The New and Improved Celestial Navigation Poll

[IslandHopper]

Originally Posted by nigel1

Tend to have sharp edges-
LifeBOATS and sextant OK though (if someone knows where it is)
Many years ago, well, not that many, I have been on ships which had lifeboat charts and sextant etc

Yep a lifeboat is ok....and i agree about the sharp edges, inflatable stuff has an aversion to them....


The last time i was at collage in Tassie, they took us out of the mouth of the Tamar river into Bass Strait where we threw over four life rafts and climbed into them for an hour, it wasn't pleasant....

Trying to take a sight is impossible...no if's or buts....try standing on one of those blow up fun fair castles with a half dozen kids jumping around and you will get an idea ......but assuming we think we have a half way decent sight, try working it out and plotting it with all your soggy books and charts, on your soggy inflatable rubber chart table (jumping castle)....

.....then assuming we have achieved the impossible, what are we going to do with this knowledge ?



.....extra food and water is the smart way to go....

[capn_billl]

Life rafts may not be very steerable out of the box. But I'm hoping I could fashion something to affect it's course or entry into trade currents,(fashion a drogue, and deploy selectively?)

My main thought is if stranded in a Gilligen's Island situation, (or Castaway). what resources could you bring to bear to get you back to civilization? Being able to pinpoint location would be an important first step, either to rescue, or to effect transportation out.

In the old days you could fashion a primitive radio from a razer blade, a piece of quartz, and a graphite pencil, and a few bits of wire. Now with the age of digital radio, and few who still know morse code, sending a recognizable signal is far harder.

[susanna reiter]

While this is off course from the "lifeboat" issue...it does deal w/navigation....has anyone tried the Hockeypuck GPS and/or the chart software by MaxSea ? I just heard about it the other day third hand. If anyone has the scoop on this technology please share...thanks

[nigel1]

Originally Posted by susanna reiter

While this is off course from the "lifeboat" issue...it does deal w/navigation....has anyone tried the Hockeypuck GPS and/or the chart software by MaxSea ? I just heard about it the other day third hand. If anyone has the scoop on this technology please share...thanks

Why not try Open CPN (free)
US Coastal Charts Free

Puck type GPS receiver about $30

I'm using with above but with C Map charts, back up to the chart plotter
Works very well

[Kalinka1]

Originally Posted by capn_billl

Life rafts may not be very steerable out of the box. But I'm hoping I could fashion something to affect it's course or entry into trade currents,(fashion a drogue, and deploy selectively?)

My main thought is if stranded in a Gilligen's Island situation, (or Castaway). what resources could you bring to bear to get you back to civilization? Being able to pinpoint location would be an important first step, either to rescue, or to effect transportation out.

In the old days you could fashion a primitive radio from a razer blade, a piece of quartz, and a graphite pencil, and a few bits of wire. Now with the age of digital radio, and few who still know morse code, sending a recognizable signal is far harder.

I have a parafoil kite in the ditch bag. will serve two or maybe more purposes. It is an eye stopper out in the middle of nowhere, can also hold a radar reflector up higher and will pull my raft. have tried it with mydinghy and it works. (just in case rubber boat)

[ljsailing]

Starpath Navigation has an easy CelNav home study course. A good resource.

[gpdno]

Originally Posted by IslandHopper

assuming we think we have a half way decent sight, try working it out and plotting it with all your soggy books and charts, on your soggy inflatable rubber chart table (jumping castle)....

.....then assuming we have achieved the impossible, what are we going to do with this knowledge ?

.....extra food and water is the smart way to go....

You could get by without your charts and tables assuming you had an accurate time piece and were somewhere in the Northern hemisphere.

Shooting local noon and then shooting Polaris would give you a good idea of your location.
But I agree, not much you could do with it

[guyver]

I don't know, doesn't using a sextant in this day and age make you feel a little like; ummmm.....

[gpdno]

Originally Posted by guyver

I don't know, doesn't using a sextant in this day and age make you feel a little like; ummmm.....

Lol. Well ya but that's the fun. I don't have to use a sextant but I chose to learn how because I wanted too.
It's quite satisfying to go out and run my DR plot and shoot my location. Plus it give me something to do and it's more enjoyable than staring at the GPS screen.

[deckofficer]

And the hard cases at the Maritime Academies still require it, along with Morse flashing light.

[Astrid]

And there are some people, myself included, that enjoy using and becoming proficient with tools of the past.

[deckofficer]

Yep Astrid, your old school and we love you for that.

[rubyjean]

Originally Posted by Astrid

And there are some people, myself included, that enjoy using and becoming proficient with tools of the past.

Your right, I feel the same way. This is all part of history and culture of sailors of past. Why let a tradition die, just because GPS makes navigation to easy. I'm starting to think that all modern sailors have gotten lazy.
..Michael..

[s/v Jedi]

Sextants?! you guys 'n galls are getting complacent with those modern contraptions. Real sailors use real tools... have worked for my ancestors so works for you too



Nick.

[rubyjean]

Nick, nice piece, is it an Original? ..Michael..