Paper Charts – the Stuff Dreams are Made of
The big news on October 22, 2013 was that NOAA was going to cease making paper charts on lithographic paper as they have done for some time. Well, actually it was the Federal Aviation Administration that inherited the job of printing the paper charts were stopping the presses in order to save money.
After all, in this day in age, who uses paper charts anymore?
Well, millions of sailors, actually. Which is why you shouldn’t have trusted the FAA flyboys to watch over your sailing stuff!
Our Nautical Chart Mural adds to the celebration at Martingale Wharf, Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Not to worry, there are plenty of companies that will produce paper charts, but not on the old, sturdy lithograph paper. Still, print-on-demand paper works well, and it will continue on as a vital navigational resource into the future.
The good news is that charts are used much more than just for navigation. I have helped my clients put charts in their regular homes, summer homes, living rooms, kitchens, bathrooms, ceilings, stairwells, and family rooms. I have helped restaurants, bars, hotels all have a nautical chart motif in their respective businesses. Recently, a client called with an idea to do nautical chart facing on her stairs!
And your creative ideas keep on coming!