On my last big trip on the ocean, I had water infiltrate my waterproof chart pouch. It was the kind that folds three times and then gets velcro'd. Another dry spot that had paperwork in it also got wet from some splashing while I was accessing the dry can.

I had running ink on some charts, tide tables, moon phase information, landing permits, camping reservations, boat registration, boat insurance, tow insurance, copies of identification and health insurance card, and on and on.

Today I find out that the ink from an inkjet printer runs not because of the ink, but rather because of the paper !

With this stuff called Teslin , you can print absolutely waterproof papers right out of your inkjet printer. It works! The one I bought is sold at REI and branded by National Geographic. It is called Adventure Paper. $20 for 25 letter sized sheets.

This stuff will be great for race instructions too.
Adventure Paper web page

GARY
Mystere 6.0 "Whisk"
So. CA

Hi Gary,

Thanks for the tip. I'd always assumed it was the ink, too.

I've been taking my printed charts to the local Kinkos to have them laminated. (The lamination also adds stiffness if you need to keep the chart flat.)

Very cool, thanks for the heads up Gary!

At work, we use this type "paper" to print manuals that are used on the flight deck of aircraft carriers. Very durable. Good stuff.

Is there anything on the market that adsorbs the nearly inevitable water that somehow finds its way inside the "sealed waterproof pouch"? You don't want Calcium Chloride (Dryrite) because it gets corrosive when wet. What else is available??

Tear open a disposable diaper (a new one) and dig out some of the water absorbing powder. It is really incredible stuff that absorbs many times its weight in water. If you're after those few drops that always get in (or is it condensation?) a bit of this stuff will take care of it.

Aha!- The answer is Super Slurper- the xanthane starch product developed by USDA chemists in Peoria, Illinois!