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The end of Paper Charts

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glen
Captain

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359 Posts

Initially Posted - 10/23/2013 : 11:06:01

NOAA has announced (not sure how long ago) that on April 13, 2014 they will no longer print paper charts

The following was copied from the NOAA web site.There is alot more information on that site, but this pretty much sums it up. It seems paper is a thing of the past

https://www.google.com/webhp?hl=en&sa=N&tab=pw#hl=en&q=NOAA+April+13%2C+2014

(or google “NOAA April, 13, 2014”)

"Why won’t the government print nautical charts after April 13, 2014?
NOAA's Office of Coast Survey and its predecessor agencies have been printing lithograph charts since the Civil War. Taking the long view, over the last decade NOAA has been building the systems, products, partnerships, and distribution system to support the industry’s evolution from stock paper charts to digital files.
In 1999, NOAA formed it first partnership with a Print-on-Demand (POD) chart distributor to print nautical charts that are up-to-date at the time of printing. Since that time, most of our non-government customers have switched to POD for printed charts, and even more customers are using our charts digitally.
As much as we’d like to continue the tradition of lithography, it is no longer justified as a use of tax dollars. This is the right way to go".

Edited by - on

redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3476 Posts

Response Posted - 10/23/2013 : 11:54:32

I bet I know some that will be very happy to hear that...

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Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 10/23/2013 : 16:42:08

The article gives several good reasons to no longer produce them. I often print the current NOAA charts when visiting an unfamiliar area. I print the portions of the current, updated chart from the computer and put them in a binder for the cost of ink and paper. They're not durable, but they are cheap and handy when entering an unfamiliar anchorage or harbor.

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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5377 Posts

Response Posted - 10/23/2013 : 17:49:01

Collectors' items!

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Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 10/23/2013 : 19:43:53

I think I still have some marked up Great Lakes charts from the 70's in a box under the bed in the guest room. Interesting to look at as I age.

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britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 10/23/2013 : 19:53:21

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Dave5041
 The article gives several good reasons to no longer produce them. I often print the current NOAA charts when visiting an unfamiliar area. I print the portions of the current, updated chart from the computer and put them in a binder for the cost of ink and paper. They're not durable, but they are cheap and handy when entering an unfamiliar anchorage or harbor.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Laminate them!

Paul

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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5377 Posts

Response Posted - 10/23/2013 : 21:34:00

I've got several paper charts of Long Island Sound (East and West), LIS folio from New Haven to Fishers Island, Fishers Island Sound, Block Island Sound, Narragansett Bay as well as a chart book including a bunch of insets for harbors and other details.
In my immediate area, there are only a few obstructions like seawalls, a few islands, rocky points marked by lights or bouys, so you'd have to be pretty blind if you hit any of them.
Not true of other parts of LI Sound. As I head east of New Haven toward Dave "Stinkpotter's" area in Mystic CT, there are about a dozen reefs that are just below the surface with names like:
Townsend Reef, Branford Reef, Brown's Reef, Goose Island, Falkner Island, Kelsey Point, Long Sand Shoal, the mouth of the Connecticut River and Bartlett Reef.
Within Fishers Island Sound there are a dozen more hazards and obstructions along the way.
Heading west, we've got Penfield Reef, Cockenoe (co-KEE-nee) Reef and Island, the Norwalk Islands, Greens Ledge, Smith Reef, The Cows, and more.
As I sail LI Sound, I mark my way, check my Lat/Long on my GPS and steer clear of the rocks. Without paper charts, I'd be pretty lost.
While I'm well equipped with charts now, in 10 or 15 years they'll probably get worn.
There's another thread about Holiday gifts - I think a whole 'nother set of paper charts will be on mine.

Edited by - Voyager on 10/23/2013 21:42:51

Stu Jackson C34
Admiral

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844 Posts

Response Posted - 10/30/2013 : 09:37:07

What everyone should do is start downloading the PDF files from NOAA so that the govt sees they are being used and will continue the service.

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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9081 Posts

Response Posted - 10/30/2013 : 13:07:06

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Voyager
 ...Without paper charts, I'd be pretty lost. While I'm well equipped with charts now, in 10 or 15 years they'll probably get worn. There's another thread about Holiday gifts - I think a whole 'nother set of paper charts will be on mine.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">...or something like my G-640?

I admit to using paper charts only for planning. I have chart-books of the area... But under way on the water, I'm looking at the above. The hazards in and around Fisher's Island Sound tend to be the corners of pieces of granite, the other sides of which are somewhere in Maine. You just don't want to touch them, particularly at my speeds!

Yes, I can dead-reckon, and have a hand-bearing compass for the purpose, but technology puts my boat on a moving, zoomable chart in front of my face. The paper charts are in the cabin. New ones will always be available.

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HarryRoger
Deckhand

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USA
1 Posts

Response Posted - 11/16/2013 : 00:11:48

Before reading this article I couldn't imagine the work of paper charts, it was really nice informative article.

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