Chart Types (I am a newbie)

[AlistairM]

I now I have only just registered but already have a question ;

What is the difference between Admiralty, Imray, Standfords and any other chart producer for that matter.

Is any one better than the other.

For anyone that is interested I sail a small vivacity out of Penarth (Cardiff) in South Wales

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Aardee]

Personal preference. I swear by Admiralty, but only 'cos that's what I learned on...

<hr width=100% size=1>"I am a bear of very little brain and long words bother me" - A A Milne.

 

[bedouin]

Without a doubt, the Admiralty are the most detailed, and most accurate. However they are more expensive than the others.

The Admiralty charts also has the nasty trick of omitting all information from sections of a chart that are covered in a larger scale chart - which means you often need to but two charts when one would do. However the Folios are better value and get round that issue.

The admiralty also produce new editions more frequently and since you can't correct charts over an edition change you end up having to replace them more often (especially the small craft folio which are not really designed to be corrected at all).

Personally I do not like the Imray charts - I find them unclear and unpleasant to use.

On the other hand I like the Standfords a lot - I find them very clear and like the (waterproof) paper they are printed on

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[cliff]

Personally I prefer Imray for general work with the odd Admiralty chart of peculiar locations.

Imray I believe are cheaper than Admiralty and you can get updates from their website.

IMHO a collection of good pilotage books is more important than the choice of charts.

<hr width=100% size=1>

Stay put when I hit you!

 

[ex-Gladys]

Being a newbie at this size of boating as well, I've started off witht he Stanfords Essex and Suffolk Rivers packs. I have also got the Admiraty folio, and think that is better coverage for those areas. AS said by others the paper on the Stanfords is great.

<hr width=100% size=1>Larry Botheras

Anderson 26 "Amber"

 

[extravert]

I understand that they all come from the same source data, the other publishers buy the data and print them. Therefore the basic data are the same.

They each have their own style, i.e. different colours representing different things. This can be a bit confusing if you are used to one type. The symbols and abbreviations seem more consistent across publishers.

Admiralty publish charts for the whole word. The other publishers you mention concentrate their publications where they are likely to sell most. The coverage even for UK waters can be a bit thin away from the South coast.

The admiralty often publish their detail charts of harbours on separate charts. This means buying more charts. The others often include chartlets of important bits like the harbours in the region all on the same chart as the passage scale charts.

Admiralty charts are considerably more expensive away from the areas where they do not do portfolios. The Admiralty do publish some cheaper folded charts, but this is often only for popular areas.

Any of the publishers' charts you mention will be absolutely fine for the area you mention, assuming sufficently detailed charts for your requirements are published for your area.

<hr width=100% size=1>One day, I want to be a real sailor. In the mean time I'll just keep tri-ing.

 

[AlistairM]

Thanks everyone for you speedy replies, think i will probably get an admiralty folio and see how we get on.

Great forum glad i found it.



<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Aardee]

Welcome

Oops, forgot to say, welcome to the nuthouse that is the YBW forums (fora???)

Graham.

<hr width=100% size=1>"I am a bear of very little brain and long words bother me" - A A Milne.

 

[Anwen]

I don't think Admiralty do a folio for the Bristol Channel, but Stanfords have just brought one out. I bought it last weekend in the Sea Chest, Plymouth, and it's very good. We live in Miskin, but have our boat in Plymouth.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[freebird1]

Don't know about the others, but Imray folding waterproof charts have loads of useful inof on the back including tidal streams, essential chart symbols etc. Most have useful harbour chartlets for the area it covers. The coverage also seems to be better than Admiralty so you may only need one Imray instead of two Admiralty

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[whisper]

Welcome.
I was brought up with Admiralty ones and still like their clarity. However for ease of use (water resistance of paper - ease of correction - inclusion of harbour chartlets on main chart - economy) I've converted to Imray which are fine for what I do. They are also a nice co. to deal with.
The only Admiralty ones I now keep are some large scale charts of parts of the W.Coast of Scotland.
Suggest you try some different ones out and you will end up with a favourite brand of your own.


<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Jools_of_Top_Cat]

yes but how do you draw on Imray charts. To start with the deep water areas are deep blue and that shiny finish does not make it easy to mark and read off pencil lines and plots.

Seriously, how do you do it?

I would go for small craft editions whenever I can. Though I admit the chartlet detail on Imray is really handy, they do appear to be toy charts compared to the admiralty editions.

<hr width=100% size=1>Julian

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.topcatsail.co.uk>

</A>

 

[AndrewB]

Not so far mentioned is that Admiralty charts cover the world, and Imray cover a few of the most popular foreign cruising grounds like the Caribbean as well as Britain, but Stanfords is purely for the British coast.

Of course other countries do their own charts as well, and these can be worth considering if going further afield. Dutch charts are top rate for the Dutch and Belgian cruising grounds, better than any of the English ones. In North America, the US NOAA charts are non-copyright so chandlers can just photocopy them for you, really cheap. And in some places there are some local specialist ones maintained by yachtsmen like the 'Explorer' charts for the Bahamas, which have to be better than any governmental charts.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Sunnyseeker]

A minor word of caution, charts do sometimes have mistakes, not usually on UK shore as they get picked up quickly but Imray managed to make some mistakes like lighthouse on the wrong headland of an entrance a couple of years ago, if what you see on the land doesn't add up it can be chart errors. It was a copying error from admiralty charts I believe. They are produced by hand so there is a chance for human error. Personally from experience I wouldn't waste my money on Imray charts again, and the usefull information on the back concerning harbours and anchorages was at least 3 years out of date and more of a hinderance than any help. I refer to new 2002 charts I spent £400.00 on.
Their Pilot books were also lacking current information.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[bob_tyler]

Whatever type of charts you buy, Admiralty, Stanfords or Imray, stick to the one make.

You will only get confused if you mix them as symbols and colours can be different. It is really a matter of preference but, as a newbie, don't get confused or you may run aground.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[whisper]

Hi Julian,
I don't have any problem provided you use a 2B, or even softer, pencil on Imray charts - resulting scribbling seems reasonably visible to me. If you're careful you can even wipe it off with a gently applied damp cloth.
Agree that the Admiralty ones are clearer and are, in some way, things of beauty, but I find them a real hassle to correct. I also seem to need more of them to cover a given length of coastline.
Don't quite understand the "toy" reference re. Imray's. I find them to be of far more practical use than Admiralty ones. It's what one gets used to I suppose and the type of boating one does and location thereof. If you need large scale stuff then obviously one has to go for those Admiralty products.
I'm afraid that I can spend hours just looking at charts, whatever the brand. This is almost as sad as spending so much time on these forums/forums/images/icons/blush.gif
Cheers,
John.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[whisper]

Re. Imray Pilots - there is a regular updating service for these available on their website. In my experience every Pilot you buy is somewhat outdated by the time it is published, but not all publishers enable them to be easily updated prior to the next edition being printed.
I've not yet seen an Imray chart with detail of harbours and anchorages on the back of them, such info is normally on the chart front. Again this can be regularly updated via their website. All that's on the back, in my experience, is a very handy reference to chart symbols.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Jeremy_W]

For sailing out of Penarth a really good tidal atlas is vital. As you've probably discovered trying to get anywhere round there against the tide is a fool's errand. As for charts I'm fond of Imray because of the way they integrate charts and pilot books.

Take a look in the chandlery at Penarth Marina and ask Gareth what he recomends.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Birdseye]

Its all down to personal preference. I sail from S Wales too, and use one Imray chart. I dont bother with a tidal atlas - dont find that I need one, and in any case they are extrapolations between point readings and not very accurate in my experience.

Have a look at the new UKHO / RYA plotter if you have a laptop. Excellent piece oif kit that avoids overcomplication.



<hr width=100% size=1>this post is a personal opinion, and you should not base your actions on it.