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NOAA nixing paper charts

Discussion in 'General Yachting Discussion' started by JWY, Nov 16, 2019.

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  1. JWY

    JWY Senior Member

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  2. YachtForums

    YachtForums Administrator

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    Another wrench in the cog of Heidelbergs.
  3. Norseman

    Norseman Senior Member

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    The CG wants to scrap the US based Navtex system: It is open for public comments, I let them know my feelings, just installed a receiver 6 months ago..:mad:
  4. captholli

    captholli Senior Member

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    That will be an interesting situation if Navtex is discontinued in the USA only as its a SOLAS requirement on all vessels over a certain tonnage worldwide whether commercially registered or privately registered . Navtex is also one of the vital components making up the GMDSS equipment requirements. USCG was supposed to have Loran -E enhanced up and running by now for a GPS backup but they're not even close last time I looked. I don't put a lot of stock in any of the USCG press blurbs other than narco seizures on the high seas.
  5. d_meister

    d_meister Senior Member

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    From the article:
    "NOAA will still provide access to paper chart products based on ENC data, either through third-party vendors or through the NOAA Custom Chart system (now in prototype phase). The online NOAA Custom Chart (NCC) application lets users create their own paper charts with NOAA ENC data. The user can define the scale and size of custom-made nautical charts, then download them in a special PDF format."

    That will make it handy to print out harbor approach or other large scale charts that are current and reflect the latest corrections provided in Local Notices to Mariners.
    Having charts on board that are outdated is not a good situation, at times. Outdated charts from all other parts of the world notwithstanding :(
  6. Beau

    Beau Senior Member

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    So that's not good IMO. We are simple pleasure boaters, but my wife usually sits forward of the helm with the paper charts and double checks my navigation and positions? Do we now have to put an independent chart plotter or a tablet up there? Never experienced oneTG, but what do you do when an electronics failure occurs? Will a private cartographer take over production and updates?
  7. Oscarvan

    Oscarvan Senior Member

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    You have redundancy. More than one chart plotter.... (The backup one doesn't have to be fancy) on separate power supplies all the way to the battery banks, may even suggest a separate electronics battery bank with disconnects. Phone/iPad with an app on it. It may or may not give you positioning. But if the GPS system AND the Cell system go out at the same time you can still do a DR off the charts.

    Yes, you have to think about it and design for multiple "what if" scenarios. But you can build enough redundancy in there to give you the data you need. See if you can find how aircraft electrical systems are designed..... you can work along those lines.

    On my last boat I had a start battery, a house bank and an additional 1000Ah bank to feed an AC in my master cabin. I was able to isolate any bank, or combine any or all three banks. I had plotters, inverters and laptop, plus phone and charging that I could route to any power source.

    Short of a lightning strike nuking EVERYTHING on the boat I had a way to navigate. I also had paper, but that was just to record positions. Could have done that on something I printed ahead of time.
  8. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    I read the info would be available for a private company to take over, print and sell.
    It would be interesting if a private company would go into this venture.
  9. bobhorn

    bobhorn Member

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    WM does print-on-demand but currently only Maptech charts and one NOAA chart.
  10. Beau

    Beau Senior Member

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    My mate and I will just have to move with the times - CZ will have to get used to my tablet. Even the best screens however aren't all that great in the sun.
  11. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    I remember ancient reading history, The Nav charts were so used to, are printed by a contractor.

    Since we know a government office can not preform under any budget; I can imagine a private firm taking over and possibly making a profit with less chart cost.
  12. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    For really using a paper chart, We plot our progress off shore. Since the ocean is always there, a few year old chart is still good. Off shore currents and weather can affect our inlet ETAs. On a big chart, Josie & I can easily see our progress (C&TMG) and make adjustments if needed. This beats one at a time starting into a smaller screen.
    Inlets have fresh data and studied well on the ships displays. Our chart chips are updated before every trip or delivery. Not to many new inlets left for us but they are still checked for changes. That big dawg leg at St.Augustine was smoothed out a lil last year. SD or CF works on near every boat we operate and our ole surplus rugged XP laptop with built in GPS is still in our delivery nav kit.
    Everybody is prepared and sitting down for all inlets, To late then to study any chart.

    Some here may not have noticed yet, Some sea buoys and range day boards are already gone, replaced by AIS icons & Racon trails.
    Your going to be looking more at the ships display in the future anyway, start really getting used to it now.
    Last edited: Nov 17, 2019
  13. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    I really like paper charts for planning purposes. The two major issue I have with chartplotters is: Many of them don't show the normal routes (magenta lines on paper charts) on the chartplotter. The other issue I have is you either have zoomed out and a large area but very little detail (depths etc.) OR zoomed in with detail like depths but NO area.
  14. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    Nowadays with so many back up on board, tablets and phones, I don’t think paper charts are that critical although I still carry them, at least in chart book format.

    even if just the two us on board we have 3 iPads, 2 cell phones plus a laptop with usb gps all with up to date charts and nav software.
    Yeah lightening can strike but so does a rogue wave wiping off your paper chart :)
  15. Beau

    Beau Senior Member

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    I suppose its like reading a bound book as opposed to an e-book, and age related too....
  16. MountainGuy

    MountainGuy Member

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    IMO paper charts are a MUST. There are not just big and bigger motoryachts out there, but also many many sailors, with less electricity available who very much depend on paper charts. In the adriatic it is a requirement to have paper charts for the area you are sailing on board. And loss of electricity is not that uncommon on sailboats. Paper charts for the Caribbean are produced by e.g. NVcharts.
  17. Oscarvan

    Oscarvan Senior Member

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    Hmmm. Most of my years were on sailboats and the scenario I described above was on one. Never lost all power, and had plenty of it.
  18. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Also folks, this is just one chart provider.
    There are others printers. Relax.
  19. Ziggy Virus

    Ziggy Virus New Member

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    Bluewater Books and Charts in Ft. Lauderdale is a great place for paper charts.
  20. captholli

    captholli Senior Member

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    Exactly, Admiralty charts still in paper, many other countries actively surveying and producing excellent worldwide nautical charts in paper and electronic form. BBA Chart kits wont go away and any paper charts aboard now can be updated through publications for years to come. Not the end of the world for cruisers, gunk-holers nor charter yacht captains.