Whatever happened to the Chart Table?

beancounter

beancounter

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Whilst climbing over a number of boats last night at Excel, ("modern volume-production cruisers in the 33-37 foot range"), I was struck by the decline of the chart table. Those on show ranged from the barely-adequate to the token gesture.

The only one I saw that looked decent was on the (much-derided on this forum) Bavaria 34.

Yes, I know I'm a dinosaur...
 
I bet that you're missing the man with red flag in front of your car as well /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Seriously, I'm not surprised, with modern chartplotter and the like the days of widespread use of the chart are numbered, IMO.

Exit stage left with asbestos coat and earplugs on.
 
Chris,

I wonder, is it driven by the spread of electronics, or is it a result of designers wanting to maximise the "light, spacious living accomodation" effect?

Oh, and I don't know much about the horseless carriage - my man sorts out the tedious process of "driving"....
 
On my small boat I use a chartplotter and also use paper charts as well. When I did Yachtmaster theory the instructor advised that we should always use paper charts as well in case the electrics failed. When I explained this to a non sailor at work I struggled to give a good answer to his question "why don't aircraft use paper charts then?" Next week at YM lesson, my instructor struggled to give me a good answer to same question. I expect the answer is that boat kit is less reliable than aircraft kit, but having said that my plotter is very reliable and I believe electronic kit is generally more reliable these days.
 
If you really want to see the decline of the chart table, just look at a few motor boats.
All the new charts I have bought in Turkey are A2 size, much smaller than the old ones, and easily fit on the good sized chart table on my boat, whereas the older charts either had to be folded or spread out on the saloon table. The new Admiralty tough chart portfolios are even smaller at A3.
My own view is that any fair sized boat should have a chart table capable of taking A2 charts unfolded, with enough space around them for a few instruments or to accommodate one of the smaller Yeoman plotters, which take A2 charts. I see no reason why smaller boats cannot have the saloon table used as a chart table if it is designed as such. The space saved by omitting a dedicated chart table in a small boat can usually be put to good use.

Now running for cover!
 
Norman - if you remember 'We Didn't Mean to go to Sea', on the way home from Holland, the dad fixed a chart to the table. 1930s?

God, I want a boat ...

S x
 
The Navy still use paper charts, several were in evidence on HMS Exeter. They told me they also still use a sextant regularly for coastal work.
 
You have (generally) a saloon table.. no use at sea as such, but puuuuuuuuuuurfect for a nav table...
Why have space for something you hardly use.. ??

As for the navy using a sextant.. oh yes.. sure,, its gotta be true.. doh !
 
As for the navy using a sextant.. oh yes.. sure,, its gotta be true.. doh !

The only way to be proficient at a task is to practice. Regularly. Why on earth would you think that traditional navigation skills are not routinely practised in th Royal Navy???? Get a grip, old boy.
 
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As for the navy using a sextant.. oh yes.. sure,, its gotta be true.. doh !

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Apparently they check distance off. Crew of HMS St Albans said same thing last year. No reason not to believe them.
 
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No your not, if the Yeoman wont fit dont buy it.

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If it's not big enough to change babies nappies don't buy it.

Actually I'd really miss my nav seat. It's where I read pilot books, fiddle with switches and generally day dream. It also doubles as a work surface when cooking Sunday lunch.
 
I have a chart table, up on the bridge where I can see what is around me. It takes A2 folio charts nicely, has space and rails for instruments etc and the GPS is next to it. I rather enjoy chart work even if getting 3 point fixes can be a challenge for the myopic:-)

But I have a smoky old mobo, what do I know or care?
 
Snowy, your chart table can take the most impossible channel chart - Channel Islands and the adjacent coasts of France unfolded and the right way up?

Seriously, I wouldn't be without a chart table. It's a desk, worktable for clean and small stuff, temporary galley worktop, bar, etc. Plus a handy place for the watchkeeper to sit below decks.
 
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When I explained this to a non sailor at work I struggled to give a good answer to his question "why don't aircraft use paper charts then?" Next week at YM lesson, my instructor struggled to give me a good answer to same question.

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Why struggle?

Aircraft systems are built to very high specs, include much redundancy and duplication, are used, monitored and checked daily and are maintained by professional engineers to a rigid schedule. How much of this is true of the average boat system?

What is more, they still fail. Anyone who flies regularly will have experience of being delayed by systems failures in the aircraft - often electrical.
 
Oh how we will all laugh when the gps satellites are disabled soon, either by the extra sunspot activity forecasted to shut down satellites over the next decade, or through increased hostilities between nations!

Frankly, in my humble opinion, anybody who sails extensively and does not regularly check and back up electronic plots by non-electronic means whilst passage making, really has no right to be at sea and deserves to run into into trouble. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
What an informed and fascinating viewpoint from a first poster... ( /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif to you too!)
 
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