Chart table

[Trevethan]

Well I am about to build fit a chart table and I am looking for some advice on design/dimensions and so on. I plan on using a Yeoman plotter so it must be at least 725mm by 535 mm which is what 29 inches or so by 21 inches. Standard admiralty charts are what 42" by 28"

I think I can just fit a table this size or a touch bigger.

Bearing in mind the area used by the plotter is it worth making the table full size as a lot of the time I'll be using folding charts/small craft folio charts anyway?

Regarding design I envisaged something like those old school desks that will keep the charts flat or folded and safe from coffee, water etc.... Any comments suggestions gratefully received.

Sorry if these are dumb questions, but that's just the kind of guy I am....

Nick

 

[oldsaltoz]

G’day Trevethan
Consider the following, chart storage will require a wide / deep drawer, a good white light and possibly a red light for night use; when locating this light try to position it such that the helmsman can not see it , this should help preserve night vision.
Also try drilling a few holes at the back or the table to store pencils and dividers and add some fiddle rails to hold roller rule and most important a good rubber. Most of the above tend to slide around when tacking, so a groove like the old school desk is not very good, fitting a batten along the bottom / front edge will prevent charts slipping off the table.
I have found the little post it notes very handy for chart work, you can stick them next to your fix with all the data this will leave fewer marks on your chart, you can stick them in your ships log book and write them later.
I’m sure you will get lots of feedback from others in this forum, so how about you tell us all how it turned out when you put them all together.

Andavagoodweekend Old Salt Oz.

 

[vyv_cox]

My chart table design is the old school desk type. The base is divided into two trays, one just big enough for a folded Admiralty chart and the other a full width, about 3 inch deep, tray immediately inside for rulers, erasers, etc. The lid is not quite full width but has a narrow fixed part on the outboard side. Early in my sailing life this was fine, but now that I have more charts it is far from the ideal arrangement. It is not easy to search through a pile of charts and removing a pile bigger than about 7 or 8 charts is impossible. It takes a long time to extract a chart near the bottom, taking out all the ones above a few at a time, stowing them somewhere else, then putting them all back.

If I was redesigning it I think I would arrange that charts are stored in shallow drawers, or that the front of the table hinges down. Take into account not only the charts on and in the table but how to manipulate them. This means that a full-width lid is essential.

You need good fiddles at the bottom and sides of the lid.

 

[Trevethan]

The chart table is in the aft cabin facing forward. A curetain should minimise light spilling into the pilot house. Thanks for the good advice!

Nick

 

[Trevethan]

Thanks for the advice.

A wide lid makes sense. Perhaps use this for charts in use and perhaps a top opening cupboard built into the the inboard side of the table to act as a support with a series of slots to keep charts not in use?

I won't forget the fiddles!

 

[Aja]

My chart table is just larger than the Yeoman plotter base. Stops the base of the plotter sliding about too much.

Donald

 

[Joe_Cole]

Just a thought. If you are getting a Yeoman plotter anyway why not get the Sport model which is effectively its own table. No need for a separate table: just think of all that time you'll save!

Having said that I've just bought a Yeoman Sports plotter which I will be using on my Chart table, so I'm not practising what I am preaching!

Joe

 

[LadyInBed]

Re: school desk type

Don't forget to incorporate a method of holding the lid up, so you can rummage.

 

[ccscott49]

Re: school desk type

Bloody good idea that one, I can count the bumps on my head before I did that!

 

[Trevethan]

Re: school desk type

That hadn't occurred to me... very good idea!

 

[vyv_cox]

Re: school desk type

The compression spring type is excellent. Time was that Beneteau seemed to have exclusive rights to them but they are now sold by Timage.