Vara
Well-Known Member
Given that tidal information is freely available and that most of the rest of the information is pretty well unchanging.
How often do you change your almanac?
How often do you change your almanac?
Almanacs?
- Thread starter Vara
- Start date
Elessar
Well-Known Member
I get a small boat almanac for the tides (coding requirement) every year and replace the loose leaf every 3 or 4.
The loose leaf gets the most oft pages laminated. Its gets replaced when they fall apart.
john_morris_uk
Well-Known Member
The almanac is my annual Christmas present from my sister and her family. Seems to sort things out very satisfactorily.
LittleSister
Well-Known Member
I get a PBO small boat almanac each year for tides, sun/moon times, radio/navtex channels, forecast times etc.
I keep an old full almanac for distant/foreign port information, cross sea distances etc., usually kept at home (for planning/dreaming/reference) unless we're off on a trip to somewhere new. I'm currently 'using' a 2009 one, and that will last until it falls apart, we're going somewhere new that might have changed significantly, or I leave buying a small craft almanac to the last minute and find they have only big ones left.
In fact I used to keep one of the old big ones at home and another (the least out of date) aboard, but on our small boat it takes up about a quarter of the bookshelf, causes a list to port and knocks half a knot off top speed.
I keep an old full almanac for distant/foreign port information, cross sea distances etc., usually kept at home (for planning/dreaming/reference) unless we're off on a trip to somewhere new. I'm currently 'using' a 2009 one, and that will last until it falls apart, we're going somewhere new that might have changed significantly, or I leave buying a small craft almanac to the last minute and find they have only big ones left.
In fact I used to keep one of the old big ones at home and another (the least out of date) aboard, but on our small boat it takes up about a quarter of the bookshelf, causes a list to port and knocks half a knot off top speed.
lustyd
Well-Known Member
I buy a full Reeds almanac every year. It's only £20 so a drop in the ocean for a boat owner. Last years is at home for planning, and previous years go to family/friends.
Tam Lin
Well-Known Member
Can I have one of your old ones?
wotayottie
Well-Known Member
Every two years. I never update charts so this is my token gesture to keeping reasonably up to date
Ex-SolentBoy
Well-Known Member
Never.
Gave up on the things years ago. My iPad is easier to use, more up to date and weighs less.
I still like pilot books though.
Gave up on the things years ago. My iPad is easier to use, more up to date and weighs less.
I still like pilot books though.
blackbeard
Well-Known Member
Given that most of the changes in depth, buoyage, lights etc are in or near harbours, it's probably more important to have an up-to-date almanac (one including harbour chartlets)than up-to-date charts; the information in the almanac should (in principle) be not more than about a year old whereas an Admiralty folio bought from a chandler might be an edition brought out two or three years ago. And the charts cost more.
Yes I know we should correct the charts. And, for that matter, the almanac. How many of us do?
(For the record: I understand that a nice new 2013 almanac should be correct to mid-2012 when it went to press. So, unless you use the corrections issued each month, your information could be a year or so out of date when you come to use it.)
Yes I know we should correct the charts. And, for that matter, the almanac. How many of us do?
(For the record: I understand that a nice new 2013 almanac should be correct to mid-2012 when it went to press. So, unless you use the corrections issued each month, your information could be a year or so out of date when you come to use it.)
john_morris_uk
Well-Known Member
Yes - but I gave last years to the local sea-cadets and I have thrown the previous years out.
maxi77
Well-Known Member
It all depends where you sail, when I was based in the Forth I just used a tide programme on my PC and printed out the info I needed for any trip. Sailing to Portugal was different and I had both Reeds and Bloc and found bot very useful. I buy the information when I need it
gasdave
Well-Known Member
small boat almanac
I've been considering the Small Boat Almanac but not sure if it would be worth my while. Most of my sailing for the foreseeable future is likely to be based around the Forth and perhaps the adjacent East Coast. I have a couple of relevant pilot books.
So any point in this purchase - or is it largely biased towards the southern end of the country?
I've been considering the Small Boat Almanac but not sure if it would be worth my while. Most of my sailing for the foreseeable future is likely to be based around the Forth and perhaps the adjacent East Coast. I have a couple of relevant pilot books.
So any point in this purchase - or is it largely biased towards the southern end of the country?
prv
Well-Known Member
I get a new Reeds Channel book every year. In the past it's been a Christmas or birthday present from someone, though no luck this year so I'll have to buy it 
I know I could get by fine from other sources, but having the current book (for tides in particular) gives me warm fuzzies the same as correcting my charts does (yes, Blackbeard, I am that person ).
The old one has the tide pages crossed through with black marker, and then goes in the downstairs loo for planning / dreaming purposes.
Pete
I know I could get by fine from other sources, but having the current book (for tides in particular) gives me warm fuzzies the same as correcting my charts does (yes, Blackbeard, I am that person
). The old one has the tide pages crossed through with black marker, and then goes in the downstairs loo for planning / dreaming purposes.
Pete
Koeketiene
Well-Known Member
I assume we're talking about the Reeds one.
Used to buy one every year.
Then every other year,
Given up now.
Most of the info on the UK ports we visit hardly ever changes.
Info on continental ports can be 18 months plus out of date.
UK tidal info to be found on the web FOC.
Now get Bloc Marine Atlantique every year - a bargain at €25 (approx £20) a pop.
Great for planning. Contains up to date charts and nearly entirely bi-lingual French/English.
Uricanejack
Well-Known Member
One new set of 2013 tide tables.
slightly out of date set of sailing directions.
equaly out of date charts with coffee stain and folded several times.
out of date list of lights (kind of defeats the point)
If I go off shore il take an alminac.
if not who needs an alminac.
slightly out of date set of sailing directions.
equaly out of date charts with coffee stain and folded several times.
out of date list of lights (kind of defeats the point)
If I go off shore il take an alminac.
if not who needs an alminac.
lustyd
Well-Known Member
if not who needs an alminac.
Anyone wanting guides on subjects such as first aid at sea, colregs, lights, sounds, sun/moon times, weather, information about international travel and required documentation, flags and many other subjects probably. If you know all of that or have the info to hand in other sources then probably no need.
