Charts

Our Charts selection covers navigation charts for Irish and UK waters – the paper backup every boat should carry alongside electronic navigation, covering coastal approaches, harbours and offshore passages around Ireland.

A paper chart remains a standard backup even on a well-equipped boat with a chartplotter, since electronics can fail or lose power at the worst possible moment, and many insurers and safety codes still expect an up-to-date chart aboard. Choose charts at the right scale for your cruising: a smaller-scale chart covers a wider area for passage planning, while a larger-scale chart gives the detail needed for approaching a harbour or anchoring safely close inshore – most cruising boats carry a mix rather than one chart for everything. Admiralty charts remain the standard reference for Irish coastal waters and are periodically updated for navigational changes (buoyage, wrecks, new hazards), so check you’re working from a reasonably current edition rather than one that’s several years out of date.

Store charts flat or rolled somewhere genuinely dry aboard – damp is the main reason paper charts need replacing before they’re actually worn out.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need paper charts if I have a chartplotter?

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

What scale chart do I need?

A mix – smaller-scale for passage planning over a wider area, larger-scale for the detail needed approaching harbours or anchoring close inshore.

How often do charts need updating?

Periodically, as navigational changes occur (buoyage, wrecks, hazards) – check you’re working from a reasonably current edition rather than an old one.