OK so what paper charts do you guys in the Med use

Hurricane

Hurricane

Well-Known Member
Joined
11 Nov 2005
Messages
9,856
Location
Sant Carles de la Ràpita
Visit site
Just been looking at the UKHO website.
Really unintuative - one of the worst I've ever seen.

I was looking for a leisure folio similar to the ones you get for UK waters but UKHO dont seem to do similar folios for the Med.

Up to now, and as most of you know, I'm a fan of Memory-Map software so I've been using the selection of charts that Maptech offer. The Med charts that they sell dont have UKHO base and some are extremely old but the selection is good.

I'm ok for electronic vector charts - I'm using the Navionics Platinum but, due to a VERY bad example where the current issue is so bad that they havent charted a huge port extension round the Gijon area in north Spain, I've losy all confidence with Navionics accuracy.

So, what do people on here use for paper charts?
 
Hurricane,

Its a problem we all have as the Spanish and French charts available are very basic a bit like a service station road map.
The admiralty charts are available but run expensive as I presume you want these for the Malta run.

I by in bulk, packs of charts for my Balearic clients these Chart packs have charts for the whole of the Balearic Islands and all ports. On the reverse. Compleat with a almanac and CD version. I know you can get other regions same format. I sell them 100e (I will PM you) Ideal for detail of all the calas and ports in the Balearics.

I do a lot of deliverys and I find that the Block marine almanacs cover all ports and aproaches for vast areas so the spanish and Italy versions should cover your whole trip. Kelvin Hughes are good supliers of these and will be at the boat show. They run at about £35 but front section is all the charts for the overall area. and the detail is similar to our Reeds almanac. Make sure that you order Spanish / English and Italian / English versions---- If you used OMHO chart 165 with the almanacs and a chart for sicily Malta I think youv'e got it. Couple this with your plat system and G4 you wont get lost.
 
I have Imray paper Charts on board, but mainly use the plotters: Nauticpath Charts on the Lowrance and C-Map on the Laptop. I also use the local Pilot book and the Almanac, and generally ask a question or two on here.
 
I also generally use the French Navicarte charts with a good pilot book like the Imray ones. The Bloc book is good but a bit unwieldy IMHO. I also have a folio type chart pack for the Balearics which I bought locally and I think is Spanish. I did buy a load of Imray M charts but the scale is far too small for close pilotage use
You have to be more careful with both paper and electronic charts in the Med compared to the UK because they don't seem to be updated/corrected so frequently and they're often based on less detailed surveys. I have come across several major anomalies on supposedly brand new electronic charts. For example, I bought a new C Map cartridge this year for our trip along the Costa Brava which didn't show a new entrance to Barcelona harbour or the fact that one of the old entrances had been blocked off. Another example was another new C Map cartridge which didn't show the new breakwater across Ibiza Town harbour nor the port extension in Cala d'Or. I've also come across occasional shallows and rocks in popular anchorages, particularly in Menorca, which have not been marked even on the largest scale
IMHO, you can't rely on electronic or paper charts in the Med to the same extent that you can in the UK and the Mk1 Eyeball is still the most useful nav instrument you've got
 
I have the Imray 'M' charts on Buster, currently berthed in N317. As Deleted User said, I didn't find them as reliable as the UK charts.

Feel free to take a look at them if you are in SC, they are located under the chart cover at the helm of Buster.

You probably already know that the PC Plotter Navionics 26XG electronic chart (Gold) covers this area as does the 23XG, but I expect you can use Platinum charts on your system! I only have the C80.

Given the guidance from those above with experience in the Med, I intend to take a look at the charts/pilots they suggest. I wonder if there will be any available at the LBS? Or is this just wishful thinking on my part?
 
I second the Navicarte charts and the Imray Balearic Pilot book. I trust the pilot book more than the Charts or Plotter for local pilotage. it has I believe been fully updated in the past year or so.

Incidentally, although I don't do any night cruising I do like the way the Navicarte charts display light characteristics.
 
[ QUOTE ]
it has I believe been fully updated in the past year or so

[/ QUOTE ]

Bugger, I knew there was something I forgot to ask for at Christmas /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Yes, its got nice ariel shots for when you get the helicoptor deck fitted............ /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 
Thanks everyone

I already have the Imray Balearic Pilot on the boat (I think) which I bought at last year's LIBS - I bet its the older one - bugger!

I think I'll have a look at the Navigarte charts but also drop Gskip a PM.

Actually, my ultimate requirement is to have the charts (raster) electronically so that I can print them out as I need onto cheap paper that can be scribbled on and eventually thrown away. I currently have this option using tha Maptech charts and the Memory-Map software - great combination but the Maptech charts of the Med seem to be a tad old. - Actually I've just looked at the main large scale one of the Balerics that I've been using for planning - date is 2004 and it says that its a modified reproduction of INT303,1 - Originally published in 1997 by Espana. The copies I have seem to have been published in Germany but I suspect that is something to do with Maptech's electronic publishing. The great thing with the Memory Map software is that you can scan your own charts in and electronically calibrate them. I use this all the time when planning passages etc - you dont have to keep flipping between paper charts and any route that you enter then appear on all the charts that are associated with that particular route. I've already done some of my own additional charts - even (for a bit of fun) took a few screen dumps of the lagoon at Sant Carles from Google earth - joined them together in Photoshop and then imported/calibrated the aerial views directly into the Memory Map system. I now have actual charts of the srea so they will be going the same way. The other good thing about this approach is that you can have copies at home and on the boat so planning your holiday can be done before you set off from home.

All I want now is some greater accuracy - just like in the UK.

Thanks all, for your comments - I'm sure I'll find it useful.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top