Imray vs Admiralty

[muckypup]

I'm deciding which charts to get. I'm used to looking at the Admiralty charts from my Day Skipper theory course but to get a full set of the Bristol Channel is quite expensive. I believe a full set would be :-

SC 1179 Bristol Channel
SC 1161 Swansea Bay
SC 1152 Bristol Channel
SC 1076 Linney Head to Oxwich Point
SC 1182 Approaches to Barry and Cardiff
SC 1165 Bristol Channel - Worms Head to Watchet
SC 1176 Severn Estuary
SC 1164 Hartland Point to Illfracombe inc. Lundy

Which at about £13.95 each will be £111.60

Now the Imray chart set to cover the same coastline will require charts :-

C59 Bristol Channel: Worms Head and Bull Point to Sharpness
C60 Gower Peninsula to Cardigan
C58 Trevose Head to Bull Point

Which at £14.95 each comes to £44.85... way less than the Admiralty charts.

The questions are : Are the Admiralty charts any better than the Imray ones? Are they worth another £67 or have I gone overkill with the Admiralty chart list?

Steve

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

I'm guessing that the Imray charts are not as large scale as the Admiralty charts, hence the difference in price to cover a similar area. You'll be fine with the Imray charts providing you have a good pilot book and almanac to give you detailed pilotage chartlets for your intended ports of call
In principle, Imray charts are more aimed at the leisure boater like yourself whereas the Admiralty charts are more aimed at professional mariners

 

[PCUK]

The only difference between Imray and Admiralty is that Imray remove items that are of no consequence to small boat owners. Deep wrecks for example. That is why wreck divers will tend to use Admiralty.

 

[Gludy]

I back the advice - go for Imray - prettier to look at as well.

 

[muckypup]

I've already got the reeds 2006 almanac and the "Lundy and Irish sea pilot". I will go for Imray charts - I don't think I will be doing any deep wreck diving for a while /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

Steve

 

[ps1]

Have a look at web page , good value and user friendly.

 

[muckypup]

To cover the whole of the bristol channel for £27.95 is quite good value.... are they as good as the Imray charts?

Steve

 

[LeytonC]

I agree with pap_sierra - get a set of stanfords (i use em - the chartpack for the bristol channel) but you will need an Admiralty 1166 for bristol to sharpness, the other charts are not lare enough scale.

So where are you going to be based? i am at sharpness (right at the top of the channel)

 

[muckypup]

I would like to be in Swansea marina, but then, so would a lot of people and there is a long waiting list. I still need to speak to Penarth to see if I can get in there, or failing that, maybe Portishead.

Steve

 

[LeytonC]

Swansea is dead mans shoes!

If you try penarth, try cardiff bay yacht clud - lot cheaper and better than the marina

I like portishead sami_lymington is there along with some others. As i said i am only up at sharpness.

Will see you out and about...

 

[Gludy]

So whats wrong with Swansea then? Dead mans shoes??????

From my perspective the only problem is it only 5 minutes walk to the City centre and all those blimin shops that females spend money in.
/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[LeytonC]

Sorry, means the only way in (cos its so good) is someone to die.

I loved my stay in swansea, its an excellent marina.

 

[Gludy]

Ok ... all forgiven ...... its a very friendly marina and as a 60 foot boats costs about £3200 pa. it is good value as well!

 

[muckypup]

Is the quality of the charts on the website representitive of the quality of the actual charts themselves? I find pixelated and difficult to read.

Chart Example

Or are the charts themselves better?

Steve

 

[Gludy]

The charts are very good indeed - the web site does no reprsent them properly.

 

[LeytonC]

No they are fine. They are not as big as Admiralty charts (so info is a bit more compressed) but that is an advantage cos i can have them by my helm were an Admiralty chart would not fit with out extreme origami <sp>

Anyway, at £27.50 if you dont like em its not that much of a problem!

 

[muckypup]

Oh well... have ordered a set.

Steve

 

[LeytonC]

Well done /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif the only chart i have thats Admiralty is the 1166 bristol avonmouth to sharpness because its so big, and handy to have for reference.

 

[muckypup]

Bristol to sharpness looks so complex, I'm not sure I'd even attempt it without a decent chartplotter.

I am only a beginner though... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I look out every time I go over the bridge and think I'm going to sail up here sometime, so I will have a go - maybe when I have a bit more experience.

Steve

 

[Jobs_a_ good_ un]

I use the imray ones for bristol channell i prefer it even going up to sharpness as it gives you the bearings for all the leading lights etc
Regards
Mark
Portishead is not to bad a marina though you can only get out 3-4 hours either side of high water