I haven't been on a boat in a while but, to celebrate his safe return
from Iraq, my son and I will take a week-long charter (C&C30) this
summer from Boston to the Vineyard. So I naturally went to Bliss
Marine for charts. But there are no charts, not the familiar kind that
get smudgy and wet, and tear at the folds, and become raggedy and
illegible.

How have navigation aids evolved in ten years, and what do you guys
use for charts nowadays? I see that there are downloadable charts, but
I haven't yet been able to dowload them; and besides they'd print as
8-1/2x11 in B&W.

Thanks!

-- Pete

"pete" wrote in message
ups.com...
I haven't been on a boat in a while but, to celebrate his safe return
from Iraq, my son and I will take a week-long charter (C&C30) this
summer from Boston to the Vineyard. So I naturally went to Bliss
Marine for charts. But there are no charts, not the familiar kind that
get smudgy and wet, and tear at the folds, and become raggedy and
illegible.

How have navigation aids evolved in ten years, and what do you guys
use for charts nowadays? I see that there are downloadable charts, but
I haven't yet been able to dowload them; and besides they'd print as
8-1/2x11 in B&W.

Thanks!

-- Pete


Those same old charts are still available for this area at about $20 CDN a
pop.
Some use a chart datum of feet for depth, others use fathoms and newer
versions... meters... so you have to pay attention to your 'Legend'.
http://ca.binnacle.com/index.php?cPath=67_396

In article . com,
pete wrote:

I haven't been on a boat in a while but, to celebrate his safe return
from Iraq, my son and I will take a week-long charter (C&C30) this
summer from Boston to the Vineyard. So I naturally went to Bliss
Marine for charts. But there are no charts, not the familiar kind that
get smudgy and wet, and tear at the folds, and become raggedy and
illegible.

How have navigation aids evolved in ten years, and what do you guys
use for charts nowadays? I see that there are downloadable charts, but
I haven't yet been able to dowload them; and besides they'd print as
8-1/2x11 in B&W.

Thanks!

-- Pete

Hi

You should be able to find a chartbook from West Marine or BoatUS.

Have fun

--
Resources to play the guitar for fun and relaxation

http://www.virtualguitarcenter.com

pete wrote:
I haven't been on a boat in a while but, to celebrate his safe return
from Iraq, my son and I will take a week-long charter (C&C30) this
summer from Boston to the Vineyard. So I naturally went to Bliss
Marine for charts. But there are no charts, not the familiar kind that
get smudgy and wet, and tear at the folds, and become raggedy and
illegible.

How have navigation aids evolved in ten years, and what do you guys
use for charts nowadays? I see that there are downloadable charts, but
I haven't yet been able to dowload them; and besides they'd print as
8-1/2x11 in B&W.

Thanks!

-- Pete


I use Maptech ChartKit region 2 (RI-Maine) (not to be confused with the smaller
ChartBooks). I find the spiral-bound 17x22 format easier to use than a pile of
full-size charts. A small illuminated magnifying glass is handy for seeing
fine details when your glasses are wet or smudged. I also use the companion
Embassy Guide for additional info about anchorages & marinas.

I just used this combo in a 35' sloop for a 5-day trip around Cape Cod and a
10-day trip from Boston to Nantucket, the Vineyard and the Elizabeth Islands.
No problems navigating tricky spots like Woods Hole or Pollock Rip, nor with
small harbors like Hadley or Oak Bluffs (gotta love that 5' draft). I'm an
old-school dividers, parallel rule & hand-bearing compass navigator, so I
really gave the charts a workout. For longer passages without landmarks, I do
succumb to using GPS for minimizing drift and I find the pre-defined waypoints
handy for that purpose. I used to use full-sized charts, but I'm quite happy
with the ChartKit and will not be buying full-sized charts any more.

--
Chuck Cox
SynchroSystems - embedded computer design - http://synchro.com

my email is politician-proof, just remove the PORK

* pete wrote, On 6/23/2007 2:09 PM:
I haven't been on a boat in a while but, to celebrate his safe return
from Iraq, my son and I will take a week-long charter (C&C30) this
summer from Boston to the Vineyard. So I naturally went to Bliss
Marine for charts. But there are no charts, not the familiar kind that
get smudgy and wet, and tear at the folds, and become raggedy and
illegible.

How have navigation aids evolved in ten years, and what do you guys
use for charts nowadays? I see that there are downloadable charts, but
I haven't yet been able to dowload them; and besides they'd print as
8-1/2x11 in B&W.

Thanks!

-- Pete

I sail in that area and use charts from Maptech:
http://www.maptech.com/water/index.cfm

Unfortunately, you would need about $80 worth to cover your trip - the
Boston area waterproof kit, and a couple of additional charts for
Buzzards' Bay and the Vineyard. Many modern GPS units have the charts
built in, and you can get all the charts for a PC essentially free,
but nothing replaces the "paper in fist" approach.

All of the Maptech products should be available at Bliss, by which I
assume you mean the West Marine in Woburn. Although pricey, the
waterproof charts won't wear out, tear, or become soggy. You can also
get the large paper Chartkit that is Canadian Border to Block Island,
but I don't like to use that in the cockpit - it generally stays under
my berth.

On Jun 23, 6:09 pm, pete wrote:
I haven't been on a boat in a while but, to celebrate his safe return
from Iraq, my son and I will take a week-long charter (C&C30) this
summer from Boston to the Vineyard. So I naturally went to Bliss
Marine for charts. But there are no charts, not the familiar kind that
get smudgy and wet, and tear at the folds, and become raggedy and
illegible.

try
http://tidesend.com/
they'll get you originals [at original prices!] or
b&w reprints in 4X3 [original] or 3X2 [feet] sizes

they print the latest updates bases on your departure date,
the regional packs are quite convenient. printing and shipping
in less than 1 week in my case.