Navigational charts - the easy way

by Nancy Knudsen on 6 May 2009 Wanting charts? Finding original charts expensive? Tempted to forget paper and rely soley on electronics? Don't forget about Bellinghams. While electronic navigation makes life simple, you only have to have one lightning strike to find out that paper charts just might be a better insurance policy than Lloyds of London.

When we started to plan our circumnavigation several years ago it tooks us months to find out - and be convinced - that copies could be used as effectively as the originals, but after the first order from Bellinghams arrived we became converts.

The company was started over 34 years ago by Richard Johnson's need for inexpensive charts for a planned circumnavigation of the Pacific aboard his Tom Colvin designed schooner 'Migrant'. Johnson's extensive navigational experience and understanding of the sea then afforded him the background to create a variety of cost effective chart packages for voyagers of the world.

The company has come a long way since 1976. Now they have a full time staff of ocean sailors, computer experts, order processors, and printing specialists who continue to fulfill Capt. Johnson's dreams.

And they respond quickly. We found that we could order from Bellinghams and receive them as quickly as the marine shop around the corner, who had only to get them from the other side of town - and we were an ocean away from the Bellinghams headquarters.

They also have a host of other stuff apart from charts - Electronic Charts & Software, Cruising Guides, Courtesy Flags, etc.

It's always nice to pass on good news to fellow cruisers when they deserve it, and Bellinghams definitely deserves a recommendation.

Talking to the folk at Bellingham, they tell us they have 4,000 different current edition charts and many hundreds of books, so it's worth asking for that difficult-to-get product.

If you are not using them already, have a look at their website now: www.tidesend.com