Free Navigation Charts for Small Boats or the Cockpit

[NCC320]

Some of you may not be aware of NOAA's Booklet Charts (download for free). These charts are standard NOAA navigation charts, slightly reduced in overall size, and then subdivided into 8 1/2 x 11 downloadable segments. The links below will allow you to download these US charts, so you can have a size that works on small boats, or on larger boats, have a manageable chart in the cockpit so the helmsman can have a visual reference. I downloaded charts for all the waters that I am likely to sail in, placed them in plastic covers for protection against water/rain and filed them in a notebook.
These are back-ups to normal charts in my case, but the small size is really convenient for quick visual confirmations of where I'm at. Links are:

Atlantic:

NOAA BookletCharts

Pacific:

NOAA BookletCharts

[sailingdog]

Yup, been posted at least three or four times...but always good to see it again.

[AdamLein]

Thanks for posting... haven't seen these before.

Anybody know why there are no electronic versions of the "FOLIO SMALL-CRAFT" charts (e.g. 18423 and 18445) always seem to be unavailable? They'd probably be the most useful for the kind of cruising I do... mostly eyeball navigation, but need charts to know about hazards and anchorages and such.

[NCC320]

Anyone else using these besides me?

One other thing that I did to facilitate keeping these handy charts in front of me while at the helm is: Using a piece of ~14" x 12" 1/4" plexiglass sheet and four plastic tiller clips (from West Marine), I made a Booklet Chart holder that clips onto my pedistal guard at the helm. On either edge of the holder, I drilled small holes to match the holes in the plastic sheet holders for the 8 1/2 x 11 chart segments and use loose notebook rings (available from Staples) to hold the charts. That way I don't have to keep the entire notebook containing all of the chart segements that I down loaded in the cockpit. I can keep several there, plus, using the same plastic sheet holders (also available at Staples), I can keep notes or other reminders in front of me when they are needed. A large rubber band over the plexiglass sheet is useful to keep the wind from flipping the chart holders.

[jarcher]

I print out the entire book and bind it and stick it in the chart table, but I usually print out the pages I need, mark them all up and throw them away when I am done. They are great for race notes!