What advantages and how do you get the most from a Portland Plotter

[DogWatch]

I have one but never use it. Should I make an effort to?

How exactly do I get the best from it?

 

[VicS]

I have one too. A freebie and not very good. Never use it! Not even sure where it is.

Dont like things that you pre-set for variation

I prefer a Douglas protractor ( the square thing) but at the end of the day use what ever you are happy with.

Parallel rule if that's what floats your boat.

 

[Sgeir]

Dont like things that you pre-set for variation

They plot in True, and there is no pre-set. There is an East/West variation with which the True may be adjusted, but that's after the course has been plotted in True. It might be helpful for people learning and getting used to variation.

A proper Portland Plotter is very simple to use, and quick, but as you said, each to their own.

Like yourself, I also had a freebie one, given away with a magazine, but was a bit useless as it wasn't centred properly. But the proper ones are very useful.

Incidentally, it's completely unnecessary of course, but we do carry a really nifty three arm protractor when using the sextant horizontally to measure the angles between three known points. It's only ever been used for fun, but I found the results astonishingly close to the GPS position.

Julian, as we do not have an electronic plotter, paper charts are used on every passage. While I do not plot a detailed course for each passage, I would always use it for passages in open water such as crossing the Minch, or for sailing at night. The Portland is simplicity itself, and reasonably foolproof, even in a heavy swell (OK you're in a cat....).

So, in answer to your question, I wouldn't feel the need to make an effort if you are already familiar with perfectly decent alternatives, but why not? I quite like doing simple navigational stuff, anyway.

 

[Jaytac]

I have one but never use it. Should I make an effort to?

Yes.

How exactly do I get the best from it?

Use it on a chart for Navigation?

My only comparison is parallel rules, but I like because so very simple to use and doesn't need to be moved accross the chart so works on a cluttered chart table

 

[BrendanS]

I guess it's what you are used to. I came to boat navigation from air nav (via lots of hillwalking nav) where we were taught to use kit very similar to Portland plotters. So Portland seemed very easy to use. If you are used to nav using different techniques or tools and they work, then stick with them, as it's how you use them under pressure that seems most important.

 

[Kawasaki]

It is a simple great tool
Beats the heck out of the trad 'Walkers' slidey thing
Stick on the chart
Turn the compass bit up to north and read off the 'CTS'
OK add or subject the variation, pending where you are.
Taint much anyway
Anyway if yer sailing a raggie whatsit yer all over the place anyway!!!!

Great piece of kit so easy to use

I would have the following on any boat as a choice.
A Compass
A VHF
A Radar
Charts
Pencil
Bretton/ Portland plotter
Tea bags
Fags
Method of propulsion
Watertight hull
'That's all Folks'
As the Rabbit said

 

[DogWatch]

It is a simple great tool
Beats the heck out of the trad 'Walkers' slidey thing
Stick on the chart
Turn the compass bit up to north and read off the 'CTS'
OK add or subject the variation, pending where you are.
Taint much anyway
Anyway if yer sailing a raggie whatsit yer all over the place anyway!!!!

Great piece of kit so easy to use

I would have the following on any boat as a choice.
A Compass
A VHF
A Radar
Charts
Pencil
Bretton/ Portland plotter
Tea bags
Fags
Method of propulsion
Watertight hull
'That's all Folks'
As the Rabbit said

I use parallels and a divider. Parallels are ok but a good walk can ruin the bearing. I have to admit that my paper navigation skills are not as hot as they were since buying a plotter. Er outdoors has asked for a theory course for her birthday so I am hoping to replenish my skills helping (leeching off) her when she does her homework.

 

[Kawasaki]

since buying a plotter.

Oh by the way
'The Gadgett' got binned by swmbo!, she thought it was knackered!
It had fallen into me bin by me desk!!
She chucked it into the Main Bin!
It will be mentioned in Divorce proceedings


Er outdoors has asked for a theory course for her birthday so I am hoping to replenish my skills helping (leeching off) her when she does her homework.

Chuck yer parras away mate
Her outdoors will kill you with her knowledge after the course

Last week I was out on a big Mobo instructing peeps with a large leccy plotter on their boat

I was almost chuffed when it went awol
So we had to go back to paper
'Portlands rule ok' said I
Snarf Snarf!

 

[Ricd]

Tried parallel rule for a laugh...thought they were totally impractical (and inaccurate) for use on a average size yacht chart table....Portland is simple, stable and practical to use even in rough seas.

 

[activesail]

I find the Portland Plotter very quick to use in heavy seas.

 

[Mudisox]

Use it exclusively, in and out of the cockpit. It is especially useful to set to the Variation, cos then you don't get it wrong remembering all the stupid acronyms they teach at the RYA schools of standardisation. Also most useful to utilise the square corners to plot positions given as lat and long. You could use a piece of paper of course but the wind tend s to make them fly about.
PS my compass has been adjusted to cancel out all deviation, only the owner is devious.

 

[bbg]

I use parallels and a divider. Parallels are ok but a good walk can ruin the bearing. I have to admit that my paper navigation skills are not as hot as they were since buying a plotter. Er outdoors has asked for a theory course for her birthday so I am hoping to replenish my skills helping (leeching off) her when she does her homework.

I learned same as you. I got my wife a Day Skipper correspondence course (through Chichester - cmonlin.co.uk - excellent) for her birthday. She showed me how easy the Portland Plotter was. Now it's on the boat. Parellels relegated to the cupboard at home. In my last race I navigated, on the fly, through some rocks, using the Portland Plotter (and GPS waypoints). I never would have tried that with parallels.

 

[NPMR]

On a bouncing nav table I don't believe you can get anywhere near as accurate a 'plot' without the plotter. Pre-set variation (with a pencil mark) and then you only ever need to adjust the compass bit, find a north/south line on a chart and Robert is your mother's brother!

Tried rulers/Parallels and very 'iffy'.

Simples.

 

[timbartlett]

Interesting how many comments involve "walking" Parallels.

How many people, I wonder, know how to use Captain Fields markings?

And how many actually do so?

Personally, unless I'm navigating on a clipboard, I prefer parallels to plotters, but I would never dream of "walking" them across a chart to get to or from a compass rose: I always set their orientation by using the markings and only use the walking facility to adjust their position by up to an inch or so.

Out of curiosity, I'll try to post a poll on the subject.

 

[ancientsailor]

Deep sea we used parallel rules. In exams required to work to 1 degree or better.

I was introduced to the Portland plotter some years ago. Find it very good and quick - quite accurate enough for most chartwork.

On my instructors'course I was however told Portland plotter's only good to about 2 degrees.

Still use them however. I'd recommend a Portland (but revert to parallel when I want greater accuracy - rare!)

 

[Sui Generis]

Incidentally, it's completely unnecessary of course, but we do carry a really nifty three arm protractor when using the sextant horizontally to measure the angles between three known points. It's only ever been used for fun, but I found the results astonishingly close to the GPS position.


It's a station pointer, an ancient mariners bit of kit, very useful!