Best paper and iNavX-compatible digital charts of Caribbean?

[sneuman]

NV, Imray, British Admiralty?

Is it a good idea to have one set of digital (raster) and another different set paper?

[btrayfors]

Yes, it's a very good idea to have paper charts as well as digital.

I, too, use and prefer raster charts, since they are EXACT copies of the underlying paper charts and look just like them.

NOAA charts are great for Puerto Rico, the Spanish Virgins, the U.S. Virgins, and a large portion of the British Virgin Islands. Chart #25641 covers the VIs as far east as Gorda Sound on Virgin Gorda.

Last time I sailed the Windwards and Leewards I didn't use electronic charts, so can't comment on the best ones.

I used British Admiralty and French paper charts, which I found to be quite good. The French charts were particularly awesome.

Bill

[barnakiel]

During our 2013-14 trip there we used NV paper and digital (digital on an Android tablet). We used NV paper charts also back in 2003 when we were there first time.

I love NV and they are my first choice.

I like the newer Admiralty leisure portfolios too. We do not have them but I had a good long look and they are now as good as NV. I did not really like the old big Admiralty charts, much as I trust they were as accurate as anything else out there.

I do not like Imray because they have 'reverse' colour scheme (BUT I like the info on Imray's reverse sides, so we have them too!

My preference for immediate use on a passage are digital charts. But I do use paper for pre-planning almost every time we go anywhere. Definitely every time we go somewhere for the first time!

We also used Google Earth based plotter/tracker (on our tablet), both sat images and topo. We found it very accurate and very useful both on the water and on land.

b.

[sneuman]

Thanks. Good info.
I wasn't very clear in the original post - I definitely agree that paper charts are a must and electronic chart plotting is great for ease -- I was really asking if you ought to have different digital and paper charts (say, Admiralty rasters for digital and Imrays for paper).

[Eleuthera 2014]

Originally Posted by btrayfors

......The French charts were particularly awesome.

Bill

Where did you procure these charts? I'm in a buying spree these days.

[sneuman]

Originally Posted by Eleuthera 2014

Where did you procure these charts? I'm in a buying spree these days.

Good question!

[Eleuthera 2014]

Originally Posted by btrayfors

..... The French charts were particularly awesome.

Bill

BWAAA! The post was meant for btrayfors...

I want the "froggy" charts he likes so much....

[btrayfors]

As I recall (and it's been awhile), I bought them at a chandelery near the customs landing in Fort de France Martinique.

Bill

[Eleuthera 2014]

Trade name???

Something??

[btrayfors]

Originally Posted by Eleuthera 2014

Trade name???

Something??

My goodness, you're on an Amel Super Maramu and you don't know how to obtain French charts??? :-)

Try this: Marine Charts, French Charts, Nautical Maps

Google is your friend.

Bill