 |
|
|
| Charts for a San Juan Island Cruise
|
|
February 23, 2005
|
|
|
|
Bob--
I've been reading the Waggoner and I have couple small scale charts of the islands. We are planning a cruise this summer of the western half of the San Juans, but including the Sucia/Matia group. Do the local chandleries sell chart packs of the San Juans or do I need to comb through my Waggoner for the complete list you recommend? Or do you have a handy list (wasn't that sly?) of the one you recommend?
Thanks for a great book.
Brad
|
|
|
Response
|
|
|
|
Hi, Brad,
Since you've been reading the Waggoner, you probably realize that I'm a nut when it comes to having complete charts for any area you plan to cruise. So many times, so many times, we have been glad we made the investment in complete charts, rather than "getting by" with something less.
The opening page of each of the Waggoner's geographic chapters contains a box that lists the charts for the waters covered in the chapter. It gives the chart number, the chart name and the scale.
At first glance, a 1:80,000 small scale chart (either U.S. Chart 18421 or Canadian Chart 3462) appears to show everything needed to cruise the San Juan Islands. And until you get there, it would be hard to prove that conclusion wrong. It's after you get into the islands and find that everything looks alike, and you aren't sure just where the rocks are, and the strong tidal currents are twisting you this way and that, that you are glad you you brought the 1:25,000 large scale charts along.
Most chandleries in the Puget Sound/San Juan Islands region carry complete San Juan charts. Armchair Sailor and Captain's Nautical Supplies, both of them in Seattle, are major navigation houses. They definitely carry not only the charts but also the tide and current books, and the Canadian Current Atlas and its useful companion publication, Washburne's Tables. My favorite tide and current book for Puget Sound and San Juan Islands waters is Captn. Jack's Almanac, by the way. It shows everything you want to know in a simple, page-a-day format.
There are also a couple privately produced books of charts for the San Juan Islands. They save space and are useful on kayaks and other very small boats, but if you can possibly do it, you should go with the actual chart sheets. They're more up to date, and they're easier to plot your courses on.
It takes only seven charts to cover all the San Juan Islands. Here they are:
18421 Strait of Juan de Fuca to Strait of Georgia, 1:80,000
18429 Rosario Strait, Southern Part 1:25,000
18430 Rosario Strait, Northern Part 1:25,000
18431 Rosario Strait to Cherry Point 1:25,000
18432 Boundary Pass 1:25,000
18433 Haro Strait -- Middle Bank to Stuart Island 1:25,000
18434 San Juan Channel 1:25,000
Canadian Chart 3462 can substitute for U.S. Chart 18421.
I recommend that you get all seven charts, even if you think you won't be visiting part of the San Juans. Distances in the San Juans aren't all that great. Once you're there, you may find that a destination you previously had ruled out becomes very interesting indeed, and you'll want the charts that get you there.
Have a great cruise.
Bob Hale
|
|
|
Back to Readers Write In |
|
|
|
