Macmillans vs PBO small craft almanac

[Benbow]

I have always bought the full Macmillans Almanac in the past. But I don't use 90% of it and I am tempted to switch to the PBO small craft almanac thus saving £20 and some trees. I don't have a nearby chandlery where I can go and browse. Basically I need tide tables and up-to-date chartlets of places on the W coast between Skye and Scillies.

Which should I get ?

Thanks



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[jimbouy]

I can't give you a comparison but I bought my first almanac this year... the PBO and as soon as you have opened it a few times in one place the pages start to fall out.

<hr width=100% size=1> "It is a pleasure to give advice, humiliating to need it, normal to ignore it"

 

[jsl]

PBO gives tides but not chartlets, I think. But would not last year's Mac be up-to-date enough?

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[MarkV]

Macmillans do a series of cut down almanacs for different areas, I baught a PBO lastyear and have tried the westen almanac this year. I don't know which one you will need though. I don't know how the area specific version compares to the full version.

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[Peppermint]

Re: Nothing quite as good as Macmillans

The regional ones offer a good compromise if you don't need the whole thing. Lighter too.

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[Benbow]

Irritatingly the western version does not cover the Scillies. Also Amazon do not appear to sell it and it is almost exactly the same price through the chandleries as the full version is through Amazon!

It is also true that I could probably get by with last years Macmillans and current tide tables - but it feels so wrong !

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[MacMan]

I had considered this but (although not saving trees) I saved my cash and brought the full Mac Reeds version from Amazon for £23.07 (I think). With all the chartlets up to date and in one book I didn't think the PBO one (not sold on Amazon) was worth it (although slightly cheaper)

I got free delivery as I was buying another book at the time.

Won't help the rain forests though !

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[Evadne]

Keep last years MacMillans and buy a PBO I do this, getting a new Macmillans every 2-3 years, as the old one gets too mildewed to read.

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[danera]

Have you considered the looseleaf version? I got the update pack for £16.50, whuch include Europe as well & took out all the pages I don't need... In the past I have made do with PBO + previous years Macmillans, but doesn't look/feel very 'professional'!

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[brianhumber]

have not bothered with expensive Almanac's for years. Plenty of tide info around to cover this aspect and I keep my charts up to date with UKHO corr from web. To date have not missed them at all.

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[Benbow]

Where do you get your tide information ? For even a modest cruise you might need 5 or 6 different primary ports. It has to be on paper for me rather than in some electronic format. Adimaralty tide tables cost almost as much as an entire almanac.

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[aitchw]

I have just bought the Belfield Tide Plotter (for 2004) on the advice of other forum user. You can plot and print off tables for any period and ports you want and it has a lot of other goodies built in. The cost was low about £11.00 and you can order it online, download and use immediately and get the full CD in the post a couple of days later.

www.tideplotter.com

Brilliant.

Howard

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