Charts: Admiralty or Imray?

[Sanderling_]

For years I have used Admiralty charts. I am now looking at a trip to south west Brittany and have just added up the number of charts I need to buy. Looking at Imray the area is covered by just four charts. Can anyone confirm whether the scope and detail on the Imray charts provide adequate coverage to explore this area?

Having never used Imray charts, your advice would be most welcome.

Regards,
Tony

 

[fireball]

Having had 4 years of Imray charts we've just bought 2 lesuire folios from Admiralty ..

The slightly waterproof Imray charts are fine, but the print does rub off with regular use of an eraser ... /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif After 4 years of light use the charts are starting to tear at the folds.

Having not used a comparitive Admiralty chart I can't offer you a sensible comparison...

 

[tome]

I've always been an Admiralty chart fan until last year when we looked at sailing to La Rochelle. Imray far better value though it pains me to say so.

At the end of the day, you just need a detailed chart to guide you through an unfamiliar approch

 

[paulrossall]

From my previous experience of one Imray chart and one pilot I would not use them. They take the Admiralty information and put it on their charts. Sometimes they miss things off. I bought a guide to the Humber which said the tidal streams were based on Hull which looked rubish and I eventually worked out they were based on Dover times. Imray at first said I was mistaken and later blamed the bloke who wrote the guide. I use Stanfords but would use Admiralty if necessary. I would not use Imray at all. IMHO. Paul

 

[jerryat]

Got both types and the best is Admiralty - definitely! Will last years longer than Imray, but then they cost more.

 

[Evadne]

I have used Admiralty, Stanfords and Imray and would rate them in that order. Mostly I don't like the colours and format of Imray, so it is a personal thing. I used to find the tidal streams and harbour chartlets on Stanfords very useful, but I buy an almanac each year now so the info. is redundant.
When I wanted to go the the Channel Islands from Cherbourg some years ago I bought French SHOM charts from the chandlery. They are every bit as good as the Admiralty ones, you don't need to speak more than schoolboy French and IIRC they are cheaper than Admiralty ones. You can obtain the chart numbers you need here . Unfortunately they don't list an agent in the UK.

 

[Roberto]

I use Imray for south brittany: with a few charts all the area is covered, plus they have detailed plans of most approaches which I would need an additional Shom chart for

only drawback I have found so far is the lack of some names of beacons or rocks: when a pilot says "to approach steer 160 to Bastresses sud" and you cannot find the Bastresses...

 

[brianhumber]

Charts for France ?- it has to be SHOM

When in France use SHOM, the Admiralty use the French info anyway.
Both are miles better for details of those isolated rocks you will find aplenty in this area than Imray or Stamford.

 

[Captain Haddock]

I only use Admiralty now, tried Imray but kept going back to Admiralty.