Lat & Long of Nav Marks to use as waypoints ?

I would caution, well uhm, caution in using markers as waypoints. The reason is that altogether too many un-knowledgeable boaters do so. Think of yourself in heavy fog, going from waypoint to waypoint, spot on because of the versatility of your GPS. Think that other poeple do the same darn thing. The chances of meeting at the buoy in the fog is increased greatly, and not a good thing. Happened to me a few years ago. I now offset the waypoints by a few hundred yards, and can slowly creep up on the buoys if I need to. Never have.

BTW, over here we have books called Light Lists which list the L/L of every buoy, marker, lighthouse, etc., in one handy volume. Would guess you do too.
 
I always set waypoints on my plotter, keeping them some way away from obvious navigational marks, in order to try to avoid the problem of other people being there in fog!
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Don't do it, DGPS and modern autopilots are sufficiently accurate that you may well hit the buoy. If you do you'll probably not be able to claim on your insurance. There was a case a few year back where a mobo on a delivery trip hit a buoy, being used as a waypoint, at speed and the boat sunk. The insurance company didn't pay up, reasoning that it wasn't an accident, because the vessel had deliberately been navigated to the buoy. The delivery skipper didn't have enough insurance to cover the total loss, so the owner was seriously out of pocket.
I set waypoints a 100m or more short of the buoy and a little way to port or starboard, which ever side common sense dictates, and then if it's foggy approach carefully with a radar and visual lookout.
 
jerrytug said:
Since you have to check the coordinates on the chart anyway, why not go straight to the chart? Waypoint lists are pointless!
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+1 - I've never understood the purpose of published lists of waypoints. If I decide I want to go to a particular place on the chart I read off the lat and long of that place myself. It's not usually the location of an aid to navigation.

Actually, for the last few years since getting a Yeoman, I don't need to read the lat and long. I just select waypoint mode, point to the spot on the chart, and press the button to create a waypoint in the GPS. But the principle's the same.

I have been on board a boat that steered itself into collision with a large steel buoy after the skipper told the autopilot to "go to waypoint"; this is not a theoretical risk. Fortunately no major damage but the attentions of the GRP man were required.

Pete
 
Think you're getting the message.

Avoid buoys unless you really need them, e.g. Entry to a river/ port and then offset. Rest of the time, use a convenient lat long from the chart that isn't a physical feature. Centre of compass rose on chart s quite good as makes plotting position on chart v easy or any convenient intersection of lat and long as it makes accurate plotting easy and reduces chance for errors in marking.
 
Well I respect the OPs request for coordinates of marks. Obviously you would not sail directly to the mark without looking out for the mark when you get into GPS error range. (say 15 metres or so). If it is that foggy then you need to slow down as well as look out. Actual way points might more usefully be the centre or starboard side of a harbour entrance where you do actually want to go over that way point. As said coordinates can be found from the chart although I think actual coordinates might be more accurate. good luck olewill
 
I must be such a terrible sailor

William_H said:
Well I respect the OPs request for coordinates of marks. Obviously you would not sail directly to the mark without looking out for the mark when you get into GPS error range. (say 15 metres or so). If it is that foggy then you need to slow down as well as look out. Actual way points might more usefully be the centre or starboard side of a harbour entrance where you do actually want to go over that way point. As said coordinates can be found from the chart although I think actual coordinates might be more accurate. good luck olewill
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I always use marks as waypoints - reading the figures from a Reeds almanac (usually a couple of years out of date)

double checks that you are where you and your gps think you are

I had always thought that the the marks are there to help sailors find their way around the humps and bumps

ah well..... yet another reason why I deserve to die

however, if I hit another boat in fog because he is heading for the same waypoint then he will be as foolish as I am and also deserves to die - so two fools sink

result
 
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