AIDY
Active member
Can anyone recommend any good books for a beginner to learn astro Navigation and using a sextant.
TIA
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TIA
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Astro Navigation & Sextant
- Thread starter AIDY
- Start date
aod
New member
Mary Blewitt..............excellent!
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30boat
N/A
Tom Cunliff is also very good.
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Jack
New member
Best book for astro nav I ever came across was the Admiralty Manual of Seamanship Volume 2. Clear, concise, comprehensive. I don't know if it's still published, but that's the one I would go for, especially if you want to understand what you are doing and why as well as just how.
You also need to learn about using, adjusting and checking the sextant itself. Watt's book "The Sextant Simplified" was good for that but it's probably long out of print.
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You also need to learn about using, adjusting and checking the sextant itself. Watt's book "The Sextant Simplified" was good for that but it's probably long out of print.
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bluejuice
New member
mary blewitt is the only way to begin, pat langley/phil overy book and excises is TOP as well. cunliffe is very good and comprehensive however some i know find it a little confusing to start with
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Jeremy_W
New member
>>> especially if you want to understand what you are doing and why as well as just how.
If you don't want to bother with the why, just the how then try Gerry Smith's book on the subject. His "Coastal Navigation" is brilliant.
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If you don't want to bother with the why, just the how then try Gerry Smith's book on the subject. His "Coastal Navigation" is brilliant.
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LadyInBed
Well-known member
You could have a look and <A target="_blank" HREF=http://home.t-online.de/home/h.umland/index.htm> here
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Budgie
New member
Around 30 years ago I bought a second hand bubble sextant, and with the aid of the book listed below, an almanac and some tables I was able to fix the position of Basingstoke to within 5 miles. I considered this to be an excellent achievement!
The very readable book, I have it still, is Little Ship Astro-Navigation by M.J. Rantzen, second edition, published by Herbert Jenkins in 1969, SBN257 65031 8, price 30s.
Much to my surprise I find that there is a second-hand one for sail on Amazon zshops for £4.00 +p&p!
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The very readable book, I have it still, is Little Ship Astro-Navigation by M.J. Rantzen, second edition, published by Herbert Jenkins in 1969, SBN257 65031 8, price 30s.
Much to my surprise I find that there is a second-hand one for sail on Amazon zshops for £4.00 +p&p!
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AIDY
Active member
Thanks for all the advice chaps, looks like i've got a bit of reading to do. A sextant is something i've always wanted to be able to use. Is the best place to purchase one on ebay or the local chandlers ?
thanks again.
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thanks again.
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AndrewB
Well-known member
Buying a sextant
Sextants are delicate instruments - you've probably heard that if a sextant is dropped its little more than heap of scrap metal. While sextants allow for certain adjustments and corrections to be made, some things like a warped or bent frame are uncorrectable.
Many of those for sale on Ebay sound useless except as ornaments. You might get lucky but unless the seller can definitely confirm it is fully serviceable or better still it is recently certificated, it probably won't be much use. What's more the genuine working ones command high prices, little cheaper than a brand new sextant. You'd be safer to go for a cheap(ish) plastic one from your chandler if you want proper results, something to learn with or as an emergency backup. An expensive metal one is for if you want to cross oceans without a GPS - or for those who wish to give the impression of doing so!
PS Another book is David Derrick "Navigation for offshore and ocean sailors", once the RYA recommended course book on astro-navigation, now long out of print but frequently available secondhand. I thought it good, avoids a cook-book approach.
Sextants are delicate instruments - you've probably heard that if a sextant is dropped its little more than heap of scrap metal. While sextants allow for certain adjustments and corrections to be made, some things like a warped or bent frame are uncorrectable.
Many of those for sale on Ebay sound useless except as ornaments. You might get lucky but unless the seller can definitely confirm it is fully serviceable or better still it is recently certificated, it probably won't be much use. What's more the genuine working ones command high prices, little cheaper than a brand new sextant. You'd be safer to go for a cheap(ish) plastic one from your chandler if you want proper results, something to learn with or as an emergency backup. An expensive metal one is for if you want to cross oceans without a GPS - or for those who wish to give the impression of doing so!
PS Another book is David Derrick "Navigation for offshore and ocean sailors", once the RYA recommended course book on astro-navigation, now long out of print but frequently available secondhand. I thought it good, avoids a cook-book approach.
Chris_Rayner
New member
Little Ship Astro-Navigation by M.J Rantzen
There are several copies of this and other books by M.J. Rantzen to be found for sale on www.abebooks.com, a much better site than Amazon for out of print books in my experience. Some of them may be at second hand booksellers not far from you so you could go and look before you buy. I would heartily recommend both of his little ship navigation books which are among my most treasured possessions.
Chris Rayner
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There are several copies of this and other books by M.J. Rantzen to be found for sale on www.abebooks.com, a much better site than Amazon for out of print books in my experience. Some of them may be at second hand booksellers not far from you so you could go and look before you buy. I would heartily recommend both of his little ship navigation books which are among my most treasured possessions.
Chris Rayner
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Mirelle
N/A
Re: Little Ship Astro-Navigation by M.J Rantzen
Hear, hear. I learned from this book, and bought another copy secondhand for a fiver quite recently. All his books are good. However it should be noted that he does not use the "Air Tables", which most yachtigators use; he uses NP 401, the professional mariner's tables, so you may find yourself in a minority amongst yottigators. Each volume covers 15 deg, so you really need 45-60 but should plan to get 30-45 as well.
<hr width=100% size=1>Que scais-je?
Hear, hear. I learned from this book, and bought another copy secondhand for a fiver quite recently. All his books are good. However it should be noted that he does not use the "Air Tables", which most yachtigators use; he uses NP 401, the professional mariner's tables, so you may find yourself in a minority amongst yottigators. Each volume covers 15 deg, so you really need 45-60 but should plan to get 30-45 as well.
<hr width=100% size=1>Que scais-je?
Mirelle
N/A
Re: Buying a sextant
Good advice. After a few years with a plastic one you will be knowledgeable enough to know what to look for, but in any case a good book on the sextant, rather than on the sums, is "The Sextant Simplified" originally by OM Watts, revised by Dag Pike.
<hr width=100% size=1>Que scais-je?
Good advice. After a few years with a plastic one you will be knowledgeable enough to know what to look for, but in any case a good book on the sextant, rather than on the sums, is "The Sextant Simplified" originally by OM Watts, revised by Dag Pike.
<hr width=100% size=1>Que scais-je?
AIDY
Active member
Thanx.
Managed to find a copy of Rantzen and Blewitt books in my local libary. These books will keep me busy for a while, look very comprehensive.
If there is anyone else interested:-
1) M.J. Rantzen Little ships asto-navigation fouth edition isbn 0 214 20373 5
2) Mary Blewitt Celestial Navigation for Yachtsmen eighth edition isbn 0 540 07403 9
Just noticed books last return date March 1982 !!!!! I'll dust the cobwebs of then.
<hr width=100% size=1><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by delf on 02/02/2004 12:50 (server time).</FONT></P>
Managed to find a copy of Rantzen and Blewitt books in my local libary. These books will keep me busy for a while, look very comprehensive.
If there is anyone else interested:-
1) M.J. Rantzen Little ships asto-navigation fouth edition isbn 0 214 20373 5
2) Mary Blewitt Celestial Navigation for Yachtsmen eighth edition isbn 0 540 07403 9
Just noticed books last return date March 1982 !!!!! I'll dust the cobwebs of then.
<hr width=100% size=1><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by delf on 02/02/2004 12:50 (server time).</FONT></P>
Twister_Ken
Well-known member
>ust noticed books last return date March 1982 !!!!! I'll dust the cobwebs of then<
In that case the library might well take your generous offer of a few pence each for them - they need the shelf space for all the new books on electonic nav.
<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.writeforweb.com/twister1>Let's Twist Again</A>
In that case the library might well take your generous offer of a few pence each for them - they need the shelf space for all the new books on electonic nav.
<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.writeforweb.com/twister1>Let's Twist Again</A>
Gordonmc
Active member
Like you I am a celestial navigation virgin.
I tried bidding for a plastic Davis Mk 15 on Ebay and got well and truly thrashed by other bidders. Couldn't justify the bucketfulls of dosh being thrown at the thing. I eventually ordered one from the States, buying online from Celestaire.com. The cost was about £86 UKP and it arrived within two days. UK import taxes came to another £27. Still beats the best UK retail price I have seen.
It came with a small book on calibration and basic instructions, but also a catalogue of related products. I fell for a starfinder programme downloadable to my PDA which gives a realtime celestial database with elevations and azimuths for the most useful stars and planets for the whole of 2004. The cost was $14 USD.
I doubt if the sextant will replace the GPS, but its fascinating and even a numpty like me can get round the sums!
Best of luck.
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I tried bidding for a plastic Davis Mk 15 on Ebay and got well and truly thrashed by other bidders. Couldn't justify the bucketfulls of dosh being thrown at the thing. I eventually ordered one from the States, buying online from Celestaire.com. The cost was about £86 UKP and it arrived within two days. UK import taxes came to another £27. Still beats the best UK retail price I have seen.
It came with a small book on calibration and basic instructions, but also a catalogue of related products. I fell for a starfinder programme downloadable to my PDA which gives a realtime celestial database with elevations and azimuths for the most useful stars and planets for the whole of 2004. The cost was $14 USD.
I doubt if the sextant will replace the GPS, but its fascinating and even a numpty like me can get round the sums!
Best of luck.
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AIDY
Active member
Great website celestaire.com. See what you mean about the price difference from the Uk and States. Cheapest sextant i had found in the UK was a plastic one from mailspeed at 180 pounds. Will have a closer look at the books and website later.
Toodaloooooo
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Toodaloooooo
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AIDY
Active member
Good thinking. I will pose the question when the books are due for return.
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DeeGee
Active member
I agree on the how and why reasons for the AMSv2, but not as a beginners book. It is great when you already have the how pretty much sussed, but are not happy with the why.
All in all I reckon Tom Cunliffe's book is far the best, with Mary Blewitt rather a long way back. Everyone raves about MB, but I find her book too brief about the bits that matter and she certainly does not give the big picture.
I love using the sextant, and working out where I am. It is usually in the Bromley, Kent area!! Although I have done it on the boat (whole new experience) I haven't had to do it in anger. Never crossed an ocean except in a Boeing. ;-)
<hr width=100% size=1>Black Sugar - the sweetest of all
All in all I reckon Tom Cunliffe's book is far the best, with Mary Blewitt rather a long way back. Everyone raves about MB, but I find her book too brief about the bits that matter and she certainly does not give the big picture.
I love using the sextant, and working out where I am. It is usually in the Bromley, Kent area!! Although I have done it on the boat (whole new experience) I haven't had to do it in anger. Never crossed an ocean except in a Boeing. ;-)
<hr width=100% size=1>Black Sugar - the sweetest of all
ubuysa
New member
Coincidentally I started the 5-day RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Theory class today. We've only been looking at meridian passages today (Mon) plus a start on reducing a sextant sight. I'd really hate to try learning any of this stuff from a book!! Having an instructor there who cold help when the grey matter got clogged up was/is priceless........
<hr width=100% size=1>There are 10 kinds of people, those who understand binary and those who don't.
<hr width=100% size=1>There are 10 kinds of people, those who understand binary and those who don't.
