No paper charts for one off trip

jimi

jimi

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Considering a trip up north, through the Caledonian Canal and down the East Coast


I have 3 electronic sources
1)HH chartplotter using batteries
2)Netbook with Belfied & CM93
3)Laptop with CM93

Charts would probably cost c £200 ish

am I a foolish skinflint or merely being judiciously frugal to do without paper charts?
 
jimi said:
Considering a trip up north, through the Caledonian Canal and down the East Coast


I have 3 electronic sources
1)HH chartplotter using batteries
2)Netbook with Belfied & CM93
3)Laptop with CM93

Charts would probably cost c £200 ish

am I a foolish skinflint or merely being judiciously frugal to do without paper charts?
Click to expand...

what do the ferry's use :eek:
at least get passage charts
 
I would say that at least planing charts would be essential along with CCC directions for he west coast there are several tidal gates etc. and of course an AA atlas for the east coast.
 
scottie said:
I would say that at least planing charts would be essential along with CCC directions for he west coast there are several tidal gates etc. and of course an AA atlas for the east coast.
Click to expand...

I've got the PBO almanac with tidal info
 
I recently sold a load of charts to the skipper of a 50 footer that had lost all his electrics and had no paper charts onboard for the trip back to the Solent, a nice sale from my point of view. So you would not be alone in thinking you could manage without paper, just take a list of all the chart agents along the route in case ;)
 
How well does the above work with no GPS reception?
Do you have a good pilot book?

Would a few Imray charts be worthwhile?
If you do the corrections, you'll be able to sell them on eBay for 75% of what they cost, probably?

When you get down to it, most of what you need is in the Almanac.

It's also worth asking around to borrow.
Lots of people have charts they are unlikely to use again and might loan them for a fraction of their value.
 
DJE said:
So how do you plot your position if the GPS system goes down? Unlikely but it has been known.
Click to expand...

Distant probability with 4 different GPS sources and power supplies .. more likely to get a paper chart blown overboard ;-)

However .. transparency on screen and plotted with felt tip
 
jimi said:
Distant probability with 4 different GPS sources and power supplies .. more likely to get a paper chart blown overboard ;-)

However .. transparency on screen and plotted with felt tip
Click to expand...

I was thinking of loosing the signal from the sattelites due jamming or solar flares. As you say distant possibilities. Does the netbook software allow you to draw position lines?
 
Be careful, the satellites go down ALL THE TIME. Flipping Luddites.

You'll be fine with what you have. You seem like a sensible enough chap so if all of the satellites fall out of the sky just stay away from the green/brown bits until you see another boat you can follow or until you see a channel marked with buoys.

You also don't need a life raft, flares, plb, epirb etc etc etc to go up the coast!
 
jimi said:
Laptop & netbook both do
Click to expand...

The Reeds Almanac also give plenty of information about passage bouyage, with chartlets for pilotage. With charts on two devices as you say, and a HH GPS for simple plotting you'll be fine.

Final belt, braces and hands in your pocket too would be Navionics on iPhone. I also bought boatie which was suggested on here, and found it very good for simple BTW/COG/SOG stuff.

(PS Wanna buy a 2012 Reeds? I wont be needing it for the rest of the summer!!)
 
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