So many charts...

[MysticGringo]

Now that I am pretty close to buying my first sailboat, and wandering the world... I have begun looking into which paper charts I will need (and a chartplotter... but that is a different story). My plans are to sail the Caribean for a few years, and then who knows where.

Not knowing where I am going to be sailing exactly makes it difficult to buy the charts I need. I don't want to spend alot of extra money on charts that will never be used. How does one decide what to start out with, and how easy is it to gather charts along the way?

I imagine you figure out your plan, and then purchase the approiate charts for the places you intend on visiting. Large ones for general areas, and bigger scale charts for the specific destinations. There are so many though that it overwhelms me alot. Is there a chartbook for areas, most of what I am finding are individual charts, and not books of areas. What happens when you hear about an awesome place which you don't have a chart for, and you want to go there, and your current port does not have charts for there?

Growing up on boats, we had charts for everywhere we were going to think about being. For an area like the Caribe... that could be alot of $. What do you do?

[Talbot]

Electronic charting, + large scale paper charts for planning and plotting progress, + latest pilots for up-to-date info on the harbours and approaches.

[Jon D]

We bought charts for the places we are planning on going while still working. Added up to a fair bit but had less impact with income still coming in than stuff does now that we are cruising. I have a full set of charts for where we will be cruising over the next couple of years.

[MysticGringo]

Thanks for the responses... do you have any recomendations as to which chart maker is better? The number of charts needed to purchase for a few years in the Caribbean could add up to alot of money... and I'd like to make sure I buy ones which are most suitable.

[jimbim]

Go for 2/3 reproductions. Bellingham or similar service. Save a bundle. Or just borrow charts and go to a copier that specializes in charts.

http://www.tidesend.com/index.htm

[MysticGringo]

Jimbim... thanks for that link... that is exactly what I am looking for.