Paper charts in the cockpit

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BlueSkyNick

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I have read (can't recall where) about somebody who, when rounding a headland, would " ....rather keep an eye on the depth & have a paper chart in my hand than switch on the chartplotter."

Is this sound practice? Wouldn't have thought of YM's doing this. I would rather keep my charts safe and dry on the table where they belong.
 
In Sweden/Finland it's essential to keep it in the cockpit - you're navigating by ticking off rocks and beacons, can't pop up and down every few seconds, you'd get dizzy. You need a waterproof chart case, and a bit of blue tack to stick on it to keep track of where you are, otherwise trying to orientate yourself when you glance away from the chart and back can be bewildering.
 
Best as you say Nick to keep the charts safe. Best practice is to do a sketch of the essentials, headland shapes marks depths bearings etc... and use that in the cockpit.


Ian
 
Re: Paper charts on the table

Why do they belong on the table? Surely they belong in yer hand when you can relate what's on the chart to what you can see? Unless you've got ver big windows and even then you're better off up higher where the height of eye is higher and you can see more?
 
Re: Paper charts on the table

Good way to fail a YM practical!

Come on Jimi it's not that long since you did your YM - remember that hand bearing compass, secondary ports, sound signals, lights on a submarine towing a hovercraft.......?

Ian
 
Re: pah total failure YM

hm well i too TOTALLY disagree with jimi, especially with regard to big windows, a definite FAIL inthe exam saying "big windows" plus er well, tsk, dear oh dear oh dear....
 
Intelligen Person

Everybody knows there's no place in a modern boat for paper, he'll be looking at tell tales next instead of the ST60 wind indicator .... NOT
 
Re: Paper charts on the table

So you always leave your seacocks open and you always leave the charts on the table. We'll agree about something soon... I wonder what? ;-)
 
Re: No no no

well, i am afraid i think it would be FAR better that whatever the skipper does, suggest something a bit different instead to demonstrate that altho they are quite good well, see i'm just a teensy bit more experienced and knowlegdeable, so if he keeps the chart below and copies it out laboriously i will tsk tsk say there's the risk of copying it out a bit wrongly, whereas if he brings the chart up on deck well then i will say ahem AHEM it mite blow away and as we know nobody would ever have a photocopy or spare charts or a plastic holder and it's v well known that people drop charts overboard all the time....
 
Re: No no no

I also keep the chart in the cockpit, usually in the plastic folder and clipped to the washboard with those large 'drawing office' clips - the only snag is the clips rust easily and mark the chart. And I use Stanford charts as they are waterproof.
 
Easy

Underneath the sliding hatch runners, inside the cabin, are a pair of light runners with a painted sheet of ply, 22" x 29", running in them. Chart sits on that, under a sheet of Perspex, unless its an Admiralty small craft folio of course, along with hand held VHF and a chinagraph pencil.

No more galloping down to chart table.

This idea dates from around 1900, and is cheaper than a chart plotter.
 
Re: Easy

I used to have a Yeoman Sport plotter, and had that in the cockpit with a long lead (the big no-no in this story) to the cigar lighter. This, along with a chinagraph pencil, was v good in those conditions when going down below wasn't an option. Relating the chart to what you can see, and getting confirmation now and again with the mouse - VERY reassuring.

Nowadays I know better, my Yeoman Pro is down below on the chart table, and I, too, use a sketch - but never feel quite as reassured as my old setup.
 
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