Modern Technology

[bigmart]

This my post number 1000 so I'm looking for a good debate here. It has struck me that with all the talk about VHF, DSC, AIS, Radar, Electronic Chart Plotters & Passage Planning Software, that when I first sailed to Cherbourg, from Christchurch, on my mates 22 foot trailer sailer we had a compass, a pack of flares & in deference to the high technology of the age a Locator RDF.

Were we foolhardy?

What is the panels opinion as to the minimum for a safe, similar crossing today?

Martin

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[AuntyRinum]

I used to do the same. The minimum requirement for a safe crossing is a seaworthy boat, a weather forecast, a chart, a straight edge, a 2B pencil, a protractor, dividers, a compass and a log.

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[Guest]

Post deleted by danfoley

 

[bigmart]

Good Idea. Do you think Haydn's amenable to quantity discount?

I get concerned these days, when people imply, that you are in some way negligent if you don't have all the latest kit. Yes I too am a Technology Junkie but that isn't really the point. What I was really getting at & I'm not sure that I approached it in the right way, was to find out how much we are conditioned by peer pressure, to be safe, when a few years ago it was the norm to have only the most basic essential kit.

Martin

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[boatless]

Might I suggest that it's helpful if the compasss is of known accuracy. Arrived back, as it turned out, at St. Albans Head, not the Needles as planned. Someone had taken out the neat little tray in the back of a Plastimo compass and had a little play with the screwy things... Bless those 'VHF lighthouses' - remember them?

<hr width=100% size=1>my opinion is complete rubbish, probably.

 

[JPGruntfuttock]

As a matter of interest, did you have tide tables on hand?

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[LadyInBed]

Re: foolhardy?

No - did the same from Weymouth. RDF was Modern Technology!

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[BrendanS]

Well, I've got a little Garmin 176c handheld plotter, other than that I make quite long passages for a boat of my size, by seat of pants and manual backup (charts and knowing how to use them). That's pretty much it other than VHF and a comprehensive set of flares. And jolly good fun it is, and I feel I've had an adventure when I finally arrive!

<hr width=100% size=1>Utinam logica falsa tuam philisophiam totam suffodiant

 

[castaway]

No ...We are all so worried about our personal safety now that pretty soon we wont step out side our own front doors for fear of some media whipped up peril!

In 1975 I managed a 6 month trip from the UK to the western Med in an 18ft er with just a compass, these days someone would prob try to stop me for 'my own good'

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.yachtsite.co.uk/fairweather>http://www.yachtsite.co.uk/fairweather</A>

Regds Nick


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[Twister_Ken]

X-channel minimum

Solent to Cherbourg.

Steering compass. Hand bearing compass for ship dodging. Log. Chart and tidal info. Binoculars. Big torch.

(And I'd probably sneak a handheld GPS aboard in my jacket pocket.)

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.writeforweb.com/twister1>Let's Twist Again</A>

 

[qsiv]

Re: X-channel minimum

Sounds like an excellent theme for the next Cherbourg run - no electronics allowed, apart from navigation lights.

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[bigmart]

I must admit that I did forget a couple of niceties. We had the then new Macmillans Almanac, Charts & a Hand Bearing Compass. OK so maybe I wasn't as daring as I let on but, by todays standards, thats positively spartan.

A couple of years later we moved up to a VHF. Now there'e real luxury.

Martin

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[bigmart]

Re: Back in those dark days

we didn't have an oven on board. We survived without the delights of Fray Bentos. I sometimes wonder how we managed. How come you manage to go so far without the culinary assistance of the humble tinned pie.

Martin

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[Twister_Ken]

The versatility of FB pies

If you're hungry enough, they can be eaten cold.

Or, put one on the engine exhaust as you begin to motor towards the mooring.



<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.writeforweb.com/twister1>Let's Twist Again</A>

 

[jimi]

Re: X-channel minimum

Sounds good, I'd be up for that.First X channel I did as skipper on a charter boat. GPS did'nt work, planned an uptide offset of 1 mile, was a mile out and came in through the door! Wonderful feeling although luck played a large part nae doot!

<hr width=100% size=1>I Have The Body Of A God... Buddha

 

[bigmart]

Re: The versatility of FB pies

You're a hard man Ken. What are you ex marine or something?

Us softies would never have worked how to warm them on the exhaust of the outboard.

Martin

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[bedouin]

To my mind you really need to be able to make a good stab at an EP, which requires Compass, Chart, Tide Tables, Log and timepiece.

So I would add two items to your list as the minimum:
(i) Log
(ii) Lifejackets
and binoculars would also be useful

OTOH the RDF is definitely overkill.

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[jimi]

Think I'd want a depth thingie .. oh well I'll just use my leadline with some candlewax on the bottom .. and yes I do have one on my boat!

<hr width=100% size=1>I Have The Body Of A God... Buddha

 

[BrendanS]

Re: Back in those dark days

Pot noodles? Nah! don't touch them myself. Big platinum card and full throttle on so's you can make it to nearest marina before the restaurant stops serving. Mobo's huh!

PS Chef at Oyster Quay is not happy about serving Fray Bentos at Mercury, so I've had to bribe him, therefore price per head is now £40

<hr width=100% size=1>Utinam logica falsa tuam philisophiam totam suffodiant

 

[tome]

Re: X-channel minimum

Me too!

I think this would be an excellent idea, maybe even worthy of a write up? We'd have to make some basic rules. Personally, I'd favour keeping the echo-sounder and maybe log going but definitely not GPS or other plotting gizmos. DSC position updates would have to be manual. What about radar if viz deteriorates? We would be in breach of colregs if we had it but didn't use it.

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