Sixpence
Well-Known Member
If I knew the answer my dear Chrusty one I wouldn't be asking /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
NMEA in/out
- Thread starter Sixpence
- Start date
C
Chrusty1
Guest
Well now I would suggest that you buy yourself some books on the subject, and take it from there, there are some very good ones available that are not expensive and will give you a good grounding (excuse expression) on the subject for life.
You should learn it anyway, what you going to do if for some reason your leccy fails? No good saying that you will put another shilling in the meter, cos you are only a tanner.
OK. Yes Chart plotters are a very nice to have accessory, but to rely on one solely for navigation is in my view not something you should be getting yourself used to. Do the paper nav, use the Chart plotter to back up the chart work and to confirm or condemn it, but never just bimble along using the GPS only, cos if it goes squit, you wont have a clue will you.
You should learn it anyway, what you going to do if for some reason your leccy fails? No good saying that you will put another shilling in the meter, cos you are only a tanner.
OK. Yes Chart plotters are a very nice to have accessory, but to rely on one solely for navigation is in my view not something you should be getting yourself used to. Do the paper nav, use the Chart plotter to back up the chart work and to confirm or condemn it, but never just bimble along using the GPS only, cos if it goes squit, you wont have a clue will you.
Sixpence
Well-Known Member
Oh I haven't got the chart plotter working yet, it's away at Dr Guapa having a check up to see if it's well enough to use, so I don't have that yet and rely on paper charts and navigate using a hand held GPS and getting to know the area I sail in. There aren't many things out there to see so everything we do see is interesting. But buying a book on navigation is out of the question at the moment. Cash flow means we aren't even going out this weekend because the outboard needs fuel.
Jezlyn
Well-Known Member
Now you've got the wiring sorted all that's left is to select the correct Baud rate and NMEA sentences!
bastonjock
Well-Known Member
Chrusty is quite right about not relying on a chartplotter,i had mine go down just before we rounded the cape of wrath (Orford ness in a SE force 7) remember dave?how could we ever forget,soaked though and cold.
I carry a Chartplotter,a hand held GPS a hand held compass and a boats compass and charts,i read off the charts,keep a log.
Learning to read the sea is also important,differences in wave patterns can warn you of shallow water.
I carry a Chartplotter,a hand held GPS a hand held compass and a boats compass and charts,i read off the charts,keep a log.
Learning to read the sea is also important,differences in wave patterns can warn you of shallow water.
Sixpence
Well-Known Member
Think I might need to get round to Wells and wave to the camera as we enter just to prove we do actually get out there /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
JKay
Well-Known Member
we are looking at the end of July
Sixpence
Well-Known Member
July is looking to be a busy month so we might need to start organising a date soon if you're heading for Wells then ?
If so we can maybe sort out a meet there and Ken might be back on his feet by then too.
I'm sure Ggt will be happy at last
More going to the do on the 11th, Alfie 168 and wife. Asked PaulB but no reply yet
Away on 4th to the pirate weekend and would like to fit in a trip home too, so let's sort out a date soon for this one
If so we can maybe sort out a meet there and Ken might be back on his feet by then too.
I'm sure Ggt will be happy at last
More going to the do on the 11th, Alfie 168 and wife. Asked PaulB but no reply yet
Away on 4th to the pirate weekend and would like to fit in a trip home too, so let's sort out a date soon for this one
frauboot
Member
[ QUOTE ]
Personally I would love to learn to navigate using a sextant, well anything with the word sex in it has to be good
But the chances of me ever having enough money to buy one are very slim
[/ QUOTE ]
Nothing wrong with a plastic Ebbco. Probably about £20 on Ebay at the right time of year.
I don't think a sextant is going to help you navigate around the Wash as accuracy is thought good if within 9 miles. I've found that unlike a GPS that a sextant isn't very good in cloud and even a haze can destroy your chances of getting an horizon at night.
Personally I would love to learn to navigate using a sextant, well anything with the word sex in it has to be good
But the chances of me ever having enough money to buy one are very slim
[/ QUOTE ]
Nothing wrong with a plastic Ebbco. Probably about £20 on Ebay at the right time of year.
I don't think a sextant is going to help you navigate around the Wash as accuracy is thought good if within 9 miles. I've found that unlike a GPS that a sextant isn't very good in cloud and even a haze can destroy your chances of getting an horizon at night.
Superflid
Well-Known Member
Depth sounder is your best guide in poor conditions in The Wash.
You could always make your own sextant!
You could always make your own sextant!
Wunja
Well-Known Member
Would you feel confident navigating over oceans with something made from Lego and a CD case (and probably rubber solution glue and sticky backed plastic)?
Go with the GPS (whilst the satellites are still in the sky).
Go with the GPS (whilst the satellites are still in the sky).
Superflid
Well-Known Member
Wouldn't want to cruise the pacific with it, but it's a cheap way to be able to learn to use one.
Master_under_Dog
Well-Known Member
I am sure you are both right. But as a singlehander I am relying heavily on my chartplotter which swings out from the cabin into the companionway when under way. It did occur to me last Saturday as I gazed at the outer Crouch wilderness that if the plotter did fail I had a non-working depth sounder and non-working log and would have been rather nonplussed therefore. I do have a back up handheld GPS, and hand bearing and steering compasses but putting a position on the chart whilst sailing the boat is not an easy option, particularly when quick decisions need to be made. I could see all the buoys however so that was some comfort.
The point about wave patterns is well made. The sandbanks were obvious long before they emerged from the waves, until the wind dropped completely when it became really difficult to distinguish mud from water. I comforted myself with the thought that if we did go aground I only had to pump up the keel to get going again and we wouldn't have thumped ourselves to pieces in the flat calm.
Michael
The point about wave patterns is well made. The sandbanks were obvious long before they emerged from the waves, until the wind dropped completely when it became really difficult to distinguish mud from water. I comforted myself with the thought that if we did go aground I only had to pump up the keel to get going again and we wouldn't have thumped ourselves to pieces in the flat calm.
Michael
Superflid
Well-Known Member
Nothing wrong with having the extra gadgets. I've got a fixed and H/H gps and chartplotting software on the laptop, NASA depth sounder works most of the time, but I've fixed a cheapo fishfinder I can use in the cockpit.
If all the electrics/batteries go tits up I've got fixed and handbearing compass, charts are always out and marked up when I think about it /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif and a lump of lead on a line!
If all the electrics/batteries go tits up I've got fixed and handbearing compass, charts are always out and marked up when I think about it /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif and a lump of lead on a line!
Slow_boat
Well-Known Member
I've never found it a problem fixing a position on the chart while singlehanded, though I bought a secondhand plotter after nearly trying to go straight across Foulness sands on the way to last years pirate weekend. I reckon it would be limitted use for 'proper' navigation but good for pilotage.
I really must connect the power lead..............
I really must connect the power lead..............