Books, Charts & Flags

This category covers essential paper reference material for Irish and UK waters: Admiralty charts, pilot books and cruising guides, plus courtesy flags, signal flags and ensigns for flying the right flag in the right waters, wherever your cruising takes you.

A paper chart is still a legal and practical backup even on a boat with a chartplotter – electronics fail, and Admiralty charts remain the standard reference for Irish coastal waters, updated periodically for navigational changes. Pilot books and cruising guides go a step further than a chart, adding local knowledge on harbours, anchorages, tidal quirks and hazards that a chart alone won’t show – genuinely useful for anyone cruising unfamiliar stretches of the west coast. On flags: fly your national ensign (the Irish tricolour for Irish-registered boats) at the stern, and a courtesy flag for the country you’re visiting when cruising abroad, flown from the starboard spreader.

Signal flags are less commonly carried by leisure boats today but are still required for some formal or racing contexts, and make a useful practical alphabet for anyone studying for a qualification. Keep charts and books somewhere genuinely dry aboard – damp is the main reason paper references need replacing.

Frequently asked questions

Do I still need paper charts if I have a chartplotter?

Yes – paper charts are the standard backup if electronics fail, and many insurers and Codes of Practice still expect an up-to-date paper chart to be carried.

What ensign should I fly on an Irish-registered boat?

The Irish tricolour, flown at the stern (or as near the stern as practical on smaller boats).

Where do I fly a courtesy flag?

From the starboard spreader, when cruising in another country’s waters – separate from your own national ensign, which stays at the stern.