Charting....electronic/paper
Moderator: Jim Walsh
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John R.
Charting....electronic/paper
Having read the thread on August 10th regarding vector charts and electronic charting in general I thought more detailed information could be shared on the topic so I searched through a bunch of my marine related bookmarks to locate a web link that I recalled saving some time ago and thought someday someone might be interested in it. The vector chart thread seems to be a good reason to post the link so for anyone interested in charting differences and accuracies you might want to review the link listed below.
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Ken Coit
Re: Charting....electronic/paper
John,
Thanks for the article link. There is something along the same lines in one of the more popular pubs; I will see if I can find the reference and post it.
Our debacle aboard Parfait came from not being able to instantly ascertain what the charts and daymarks were supposed to be telling us: was the channel to the right or left of the buoy. In retrospect, it is quite clear, but having changed systems three times in less than a mile, I wanted verification. Our depth sounder provided the assurance we needed, but I would have prefered to understand what the chart was trying to convey. Now that I have that local knowledge, the chart is fairly redundant, but it was trying to give me a clue, even if the soundings were 100 years old.
BTW, there is a channel on 11454 that I beleive does not exist any longer. Gallant's channel does not extend directly to the ICW, it has shoaled over. I will not try that with Parfait, but maybe I'll take the Joseph Burnham out there one day a see what it looks like. If the Grady goes aground, we can get out and push.
Our final decision on hardware and software to help me and the FM read those old charts is: magnifying glass, Dell 2600 laptop, Fugawi nav software, and Soft Charts of the area we sail. Not much of an investment in old technology, but a major improvement in readability, planning, and tracking when compared with the paper chart we used when the going got tough. It just wasn't good enough in a pinch.
Keep on sailing,
Ken Coit
parfaitNOSPAM@nc.rr.com
Thanks for the article link. There is something along the same lines in one of the more popular pubs; I will see if I can find the reference and post it.
Our debacle aboard Parfait came from not being able to instantly ascertain what the charts and daymarks were supposed to be telling us: was the channel to the right or left of the buoy. In retrospect, it is quite clear, but having changed systems three times in less than a mile, I wanted verification. Our depth sounder provided the assurance we needed, but I would have prefered to understand what the chart was trying to convey. Now that I have that local knowledge, the chart is fairly redundant, but it was trying to give me a clue, even if the soundings were 100 years old.
BTW, there is a channel on 11454 that I beleive does not exist any longer. Gallant's channel does not extend directly to the ICW, it has shoaled over. I will not try that with Parfait, but maybe I'll take the Joseph Burnham out there one day a see what it looks like. If the Grady goes aground, we can get out and push.
Our final decision on hardware and software to help me and the FM read those old charts is: magnifying glass, Dell 2600 laptop, Fugawi nav software, and Soft Charts of the area we sail. Not much of an investment in old technology, but a major improvement in readability, planning, and tracking when compared with the paper chart we used when the going got tough. It just wasn't good enough in a pinch.
Keep on sailing,
Ken Coit
John R. wrote: Having read the thread on August 10th regarding vector charts and electronic charting in general I thought more detailed information could be shared on the topic so I searched through a bunch of my marine related bookmarks to locate a web link that I recalled saving some time ago and thought someday someone might be interested in it. The vector chart thread seems to be a good reason to post the link so for anyone interested in charting differences and accuracies you might want to review the link listed below.
parfaitNOSPAM@nc.rr.com
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Ken Coit
Article on Charts by Nigel Calder - Sail - August Issue
Nigel Calder has an interesting article on charts in the August issue of Sail mag. The subject of paper vs. electronic seems somewhat moot when the paper is as unreliable as it puported to be. It seems to me that we should use the charts as a suggestion as to where to find deep water and not necessarily the gospel. Forward looking depth sounders make more sense all the time.
Maybe someone should read his new book on how to read a Nautical Chart and let us know if there is a better answer.
Keep on sailing,
Ken Coit, ND7N
CD/14 #538
CD/36 #84 Parfait
Hailing Port: Raleigh, NC
Sailing from: Beaufort, NC
parfaitNOSPAM@nc.rr.com
Maybe someone should read his new book on how to read a Nautical Chart and let us know if there is a better answer.
Keep on sailing,
Ken Coit, ND7N
CD/14 #538
CD/36 #84 Parfait
Hailing Port: Raleigh, NC
Sailing from: Beaufort, NC
Ken Coit wrote: John,
Thanks for the article link. There is something along the same lines in one of the more popular pubs; I will see if I can find the reference and post it.
Our debacle aboard Parfait came from not being able to instantly ascertain what the charts and daymarks were supposed to be telling us: was the channel to the right or left of the buoy. In retrospect, it is quite clear, but having changed systems three times in less than a mile, I wanted verification. Our depth sounder provided the assurance we needed, but I would have prefered to understand what the chart was trying to convey. Now that I have that local knowledge, the chart is fairly redundant, but it was trying to give me a clue, even if the soundings were 100 years old.
BTW, there is a channel on 11454 that I beleive does not exist any longer. Gallant's channel does not extend directly to the ICW, it has shoaled over. I will not try that with Parfait, but maybe I'll take the Joseph Burnham out there one day a see what it looks like. If the Grady goes aground, we can get out and push.
Our final decision on hardware and software to help me and the FM read those old charts is: magnifying glass, Dell 2600 laptop, Fugawi nav software, and Soft Charts of the area we sail. Not much of an investment in old technology, but a major improvement in readability, planning, and tracking when compared with the paper chart we used when the going got tough. It just wasn't good enough in a pinch.
Keep on sailing,
Ken Coit
John R. wrote: Having read the thread on August 10th regarding vector charts and electronic charting in general I thought more detailed information could be shared on the topic so I searched through a bunch of my marine related bookmarks to locate a web link that I recalled saving some time ago and thought someday someone might be interested in it. The vector chart thread seems to be a good reason to post the link so for anyone interested in charting differences and accuracies you might want to review the link listed below.
parfaitNOSPAM@nc.rr.com
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John R.
Re: Article on Charts by Nigel Calder - Sail - August Issue
Absolutely........I have never been able to understand why most people put so much faith in a paper chart aside from the fact they are the common reference standard. Electronic vector charts are the way to go as I'm sure you are aware of Ken. At least they can be corrected with publisher data from any and all sources to give you the best possible average of accuracy. Raster charts or paper charts, take your pick they both have the same errors since the raster is nothing more than an identical copy of the paper chart.
It's important to always remember a chart is a *guide* and not a perfect map. Just think of all the "notice to mariners" notes that are never even listed by most skippers on their paper charts or listed in a notebook (it's scary), at least a quality electronic charting system will download and install the notices automatically so an electronic chart is in some ways far more accurate in those regards.
You are sure right about forward looking depth sounders especially if they can be interfaced with a ECS (electronic chart system) and produce a visual and/or audible warning before a hazard is encountered. See the info in the link I posted earlier. The next best thing to a forward looking sounder is the 3D bottom view software, combine that with vector charts and that's a great setup.
Have fun Ken!
It's important to always remember a chart is a *guide* and not a perfect map. Just think of all the "notice to mariners" notes that are never even listed by most skippers on their paper charts or listed in a notebook (it's scary), at least a quality electronic charting system will download and install the notices automatically so an electronic chart is in some ways far more accurate in those regards.
You are sure right about forward looking depth sounders especially if they can be interfaced with a ECS (electronic chart system) and produce a visual and/or audible warning before a hazard is encountered. See the info in the link I posted earlier. The next best thing to a forward looking sounder is the 3D bottom view software, combine that with vector charts and that's a great setup.
Have fun Ken!
Ken Coit wrote: Nigel Calder has an interesting article on charts in the August issue of Sail mag. The subject of paper vs. electronic seems somewhat moot when the paper is as unreliable as it puported to be. It seems to me that we should use the charts as a suggestion as to where to find deep water and not necessarily the gospel. Forward looking depth sounders make more sense all the time.
Maybe someone should read his new book on how to read a Nautical Chart and let us know if there is a better answer.
Keep on sailing,
Ken Coit, ND7N
CD/14 #538
CD/36 #84 Parfait
Hailing Port: Raleigh, NC
Sailing from: Beaufort, NC
Ken Coit wrote: John,
Thanks for the article link. There is something along the same lines in one of the more popular pubs; I will see if I can find the reference and post it.
Our debacle aboard Parfait came from not being able to instantly ascertain what the charts and daymarks were supposed to be telling us: was the channel to the right or left of the buoy. In retrospect, it is quite clear, but having changed systems three times in less than a mile, I wanted verification. Our depth sounder provided the assurance we needed, but I would have prefered to understand what the chart was trying to convey. Now that I have that local knowledge, the chart is fairly redundant, but it was trying to give me a clue, even if the soundings were 100 years old.
BTW, there is a channel on 11454 that I beleive does not exist any longer. Gallant's channel does not extend directly to the ICW, it has shoaled over. I will not try that with Parfait, but maybe I'll take the Joseph Burnham out there one day a see what it looks like. If the Grady goes aground, we can get out and push.
Our final decision on hardware and software to help me and the FM read those old charts is: magnifying glass, Dell 2600 laptop, Fugawi nav software, and Soft Charts of the area we sail. Not much of an investment in old technology, but a major improvement in readability, planning, and tracking when compared with the paper chart we used when the going got tough. It just wasn't good enough in a pinch.
Keep on sailing,
Ken Coit
John R. wrote: Having read the thread on August 10th regarding vector charts and electronic charting in general I thought more detailed information could be shared on the topic so I searched through a bunch of my marine related bookmarks to locate a web link that I recalled saving some time ago and thought someday someone might be interested in it. The vector chart thread seems to be a good reason to post the link so for anyone interested in charting differences and accuracies you might want to review the link listed below.