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#1
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Radar and Basic Nav.
I've been using several books to aid Suzanne with learning basic nav skills. Dispite Mooron's comment that Radar is a "basic" component for the novice, it's not covered at all until (Colgate, Seamanship series and so on) Some of these books are up to 4 years old. I'm guessing that NEW books will show that learning radar is a basic nav skill that a person should start with. RB |
#2
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Radar and Basic Nav.
Bobsprit wrote:
I've been using several books to aid Suzanne with learning basic nav skills. Dispite Mooron's comment that Radar is a "basic" component for the novice, it's not covered at all until (Colgate, Seamanship series and so on) Some of these books are up to 4 years old. I'm guessing that NEW books will show that learning radar is a basic nav skill that a person should start with. Bob, any 14 year old that has played with a flight simulator on their PC knows how to use radar! -- Wally www.makearatherlonglinkthattakesyounowhere.com Things are always clearer in the cold, post-upload light. |
#3
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Radar and Basic Nav.
Bob, any 14 year old that has played with a flight simulator on their PC
knows how to use radar! Suzanne never had a flight simulator on her Mac. Could that be the problem? RB |
#4
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Radar and Basic Nav.
Bobsprit wrote:
Bob, any 14 year old that has played with a flight simulator on their PC knows how to use radar! Suzanne never had a flight simulator on her Mac. Could that be the problem? I doubt it. It does strike me, however, that things like radar and GPS are rather easier to get to grips with than the traditional methods with chart and compass. All that triangulation stuff, having to account for compass variation and deviation, tides and currents, would be quite a bit of learning for someone who's new to it. I haven't done this in a 'live' nautical context yet, but do have a fair amount of land-based map & compass experience. A while back, I was working my way through a book called Coastal Navigation (which is apparently to RYA Yachtmaster standard) which uses a series of worked examples and comes with a sample chart. I'm about half way through and have so far got just about everything correct, but I can see how it would be harder for someone without prior experience. FWIW, I think that radar and GPS are easier to learn, and should therefore be learned first - on the basis that some sort of skill in knowing one's course and position is better than none. I'm not saying that radar and GPS should replace the traditional chart, compass, tide info, etc, but that less skill is required to get use out of the hi-tech kit - you can learn more basic nav skills (understanding of coordinates and how they relate to the chart) and get use out of them quicker. Then bring the traditional skills up to match. I would definately have the compass cover off, though... -- Wally www.makearatherlonglinkthattakesyounowhere.com Things are always clearer in the cold, post-upload light. |
#5
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Radar and Basic Nav.
I doubt it. It does strike me, however, that things like radar and GPS are
rather easier to get to grips with than the traditional methods with chart and compass. So you think that learning charts and compass first is a mistake? Should I start Suzanne on electronic nav aids before she's had more practice with traditional methods as Mooron Suggests? RB |
#6
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Radar and Basic Nav.
Bobsprit wrote:
I doubt it. It does strike me, however, that things like radar and GPS are rather easier to get to grips with than the traditional methods with chart and compass. So you think that learning charts and compass first is a mistake? Should I start Suzanne on electronic nav aids before she's had more practice with traditional methods as Mooron Suggests? I'm saying that I reckon it would be easier to navigate effectively *sooner* if one goes for nav aids first - less learning curve. Speaking as an experienced land navigator, I can see that there's quite a lot to using the traditional nav tools on water. From a standing start, someone looking to use traditional methods only would have poorer skills until the learning has been surmounted. I do think it's important that the traditional skills be learned - charts and compasses don't need batteries. My point is that one is safer with effective nav aid skills, than with an semi-effective half-set of traditional skills. -- Wally www.makearatherlonglinkthattakesyounowhere.com Things are always clearer in the cold, post-upload light. |
#7
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Radar and Basic Nav.
"Bobsprit" wrote in message ... | I doubt it. It does strike me, however, that things like radar and GPS are | rather easier to get to grips with than the traditional methods with chart | and compass. | | So you think that learning charts and compass first is a mistake? Should I | start Suzanne on electronic nav aids before she's had more practice with | traditional methods as Mooron Suggests? Now Bob.... you're reaching with that comment almost as much as when you claimed to be "helping" Suzanne with her navigation. Electronic navigational instruments can easily be learned in conjunction with standard methods of basic navigation. Unfortunatly you have shown clearly that you are ignorant of both... CM |
#8
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Radar and Basic Nav.
Wally wrote: .... It does strike me, however, that things like radar and GPS are rather easier to get to grips with than the traditional methods with chart and compass. Actually, they are easier to gain a false sense of security from. If you don't have a solid foundation in navigation basics, you can't grasp what the GPS is trying to tell you. All that triangulation stuff, having to account for compass variation and deviation, tides and currents, would be quite a bit of learning for someone who's new to it. Yes, but piloting basics are simpler than that. If you don't understand an LOP or bearing/distance relationships in the first place, then a GPS is going to be useless. GPS is only a tool. It's a marvelous tool, almost like magic, but a great wrench does not make a lousy mechanic any better. FWIW, I think that radar and GPS are easier to learn, and should therefore be learned first - on the basis that some sort of skill in knowing one's course and position is better than none. Sorry, I disagree strongly. The basics of navigation are relatively simple and can be phrased in three short questions: Where am I? Which direction should I go? What hazards are along my course? GPS makes it a snap to answer the first two questions, but to use the information you need to know the questions in the first place. And sadly, it will not help at all with the third question. Radar will help a little, with experience reading & interpreting the targets (the one thing a novice won't have). Unfortunately most people who don't know how to navigate very well gain a great sense of security & confidence from GPS. That's real nice until it leads them into trouble.... but I guess it's job security for Sea Tow... Fresh Breezes- Doug King |
#9
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Radar and Basic Nav.
BWAAAHAAA!!!!!
Junior high school geometry is all you need dunce boy! Unless of course you're doing celestial, then you need to know hyperbolic function and spherical coordinates which is beyond the grasp of any woman. Suzzette would think spherical coordinates are matching mumus and beach balls!!! BWAHAAAAHAAAA!!! "Bobsprit" wrote in message ... I've been using several books to aid Suzanne with learning basic nav skills. Dispite Mooron's comment that Radar is a "basic" component for the novice, it's not covered at all until (Colgate, Seamanship series and so on) Some of these books are up to 4 years old. I'm guessing that NEW books will show that learning radar is a basic nav skill that a person should start with. RB |
#10
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Radar and Basic Nav.
Subject: Radar and Basic Nav.
From: (Bobsprit) Date: 09/02/2003 04:04 Pacific Standard Time Message-id: I've been using several books to aid Suzanne with learning basic nav skills. Dispite Mooron's comment that Radar is a "basic" component for the novice, it's not covered at all until (Colgate, Seamanship series and so on) Some of these books are up to 4 years old. I'm guessing that NEW books will show that learning radar is a basic nav skill that a person should start with. RB Radar is an aid to navigation, that is well learned if one has one, but not as important to learn for beginners, as some of the other basics, such as compass, chart work, etc.. Contrary to what some may think, radar is not something you can just turn on, for the first time, and be instantly familiar and competent with it's usage. I have seen any number of people using it on a fairly regular basis, who have problems tuning (and sometimes detuning) for best picture, then equating that picture to their charts or vessel traffic around them. Without knowing the basics of relative motion and how to plot targets, you can easily get yourself into as much trouble as you can avoid. Shen |
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