Charts

[CornishMoody]

I am new to this cruising lark and am just going to buy some charts of my local waters (Falmouth).

I thought it would be interesting to hear what others thought about Admiralty and Imray. What do most people use and if they had any preferences.

Any thoughts would be most welcome.

 

[MoodySabre]

I think that is a personal choice and what you get used to. I went for Imray because they seemed to be more obvious - the deeper the water the darker the colour.

Back in the days when charts were all Admiralty and hand coloured the deepest bits covered more area and were therefore left uncoloured. They have stuck with this scheme.

P.S. Just noticed the same post on Scuttlebut - protocol is to only post a question once on the forums,

 

[DogWatch]

I am new to this cruising lark and am just going to buy some charts of my local waters (Falmouth).

I thought it would be interesting to hear what others thought about Admiralty and Imray. What do most people use and if they had any preferences.

Any thoughts would be most welcome.

Someone else is asking about the very same thing over on scuttlebut, you may find it interesting to see what advice he is offered.

 

[PeterGibbs]

I am new to this cruising lark and am just going to buy some charts of my local waters (Falmouth).

I thought it would be interesting to hear what others thought about Admiralty and Imray. What do most people use and if they had any preferences.

Any thoughts would be most welcome.

Imray are for sailors - they have ports and valuable detail right there on the page. Quality A1. Cheaper too.

Admiralty are for - well, what? All detail is on small separate charts at more cost.

Dumped Admiralty long ago - strongly recommend this course to you!

PWG

 

[shmoo]

You don't see many Imray survey ships out and about.

Get the proper ones. There are some things about which one should not compromise such as Mont Blanc fountain pens, Zippo lighters, HP Reverse Polish calculators, and UKHO charts.

When I was a kid there was a similar discussion about Bartholomew 1/2 inch maps as opposed to OS 1 inch. You don't see many Barts maps about now...

 

[[3889]]

Use both but if I was starting again I'd buy only Imray.

 

[MoodySabre]

You don't see many Imray survey ships out and about.

Imray charts say (as well as MCA Approved) that they are "derived in part from information provided by UKHO" - the parts not so derived are presumably the helpful port plans whhich Imray provide. Anyway, I expect that you were just being devil's advocate and not really suggesting that Imray charts are less accurate than Admiralty on matters of significance to sailors.

 

[Eygthene]

I always prefer to use Admiralty charts, though I do have some Imrays too. There is a small craft portfolio for this area which should cover all of your requirements until you want to cruise quite far from home. It does westwards to the Isles of Scilly and eastwards along the coast as far as Salcombe in about 12 sheets with harbour plans and so on, for about £40.

There used to be a specialist chart shop in Falmouth, but since it closed, you can get them from Bosun's Locker in Falmouth.

PM me for info. about opportunities to cruise in company from Falmouth with local clubs.

 

[Ubergeekian]

When I was a kid there was a similar discussion about Bartholomew 1/2 inch maps as opposed to OS 1 inch. You don't see many Barts maps about now...

You don't see many OS Road Atlases on sale, either.

 

[Bosun Higgs]

No but there is a difference - satellite mapping has broken the OS monopoly of map data. Same thing cant happen to the UKHO

 

[colvic987]

P.S. Just noticed the same post on Scuttlebut - protocol is to only post a question once on the forums,[/QUOTE]




And i thought someone had just nicked my post, as i couldn't find it, and i only posted a couple of minutes ago....doh..

 

[shmoo]

You don't see many OS Road Atlases on sale, either.

I suppose it depends on what you mean by many but this page on OS website has 18, of UK alone. http://leisure.ordnancesurvey.co.uk...-atlases-motorists-road-atlases-great-britain

I have one and, as one would expect, it is excellent.

 

[Ubergeekian]

I suppose it depends on what you mean by many but this page on OS website has 18, of UK alone. http://leisure.ordnancesurvey.co.uk...-atlases-motorists-road-atlases-great-britain

I have one and, as one would expect, it is excellent.

It may well be, but I choose my words with care and I wrote "many", not "any". Sure, the OS does some, but they have an awful lot of competition. And that include Bartholemew, by the way: http://www.bartholomewmaps.com/collinsroadatlases/

I don't like OS road atlases myself - I prefer the AZ ones - they have much nicer cartography and infinitely superior shading.

 

[shmoo]

No but there is a difference - satellite mapping has broken the OS monopoly of map data. Same thing cant happen to the UKHO

Neither OS nor UKHO have a monopoly, in the sense of there being regulatory barriers or trade practice to prevent others entering the field. It is just that they do the job extraordinarily well. So well, in fact that more or less all their competitors use OS and UKHO information to build products on.

Why use a derived product when you can have the original? In the case of Folios you get world class, national hydrographic office, mapping at a very low price per square mile mapped.

 

[doug748]

I use Admiralty, mainly bacause the others look cluttered to my old eyes. I would advise you to look at both and go with what feels best for you.
As Egythene has said, the Small Craft Folio is great value.

 

[Humblebee]

Imray charts

I've no complaint about Admiralty charts but the Imray ones do seem better value. I particularly like the included chartlets with port info. Seems like a bonus worth having to me.

 

[CornishMoody]

Many thanks for everybodys replies.

It does look like it comes down to personal preference so I think I'll try and both and see where it takes me...

 

[dt4134]

I prefer Admiralty charts. The colour scheme makes sense when you consider that it highlights dangers better than the Imray colour scheme, especially when you're using a dim or red light at night.

There have been a few times when I've really cursed Imray. One example was diverting to the Scillies after it got up to F9 and arriving in the wee small hours I suddenly noticed a note to switch to the Admiralty chart which we didn't have. Thanks Imray.

Having said that I buy Imray where there is a clear cost advantage over buying several Admiralty charts.

If you're just sailing locally might be worth looking at the Admiralty small craft folio (trouble is you're near the boundary).

 

[BelleSerene]

There are some things about which one should not compromise such as Mont Blanc fountain pens, Zippo lighters, HP Reverse Polish calculators, and UKHO charts.

Zippo lighters - fine. HP RPN calculators - I haven't been able to use a 'normal' calculators for years. UKHO - fine, although I wouldn't get worked up about it.

But Mont Blanc? Poor quality and massively overpriced. Simply not fit for purpose. Big mistake and waste of money.

 

[Mavis]

Hi Cornishmoody.
I sail from Looe, just up the coast from you and also find that the Admiralty Small Craft Portfolio of our area is all you need for just weekending up and down our magnificant coast. In fact I am hoping to spend the bank holiday down around your area next weekend.