Think of what you are doing to the environment by cutting down all those trees to make your charts. Think of the global warming. I bet you don’t use solar panel on you boat to get electricity? Just because something is electrical, doesn’t mean you can’t do backups. Store the info on a memory card or disc then there is no problem of losing it.

Well once again pirate you dont obviously read what others write as we all agree that electronics are of value and were money allows we sailors will move with the times. Many of the discussion participants on this site must be using computers to be part of this discussion.
As to "think of what you are doing to the environment by cutting down trees" well there are many more issues in that field than charts. The entire population of the world which is a massive number in comparison to the sailing fraternity, are doing much more to damage the environment.
It also appears that you are young and from your debates that you certainly do not respect experience. Oh by the way backing up information is not the issue. What most of us are saying is if your POWER, EQUIPMENT or the SYSTEM (ie GPS) let you down then your electronic charting system isnt what it could be. Again most of us probably have got solar panels and electronics as I have but we are wise enough to use it alongside some of the more traditional systems like charts.

I gave up Peter, life's too short.

I also give up Peter, Chas, life indeed is too short for meaningless discussions like this.

Yes, Harry and Chas, I to agree. Well just hope we don't meet sailors like Pirate as he probably will be a danger to the seas. Or more importantly I pity the RNLI as they may have to be called out to assist him. Oh well evryone to their own I suppose.

Don't worry gents, when he has a problem, he won't have any back up systems to call for help. In fact he probably won't even have any flares; so no one will even know. He'll slip gently away to Davy Jones's Locker with the minimum if inconvenience to everybody else

Amen. R.I.P

Personally I use a laptop for planning a voyage. My recently acquired Yeoman Plotter, the clue is in the name, coupled to a GPS is used for plotting my progress.
When each of the electronic items successively suffered temporary failure in quite bad weather during a 1,000 mile trip last summer, I knew where I was on the paper chart and could manually navigate my way to refuge. No amount of staring at a memory card or a disc would have released the backup information.
I conclude that 'a pirate' is a cryptic crossword anagram clue to the nature of the anonymous dissident 'i.e. a prat'.

Well said Graham and you are so right. I also enjoy updating the charts. There are several horror stories where electronics have been used and have been one of the contributory facters to deaths at sea.

When out sailing last week, the skipper on the boat had a laptop with that new RYA chartplotter on it and it made a really good taching aid.

When giving the crew tasks you were easily able to see you progress, so instead of just telling you that you have gone wrong you can actually see it so you can learn from your mistakes.

Well said Graham/Peter. I have always advocated the coupling of paper charts with electronic nav. though some sailors have doubted me. I plotted my position on the chart from GPS every one/two hours and instantly knew if there was a blip in the electronics, but could always navigate on paper to my destination.

Hi Harry, that's exactly the way I do it too (see previous posts). Some sailors may have doubted you but not good sailors!

Yes Chas, belt and braces. One cannot play silly beggars with the ocean, it will have you. I have seen some silly beggars on boats, particularly some with suddenly some money to spend then along comes neuvau bateux then 'what do we do now? Oh yes, switch on this little box. Oh, the little box has stopped working, never mind, send for the lifeboat'