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Old 06-27-2007, 03:36 PM   #1
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Hi

Did anyone use NOAA pocket charts? I found them here:

http://www.noaachartsonline.com/

They are NOAA charts downsized to 34% or 13"x19". They say that "The text is legible, but the soundings and other small text are very small, and many people will not be able to read them easily."

Is it possible to read the soundings at all? With a magnifying glass?

They sell them $6 each that's why I'm asking.

Thanks for any reply.

Piotrek
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Old 06-28-2007, 12:31 AM   #2
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Hey, at $6 each and free postage, it seems worthwhile to buy one for a look!

Could be useful if you need to travel over a wide area with few hazards.

Let us know your thoughts if you do check them out.

Rob
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Old 06-28-2007, 01:13 AM   #3
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It appears these charts will be of little use to anyone sailing anywhere except for coastal USA. That's a pity because Admiralty charts of just about anywhere in the world are expensive. In Oz for instance, a paper chart of any harbour will cost about $30. To buy charts for the Great Barrier Reef is almost a choice between new charts...or new dinghy!

I think the printing of the NOAA charts may be a wise initiative to counter the number of boaties who head off with only a chartplotter an no paper charts for DR work, in the event of an equipment failure. The site clearly says not all people will be able to read the soundings, but I assume contour lines will still be printed, and anyone working on the shallow side of a coastal line would need to be keeping a good, constant eye on the depth in any case.

It is hard to imagine from an outsiders point of view, that the NOAA would produce anything that was not purposeful. If you do buy one, please let us know of your opinion.

Cheers

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Old 06-28-2007, 06:56 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Auzzee View Post
It appears these charts will be of little use to anyone sailing anywhere except for coastal USA. That's a pity because Admiralty charts of just about anywhere in the world are expensive. In Oz for instance, a paper chart of any harbour will cost about $30. To buy charts for the Great Barrier Reef is almost a choice between new charts...or new dinghy!

I think the printing of the NOAA charts may be a wise initiative to counter the number of boaties who head off with only a chartplotter an no paper charts for DR work, in the event of an equipment failure. The site clearly says not all people will be able to read the soundings, but I assume contour lines will still be printed, and anyone working on the shallow side of a coastal line would need to be keeping a good, constant eye on the depth in any case.

It is hard to imagine from an outsiders point of view, that the NOAA would produce anything that was not purposeful. If you do buy one, please let us know of your opinion.
The site says they're in color, so that would help its readability.

Because US charts are not copyrighted, any chart can be printed by anybody. You might consider downloading NOAA charts and bringing one to Kinko's or Staples to print (though do check their ability to read file formats and price first). You can bring the file on a flash drive, so it's a pretty easy way to get things copied when you don't have a printer capable of what you want done.

Copyright. The US government rightfully (IMO) believes that charting our waters is an issue of national importance, and thus the taxpayers have already paid for the charting (and not only US waters, so any US chart, regardless of area, if copyright-free). It's the printing that private individuals and commercial shipping have to pay for. Makes for lots of benefits if you can find someone who has the US charts you'd like - you can copy them without fear of repercussions.
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Old 06-28-2007, 08:32 PM   #5
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Thanks for good advice. I've ordered one, so I'll give you my review in about a week, when I receive it.

I'll check university library. They can have some useful charts and maybe they can copy some for me.

Thanks again

Piotrek
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Old 06-29-2007, 03:25 PM   #6
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We have several of the pocket charts in our chart folder. They ARE useable, but not easily. Primary use is pre planning. For that they are excellent.

The print is tiny, but for the most part legible, albeit with a magnifying glass at times.

For general running of the ICW for instance, they work fairly well. I wouldn't like to depend on ONLY that chart for critical work- too hard to see detail.

However, the full NOAA charts are easily down loaded to a laptop, as JeanneP says. We have the full set of coastal and ICW charts for the US Gulf Coast on our laptop ( and on a CD) and should we need to, can interface our hand held GPS (either one) with the laptop and use it as a chart plotter.

Jeanne- Thanks for the Kinkos printing idea. I WILL remember that, since I really like having paper aboard. Although the chart on the laptop was really handy when we diverted to an unexpected pass during an offshore sail last year. We didn't have that paper aboard, but we could set waypoints on the GPS from the laptop and get us to the seabouy from some 25 miles out. From there we interfaced til we were safely inside.
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Old 06-30-2007, 02:00 PM   #7
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Don't know if you all know about this one already but NOAA also has available an on line program that lets you look at ANY US chart and zoom in to specific spots. I find it handy for preplanning. Here's the link...have fun!

http://ocsdata.ncd.noaa.gov/OnLineViewer/
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Old 07-19-2007, 05:58 PM   #8
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Hi

I've got one of the pocket charts. Shipping was quick and no problem at all. The map itself is fine. The print is clear and everything is there. I mean if you use magnifying glass you can read all soundings and stuff. But it is so small, that it would be very hard to work on it.

I checked University of Michigan Library and they have all NOAA maps and more. They make large format photocopy of any map for $1.50 per map. I think this solves my problem for now.

Btw I'd like to thank you all for tons of good advice. We (me and my wive) are leaving Michigan on our little boat in 10 days. We are heading to NYC, then north to St. Pierre and Miquelon (as a part of EU no passports required for us. Isn't it cool?) and when hurricane season ends we'll go south to the Caribbean (if everything works). We plan to spend winter there and in the spring sail back home to Poland.

Thanks again. We'll try to stay in touch with you.

Piotrek
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Old 07-19-2007, 06:28 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Piotrek View Post
We (me and my wive) are leaving Michigan on our little boat in 10 days. We are heading to NYC, then north to St. Pierre and Miquelon (as a part of EU no passports required for us. Isn't it cool?) and when hurricane season ends we'll go south to the Caribbean (if everything works). We plan to spend winter there and in the spring sail back home to Poland.

Thanks again. We'll try to stay in touch with you.

Piotrek


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