PBO Vs Reeds

[seaesta]

Apologies to our host but can anyone comment on the PBO almanac? I have had Reeds for several years but the PBO version looks like better value. Does it have legible chartlets etc. The PBO one is cheap enough for my kids to buy me for Xmas -would you buy it??

Martin

 

[pvb]

Keep the Reeds as back-up...

I don't think that the MacMillan Reeds Almanac changes greatly from year to year (remember when they did a 2-year version?). So why not have a PBO for 2003 and keep the Reeds as a back-up? Maybe invest in a Reeds again for 2004? Just a thought.

 

[LadyInBed]

I haven't has a PBO Almanac for some years, I think the last one I bought cost £7.50. As I remember it, it didn’t have chartlets, only tidal flow diagrams. Last year I got a loose leaf sale copy of McReeds, which I thought was very good, so I got the replacement insert this year which turned out to be the complete book.
I probably wont update again for another two or three years, as the only thing that really changes are the tide tables, which I get from my PC, and I buy Poole tables (my local port). I can't see why McReeds don’t put the tide tables into a separate section, which would reduce the size / production cost of the update, it might even reduce the cost to us (some hope).

 

[VicS]

Unless you keep your charts up to date and update pilot books regularly the Macmillan/Reeds almanac is very handy for details of buoys, lights and pilotage notes including good harbour plans. It is of course a bit of a pig having to buy all this information for hundreds of miles of coast you're not going to visit.

If youve got last years Mac/Reeds then let the kids buy the PBO one for Xmas. Then you can make a sensible choice in the future based on your needs.

 

[Twister_Ken]

go the whole hog ...

... and get the new Cruising Association Almanac. The best harbour plans for just about everywhere from the Faroes to Gibraltar, plus tides for 2003 and a free 2004 tides update.

http://www.cruising.org.uk/almanac/CAalmanac1.htm

 

[bedouin]

Re: go the whole hog ...

I was wondering about that one - have you seen it?

 

[Twister_Ken]

Re: go the whole hog ...

Had a good look at SBS, liked it but didn't want to carry one home. I generally go along to CA House for evening talks in the winter, so I'll pick one up then.

 

[tony_brighton]

PBO Alamanac is v.good value. Its data is sourced from Reeds. I've found it very useful around the Channel but I do use it in conjuction with a pilot book for local data/info.

 

[Celena]

Re: go the whole hog ...

Was leafing through ours last night. Good idea to make it last two years (although we always made Macs last three by buying PBO Almanac in the intervening years) Better chartlets than Macs but couldn't find low water differences for secondary ports; only high water, which is not so important.

 

[jimi]

My mother in law buy's me Reeds every year and I always keep the old one's on the boat so that if its a pissing wet night I can refer to the old one in the cockpit whilst piloting without wrecking the current one.

 

[Chris_Stannard]

Two years in a row I have bought PBO, thinking that I would use the chart data from the old Reeds, and two years ina row I have then gone out as soon as the season starts and bought Reeds as at the end of the day you get lots of extras like chart corrections and so for free. I think PBO is fine if you are staying local, but Reeds if you are going anywhere across the Channel of farther afield along the coast.

Chris Stannard