Caribbean Paper Charts Where to buy?

[SV Demeter]

Planning a cruise to the windward and leeward islands next fall and am looking to get paper charts to back up electronics. Will be leaving from Annapolis and headed offshore to probably BVI first. Probably want bahamas charts too in case we need them or may do bahamas on trip back north following summer. Have looked at Bellingham which seems like a pretty good deal but perhaps there are others? Am ok with chartbooks too as I dont have a huge nav table.

Thanks,

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by SV Demeter

Planning a cruise to the windward and leeward islands next fall and am looking to get paper charts to back up electronics. Will be leaving from Annapolis and headed offshore to probably BVI first. Probably want bahamas charts too in case we need them or may do bahamas on trip back north following summer. Have looked at Bellingham which seems like a pretty good deal but perhaps there are others? Am ok with chartbooks too as I dont have a huge nav table.

Thanks,

Get the Explorer charts for the Bahamas. I like the Imray Iolaire charts for the Caribbean best and you can get them water proofed. A good address for buying is Blue Water Charts in Ft Lauderdale.

ciao!
Nick.

[SV Demeter]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

Get the Explorer charts for the Bahamas. I like the Imray Iolaire charts for the Caribbean best and you can get them water proofed. A good address for buying is Blue Water Charts in Ft Lauderdale.

ciao!
Nick.

Nick are you referring to these?

Bluewater Books & Charts - More than a bookstore

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by SV Demeter

Nick are you referring to these?

Bluewater Books & Charts - More than a bookstore

Yes, that is the shop. Select the Explorer Chartbooks, not just the charts. I didn't even know they had just charts now, but the chartbooks are everything you need in the Bahamas.

ciao!
Nick.

[SV Demeter]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

Yes, that is the shop. Select the Explorer Chartbooks, not just the charts. I didn't even know they had just charts now, but the chartbooks are everything you need in the Bahamas.

ciao!
Nick.

Thanks im guessing you are referring the $60 chartbooks? Is there one consolidated version for the entire bahamas?

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by SV Demeter

Thanks im guessing you are referring the $60 chartbooks? Is there one consolidated version for the entire bahamas?

That's the only ones I see... give them a call, last time I was in the Bahamas was 2003 and there was a separate chartbook for the Exumas which was what I needed

ciao!
Nick.

[GordMay]

I’ve found Bluewater Books & Charts, in Fort Lauderdale, to be an excellent source for marine charts & books.
➥ Bluewater Books & Charts - More than a bookstore

[SV Demeter]

Wow those guys dont play around. Emailed them a few minutes ago and got this response in less than 5 min!

Hello,

The Lewis Explorer Chartkits have three books.

EXPLORER CHARTBOOK EXUMAS RAGGED IS 6TH ED $59.95
EXPLORER CHARTBOOK FAR BAHAMAS 5TH ED $59.95
EXPLORER CHARTBOOK NEAR BAHAMAS 6TH ED $59.95


We also carry The NV Charts of the Bahamas which also has three chartbooks

NV CHARTS REG 9.3 BAHAMAS SOUTHEAST 2008 ED $79.95
NV CHARTS REG 9.2 BAHAMAS CENTRAL 2009 ED $79.95
NV CHARTS REG 9.1 BAHAMAS NORTHWEST 2011 ED $79.95


Best Regards,

- Scott


Now Im looking at the Imray charts but dang they are not cheap are they?

Thanks everyone.

[Mambo]

Scott -

I have older explorer chartbooks for the far bahamas and exumas if you are interested. They are listed in the classified at $25ea / both for $40 + shipping. If you are looking at the bahamas as a fall off point, it would probably make most sense to purchase the near bahamas (abacos) charts new (that would be your most likely fall of point on a VA / NC to BVI run). The older explorer charts would be a decent value for the more sourtherly islands. Just PM or email me if interested.

Sounds like a great trip. Where else are you headed?

-M

[SV Demeter]

Originally Posted by Mambo

Scott -

I have older explorer chartbooks for the far bahamas and exumas if you are interested. They are listed in the classified at $25ea / both for $40 + shipping. If you are looking at the bahamas as a fall off point, it would probably make most sense to purchase the near bahamas (abacos) charts new (that would be your most likely fall of point on a VA / NC to BVI run). The older explorer charts would be a decent value for the more sourtherly islands. Just PM or email me if interested.

Sounds like a great trip. Where else are you headed?

-M

Thanks I will take a look in the classifieds. We have not really planned much farther than the eastern caribbean and bahamas as we have been so busy refitting the boat and getting rid of all of our land based junk. Plan is to move aboard in July and stick around Annapolis till the fall when insurance says we can go. We intend to be out for a few years so who know where else we will go.

[Hud3]

If you have Chris Doyle's guides for the Leewards and Windwards, and Scott's for the Virgin Islands, you can easily get by without buying paper charts. Their sketch charts and sailing instructions are excellent.

[W32PAMELA]

I would take a look at the NV-Charts region 12.2 and 12.3 for the Leewards and Windwards. These were called CYC charts in another incarnation. Get Doyles guides too.

Bob

[Kettlewell]

One way to save money in the Caribbean is to buy some of the overall sailing charts and then use the cruising guides for the harbors--in many cases the chartlets in the cruising guides are better than the larger charts. However, the Explorer Chartbooks are by far the best in the Bahamas, and well worth the money. There are some free NOAA charts that cover the Bahamas area in very general detail for planning purposes. They can be downloaded and/or viewed here. There are downloadable and viewable charts there for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands too.

[rubyjean]

Try: Maryland Nautical.com
Michael

[sck5]

I got the cyc charts for the islands - they have the advantage of having all of Chris Doyle's waypoints plotted on them already so if that is the cruising guide you are using (and it is the best one, I think) they are perfect. They sell chart packs - I think two for the leewards and one for the windwards. They are beautiful charts apart from being accurate. also a good size for storing in the chart table.