Yeoman GPS - How do they work?

andyb28

andyb28

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Can someone please explain to me how this device works?
It came with the boat I just purchased. I have never seen anything like it before.

I am currently upgrading the electronic instruments as the boat doesnt have a gps plotter. I am guessing this was an older school version that works with a chart somehow?

IMG-0506.jpg
 
Brilliant bit of kit. I set mine up for any trip other than short ones in the river.
One folds chart to fit as necessary & places the required chart in the plotter. References 3 points on the chart.
Most of my charts have the points placed by me ready to save time.
Some folio charts already have these ponts marked
Then reference them to the plotter.
The puck can be used to show current positon, distance/ bearing to waypoints etc
It will also insert waypoints into a GPS quite quickly
You really need the instruction book which is easy to understand
So do not chuck it out. It is worth getting it set up. It works on any chart in the world.
Where on the east coast are you?
 
Daydream believer said:
Brilliant bit of kit. I set mine up for any trip other than short ones in the river.
One folds chart to fit as necessary & places the required chart in the plotter. References 3 points on the chart.
Most of my charts have the points placed by me ready to save time.
Some folio charts already have these ponts marked
Then reference them to the plotter.
The puck can be used to show current positon, distance/ bearing to waypoints etc
It will also insert waypoints into a GPS quite quickly
You really need the instruction book which is easy to understand
So do not chuck it out. It is worth getting it set up. It works on any chart in the world.
Where on the east coast are you?
Click to expand...

Thanks, I was going to rip it out as I thought it was a useless bit of old tech from the 80's.
I will keep it and learn to use it.

I am based at Titchmarsh.
 
andyb28 said:
Thanks, I was going to rip it out as I thought it was a useless bit of old tech from the 80's.
I will keep it and learn to use it.

I am based at Titchmarsh
Click to expand...
If you get really stuck I could photo the manual for you when I start sailing again in April. At the minute it is in storage in my sailing room at home but would take some time to find.
PM me in April if you have no luck & I will see what i can do
However, you should find a copy on line in the interim
 
andyb28 said:
Thanks, I was going to rip it out as I thought it was a useless bit of old tech from the 80's.
I will keep it and learn to use it.

I am based at Titchmarsh.
Click to expand...
Your Plan A is probably the right one. The vast majority of boaters have no use for that piece of ancient kit. Just like RDF and Sextants, had their day other than for a few nostalgia enthusiasts.
 
dunedin said:
Your Plan A is probably the right one. The vast majority of boaters have no use for that piece of ancient kit. Just like RDF and Sextants, had their day other than for a few nostalgia enthusiasts.
Click to expand...
Not a very informed reply. I do not know if you have used one. I have one & find that it serves some useful purposes

First it means that I get a good overview of the area I am sailing in rather than the poor zoom in zoom out view of a plotter because one has whatever chart one needs available. Many sailors are using Ipads, phones & small plotters.

Second my wife, if she is with me, can sit below & follow progress very simply just by moving the puck over the chart. She loves to relate the time I was heading to a sandbank which I would certainly hit without her warning.

Third it loads waypoints in to my back up Garmin GPS 152 really easy which I actually use on my bridge deck repeater in preference to my chart plotter(garmin 95 XXx) - Assuming I do actually use any plotter. It is NOT linked to the plotter but stand alone with the older garmin 152

Fourth I can use an updated chart ( which I can keep up to date)of the Thames estuary for less than £20 every couple of years rather than pay a fortune for a full chart card on my plotter.

5th it uses any chart so if I get out of the chart plotter area it is not an issue. Just load a relevant chart for a small charge ( I actually have charts right down to Gib & round UK etc)
Things like vessel traffic zones can be seen easily on a chart & I can highlight them for passage planning. Place that chart in the Yeoman & even if the chart is not up to date it gives a great position check & overview on the chart table without using additional instruments. One can quickly plot a course easier than one can pressing buttons or poking a screen on a touch screen plotter where one may not see the start & end of a plot unless one zooms out & loses
accuracy.

By all means do not use one your self if you do not wish. But I think that you are wrong to tell a forumite to discard something before he gets a chance to discover the advantages of the kit. Let him make his own decision first. He may totally disagree with me. Then so be it.
But why not give it a go first?
 
Last edited:
I bought one quite recently, badged as an Autohelm. Always liked the idea as I use charts and prefere the larger visual idea.
I have the handbook if that helps?
 
Daydream believer said:
Not a very informed reply. I do not know if you have used one. I have one & find that it serves some useful purposes

First it means that I get a good overview of the area I am sailing in rather than the poor zoom in zoom out view of a plotter because one has whatever chart one needs available. Many sailors are using Ipads, phones & small plotters.

Second my wife, if she is with me, can sit below & follow progress very simply just by moving the puck over the chart. She loves to relate the time I was heading to a sandbank which I would certainly hit without her warning.

Third it loads waypoints in to my back up Garmin GPS 152 really easy which I actually use on my bridge deck repeater in preference to my chart plotter(garmin 95 XXx) - Assuming I do actually use any plotter. It is NOT linked to the plotter but stand alone with the older garmin 152

Fourth I can use an updated chart ( which I can keep up to date)of the Thames estuary for less than £20 every couple of years rather than pay a fortune for a full chart card on my plotter.

5th it uses any chart so if I get out of the chart plotter area it is not an issue. Just load a relevant chart for a small charge ( I actually have charts right down to Gib & round UK etc)
Things like vessel traffic zones can be seen easily on a chart & I can highlight them for passage planning. Place that chart in the Yeoman & even if the chart is not up to date it gives a great position check & overview on the chart table without using additional instruments. One can quickly plot a course easier than one can pressing buttons or poking a screen on a touch screen plotter where one may not see the start & end of a plot unless one zooms out & loses
accuracy.

By all means do not use one your self if you do not wish. But I think that you are wrong to tell a forumite to discard something before he gets a chance to discover the advantages of the kit. Let him make his own decision first. He may totally disagree with me. Then so be it.
But why not give it a go first?
Click to expand...
Each to their own. Paper charts are useful for a wider view, whilst they remain available.
But for seeing location on the chart and doing navigation I prefer a chart plotter or two - certainly a large screen plotter close to the helm is a huge advantage when sailing short handed. Do you have this on your boat?
I like the vast majority of modern navigators feel no need for Yeoman plotter on a paper chart.
 
We bought a Yeoman when they were new tech. It moved boats twice with us and was still going strong when we sold Blush.

It was particularly useful for long distance trips like the mini Atlantic circuit we did because it took large passage charts as well as the Imray folio charts. As long as you plot your position regularly, if you have power, GPS etc problems you can go back to dead reckoning.

Blush also had a plotter with radar and a Raspberry Pi which eventually had radar overlay and became the preferred nav tool. We also had a sextant.
 
I have used them a few times when drafted in as "navigator" on other peoples boats. I liked it, certainly better than a really early green cathode ray tube chartplotter I met on another boat. It still has advantages over any but really big and really expensive chartplotters: you can use a real paper chart, and the power consumption is tiny. Yes it is an antique, but one that is still very usable.
 
dunedin said:
Your Plan A is probably the right one. The vast majority of boaters have no use for that piece of ancient kit. Just like RDF and Sextants, had their day other than for a few nostalgia enthusiasts.
Click to expand...

I think that's a bit of an OTT statement .... the Yoeman may be old kit - but it still has a useful life ... why ditch something that works ?

If a boat has a suitable chart area to put it - then IMHO - its worth using.
 
Stork_III said:
I have a Sport surplus to requirements, free delivery doesn't apply to SA nor to Latvia.

https://forums.ybw.com/threads/yeoman-sport-with-wired-in-garmin-12xl-gps.489689/
Click to expand...

Thanks, I don't expect fee delivery to RSA but I will pay for any shipping by FEDX or any other one of the cost-effective shippers.

How much do you want for the plotter and if you can find out the shipping cost, I can pay you however you wish.

I would suggest to ship it sometime mid-January once I have made payment if that OK with you
 
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