Conference unifix::sailing

    I think you want the National Oceanographic & Atmospheric
    Administration (NOAA, pronounced "Noah") in Washington, DC. Maybe
    somebody has posted the address somewhere in here before?
    
    You'll want to be quite specific about the charts you want, because
    there are a *LOT* of them.
    
    John H-C

    You could also use a local supplier here in Marblehead. Fred L. Woods
    76 Washington St. Marblehead Ma. 01945. (I checked and they will be
    happy to assist you. I use them to get Canadian charts.) 
    
    The first thing you need is the NOAA index of US charts. That will list
    all of the charts available, and also show their position on the
    coast.  From the index you can specify exactly what charts you want.
    U.S. charts are not corrected to the latest notice of change. You might
    also ask Woods about how to get a listing of changes.
    
                            Bill
    
    Their phone umber is (617)631-0221.
                                                             

    Hi Bill,
    
    thanks for your help, a FAX # would be very helpfull. I need in the
    order of 100+. Do you think,they would send them to Switzerland ?
    
    Peter

    Peter,
    The NOAA phone is (301)436-6990 and their FAX no is (301)436-6829.
    The address : NOAA Distribution Branch, N/CG33
                  National Ocean Service
                  Reverdale,MD 20737-1199
    
    Ask for the FREE catalog of the coast you will sail so you can order
    the charts from there.Request a price list too,from that list you can
    see all the publications they offer.
    
    

re .3:

Peter, 

NOAA charts are $13.50 each. If you really need over a hundred, you 
might want to reconsider using ChartKits. I use NOAA charts because I 
think that they are much more legible and I mostly bought them when they 
were much cheaper. Today I'd only buy NOAA charts for the few charts I 
use all the time and depend on ChartKits for the rest.

Alan

    
    	Of course, the ChartKits are not neccessarily as `fresh' as you'd
    like. For example, mine is WAY off at the west end of the Cape Cod
    Canal, numbers-wise; the Coasties went & changed `em!
    	And YIKES where's that Brenton Tower gone?
    	Anyway, that's a good one; where DO you get an up-to-the-minute
    chart, all corrected? I've been stashing Notices to Mariners, and
    updating my charts right before we splash. I'd bet that service would
    jack up the prices frighteningly.
    	"Commercial Shipping"? I guess you mean info on channels? A Coastal
    Pilot is handy tho not imperative; charts show the bare essentials.
    	Where are you going?? Sounds like fun.
    	
    	Scott.

    RE .3  Fred Woods FAX number is (617)631-9137.
    
    No problem shipping to Switzerland.
    
                                        Bill

    You used to (and probably still can) get the chart data on
    magtape.  I'm suprised that there is no internet source for
    this data, as it's not copyrighted.  That would certainly be
    fresh.

    If anyone knows the cost of the magtape data or an internet
    source, I'd love to hear about it.

    	- Lee

    Mike,
    
    I've used and continue to use Bluewater Books and Charts. They have
    over 25,000 nautical books and charts in stock. They ship quick, in
    thick tube rolls for charts and protected pkgs for chart kits. They
    take VISA, etc. They are friendly and amazingly fast.
    
    They can be reached via:
    
    Bluewater Books and Charts
    1481 SE 17th st, 
    Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 33316 USA
    Toll Free orders in US: 1-800-942-2583
    otherwise (305)763-6533
    Fax (305)522-2278.
    
    I called them to verify they'd ship to Switzerland. No problem. They
    did state they would need "good shipping instructions" from you. They
    normally use UPS here in the states. If UPS delivers to your country,
    great. If not, you need to specify what carrier to use and give them a
    good address to ship to.
    
    Good luck. Call me if I can help. d-486-6496.
    
    Robert

    Hi, thanks everybody.
    
    I have already send a FAX to NOOA to find out if they ship to
    Switzerland.
    If that does not work, I will try one of the two bookstores.
    
    Notesfiles are really helpfull. I bought halve of my equipment
    using the info from this notesfile. 
    
    Peter
    
    

    NOOA did not send a reply to my FAX.
    
    No problem. I try now one of the bookstores.  
    
    
    Peter
    
    

    NOOA did answer my FAX. Not by FAX, but by US mail.
    
    If I really insist to buy from them, they will also send charts abroad. 
    But they are not really enthusiastic about it.
    	
    The bookstore in Ft. Lauderdale is offering Xerox copies of DMA charts
    for $6.20 each. I will buy a bunch of them to check out the readability
    (no colouring) and decide then, if I'm going to buy all my charts as
    Xerox copies.
    
    Peter
    

re xerox copies:

My concern would be the xerox paper. The usual paper used in copy 
machines is not at all stable with humidity changes nor is it at all 
waterproof or even water resistant. It also doesn't take too kindly to 
repeated erasures of pencil marks. You might want to ask the supplier if 
they use paper better than the usual stuff.

Alan

    Alan,
    
    I checked with the supplier.. They use the same size and stock as
    original. 

    The first book, the first chart and the indexes (twice) have arrived.
    Robert, Bluewater shipped in 3 days to Switzerland !
    
    
    NOOA is sending charts worldwide, accepts Visa or Mastercharge. I have
    received two days ago for free all indexes of the world.
    
    I have ordered one Xerox copy from Bluewater. I must say, the quality 
    is questionable and hard to read. I will only buy selectivly xeroxed
    copies and will stay mostly with the original charts.
    Ok, I'm now all set and have a few weeks work in front of me, choosing
    the correct charts.
    
    Thanks to all which helped me.   Peter
    
    The sailing directions are ok, but very dry reading.

    
    I have almost all my charts and books received. Postage is included in
    the $14/chart and I had to wait between 1 and 3 weeks for delivery.
    
    But now I got another problem. I need a single book from
    
    NAVAIR Naval Weather Service Command, Washington: Government Printing
    Office.
    
    How do I order that one ?
    
    Thanks,  Peter

    John,
    
    Mariners Worldwide Climatic Guide to Tropical Storms at Sea,
    
    
    Navair 50-1C-61  
    
    
    Peter