for an almanac or pilot book.

Sheer bloody luxury for a 24-footer

Pete

 

[Deleted member 36384]

I seem to be ruling a lot of designs out because the chart table faces the wrong way. In practice I use the chart table for planning and only for a quick plot/ check when underway so it's not even as I'd ever spend a long time perched there to get affected by travelling backwards!

Is this irrational decision making ??

At least you won't loose your teeth on the chart table if you got the navigation wrong.

I have never used an aft facing chart table, only conventional and sideways facing. I quite liked the sideways one it was more user friendly I thought.

 

[MM5AHO]

on bigger boats I've seen plenty that face aft - usually at the back of the bridge.
Whats wrong with facing aft?

 

[BruceDanforth]

I seem to be ruling a lot of designs out because the chart table faces the wrong way. In practice I use the chart table for planning and only for a quick plot/ check when underway so it's not even as I'd ever spend a long time perched there to get affected by travelling backwards!

Is this irrational decision making ??

Most paper charts are 'north up'. If you buy a chart that is 'heads up' it may be confusing on an aft facing table.

 

[LadyInBed]

Most paper charts are 'north up'.

You've cracked it! He needs a North facing chart table

 

[Goldie]

Certainly does not bother me which way the chart table faces.

Ruling out any boat on the basis of the way the chart table faces is completely irrational IMHO.

+1

My current boat has a forward facing chart table.

My previous boat had one on the stbd side facing outboard.

The boat before that had one on the port side facing outboard.

I've also got a few thousand miles on boats with aft facing chart tables.

I'd be more concerned about the layout (bookshelves, instrument space etc) and how secure it is at sea than which way it faces. FWIW, the ones I found most secure at sea were the outboard facing ones as on one tack,you're bracing on the table and on the other, you're leaning back against something (hopefully!).