Charts

[Bricky]

Can someone please tell me what charts are legally needed in Australia?
Safety requirements state that we need charts of the area we are sailing in, trouble is you can buy a few charts to cover OZ or a hundred @$35 each, so can someone recommend what to get?
Also we have put in a Raymarine A70d Plotter/Fishfinder. Are the gold charts adequate or is it advisable to go to the platinum?

Thanks
Kerren & Daryl

[Peio]

Hello Kerren and Darryl,

Have a look on :Australian Hydrographic Service - Seafarer RNC
The raster charts are in HRCF format compatible with the following list of navigation software :
Australian Hydrographic Service - Seafarer RNC

or ENC vectorial charts :
Australian Hydrographic Service - Australian ENC

But all these charts are not compatible with RayMarine A70D.
This A70D is preloaded with ready-to-navigate Navionics cartography for Latin America, Oceania, Southern Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.
It seems you can expand your chartplotters capability by adding optional Navionics Gold or HotMaps charts using the onboard CompactFlash card reader.
Or step up to Navionics Platinum for charts feature 3D and satellite cartography, panoramic port photos, dynamic tides & currents, enhanced coastal points of interest.
But I have no clue about the quality of these charts for Australia.

Best regards.

--
Peio

[capt_douglas]

Originally Posted by Bricky

Can someone please tell me what charts are legally needed in Australia?
Safety requirements state that we need charts of the area we are sailing in, trouble is you can buy a few charts to cover OZ or a hundred @$35 each, so can someone recommend what to get?
Also we have put in a Raymarine A70d Plotter/Fishfinder. Are the gold charts adequate or is it advisable to go to the platinum?

Thanks
Kerren & Daryl

Which part of Australia?

You can meet the letter of the law with one big sailing chart of Australia but it won't be much good for entering port at night.

http://catalogue.ukho.gov.uk/browse_...filtermethod=5

is the UKHO catalog of charts. They support and sell AUS charts as well.

https://www.bluewaterweb.com/Nautica...=35&GeoID=1393

has info on NGA/DMA charts at a far better price than BA.

Digital Nautical Chart shows a catalog and list of charts that cover the area.

HOWEVER:

The National Aeronautical Charting Office (NACO) no longer offers NGA charts for sale to civilian customers. At this time, no replacement vehicle has been identified for this discontinued service.

Although most NGA navigational publications are no longer offered in printed form from US Government sources, authorized reproductions of these publications can still be purchased from commercial vendors. Known commercial vendors of authorized reproductions are listed below:
ProStar Publications Inc.
Maryland Nautical
Landfall Navigation
American Nautical Services
Waypoint
Safe Navigation, Inc.
Islamorada Internacional (Panama Canal)
Horizon Nautical, Inc.
CG Publications, Inc.
Celestaire

I have no info on the RayMarine A70d plotter chart choices but Lougle says:

Navionics Gold: 2-dimensional Gold marine charts are the navigation standard for serious mariners and fishermen offering the largest coverage areas for the widest range of today's most popular chartplotters. Features include tides, currents, wrecks, port plans, marsh areas, marine services, coastal roads, and much more. Whether you are on the water or planning a trip, Navionics Gold charts can take you there.

NAVIONICS: The Leader in Electronic Charts

Navionics Platinum: Multi-dimensional marine charts that offer navigators and fishermen a selection of bonus information beyond the best available navigation charts such as panoramic pictures, 3D/2D views with satellite imagery, coast pilot guides, POIs & built-in offshore fishing detail!

NAVIONICS: The Leader in Electronic Charts

[Bricky]

Thanks for the replies.
Am still looking at the best way to go.
Eventually our plan is to sail around OZ when we get a bit more experience.
Daryl

[cat man do]

These will probably be the go for paper backup

Discounted Nautical Chart Reproductions, Electronic Charts & Navigational Software | Bellingham Chart Printers