I fear breaking the thread of bios but I am in need of information on chart cases. I recently purchased a staggering number of B.C. charts and had a great time building PVC waterproof chart tubes for my boat (that PVC glue is nasty stuff), so now I am in the market for good foredeck chart cases. I have seen the heavy duty Gaia chart case and the lighter weight models as well and am looking for feedback from people who have actually used some of this gear. Do those zip lock sliders actually work in real conditions with sand etc.? Do the roll up models with velcro stay closed well enough? Are there designs I can make myself (which I prefer to do) that someone out there knows about? I haven't seen this debated this winter, I'd sure appreciate some healthy discussion on the matter. Brian W. in snowy Corvallis, Oregon. (1" of snow just about shut this town down) _________________________________________________________ DO YOU YAHOO!? Get your free _at_yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Brian wrote: > I recently purchased a staggering number of B.C. charts > and had a great time building PVC waterproof chart tubes for my boat > (that PVC glue is nasty stuff), so now I am in the market for good > foredeck chart cases. Not chart case related, but.... Even with my chart case I sometimes need to pull a chart/map out to flip it over. Since Murphy is my copilot my fingers are usually wet. The best thing I found to help is Thompson's Water Seal. You can get it in an aerosol spray can now and I use it on any map that comes off my printer as well as my USGS maps. Now back to the regularly scheduled program. Woody *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Brian Windrope wrote: > > [snip] I recently purchased a staggering number of B.C. charts > and had a great time building PVC waterproof chart tubes for my boat > (that PVC glue is nasty stuff), so now I am in the market for good > foredeck chart cases. I have seen the heavy duty Gaia chart case and > the lighter weight models as well and am looking for feedback from > people who have actually used some of this gear. > Do those zip lock sliders actually work in real conditions with sand > etc.? Do the roll up models with velcro stay closed well enough? [snip] I have not had good luck with the cases. They either leak at the closure or fail when the weather gets cold (plastic gets brittle and then cracks near the edges). I now laminate charts in plastic after cutting (gasp! Yes, I cut up my charts) into sizes what will easily roll up inside tubes like the PVC pipes Brian describes. I leave them inside the tube except when needed for sorting out a crossing, etc. If the conditions are really mellow, I might slip them under my deck bungies -- though I've lost a few that way. I usually can form an adequate mental image of my intended route, so I've never found having the chart on the deck was critical during gnarly conditions. Others would not be comfortable with this. Most of my navigation is done on the beach before launch -- deducing ferry angles, bearings, etc., and I put these on the charts using fine-tipped "permanent" markers -- which are not really permanent, but easily removed with denatured alcohol when I get home. Now and then, I whip the chart out in some quiet water and sort out the next section of that day's paddle. YMMV, though Brian's Seattle - Prince Rupert trip should fit this mode pretty well. -- Dave Kruger Astoria, OR *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
> Brian Windrope wrote: > > > > [snip] I recently purchased a staggering number of B.C. charts > > and had a great time building PVC waterproof chart tubes for my boat > > (that PVC glue is nasty stuff), so now I am in the market for good > > foredeck chart cases. I have seen the heavy duty Gaia chart case and > > the lighter weight models as well and am looking for feedback from > > people who have actually used some of this gear. > > Do those zip lock sliders actually work in real conditions with sand > > etc.? Do the roll up models with velcro stay closed well enough? [snip] I used to seal all of my maps and charts in pvc, but over the last couple of years or so I have also been succesfully using the German Ortleib document cases with plain paper maps/charts, and would recomend them. These bags are orders of magnitude better than the welded zip lock rubbish, and are 100% dry and very puncture/abrasion resistant. They are manufactured from a clear rubber material that stays soft and pliable at all temperatures, with a roll top/velcro closure. No leaks yet but after a couple of years the material does deteriorate, and takes on a yellowish hue - at which point I've replaced them. info on the web at: http://www.ortlieb.de/espal_hau_p.htm HTH Cheers Colin Calder 57º19'N 2º10'W *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Colin Calder wrote: > [snip] I have also been succesfully using the German Ortleib document > cases with plain paper maps/charts, and would recomend them.[snip] > > info on the web at: > > http://www.ortlieb.de/espal_hau_p.htm Anybody know of any dealers/retailers on this side of the Atlantic who sell Ortlieb's products? Lotta cool stuff. -- Dave Kruger Astoria, OR *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
One option that comes to mind is drafting tubes. When I used to draft I bought a plastic one. One end is cleased and the other is screwed tight. A rubber gasket could be made to fit, I am sure, if it isn't water proof enough. I wonder if that would work. F. Bosma Consulting Fred Bosma 1165 Briarwood Drive Cobble Hill B.C. V0R 1L0 Phone: 250-743-6061 Fax: 250-743-6051 *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
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