CANDChelp wrote:
Given the reliability of modern electronics, I would say that someone
with partial knowledge of traditional skills is more likely to get
into difficulties

This is not a safe attitude.

It is, to my mind, safer than the alternative of going out with only a
partial understanding of traditional nav.


Jeff has also indicated that it's best to learn chart based nav
before falling back on the "easy" electronics. I think most people
will agree that full comprehension of chart based nav is fundemental.
Relying on radar and GPS as does Mooron is simply not safe.

Yet you seem to be happy to let your wife do the traditional nav when she
doesn't have "full comprehension". As for 'easy' electronics, have you
booked yourself into the 'how to operate a battery charger' course, yet?


--
Wally
www.makearatherlonglinkthattakesyounowhere.com
Things are always clearer in the cold, post-upload light.

This is not a safe attitude.

It is, to my mind, safer than the alternative of going out with only a
partial understanding of traditional nav.

You shouldn't go anywhere until you can read and understand paper charts. I
think you'll find that most sailors will agree.
You can do far better with a 20 dollar chart and handheld compass than you can
with a 500 dollar GPS.

RB

CANDChelp wrote:
This is not a safe attitude.

It is, to my mind, safer than the alternative of going out with only a
partial understanding of traditional nav.

You shouldn't go anywhere until you can read and understand paper
charts. I think you'll find that most sailors will agree.

As do I - I did say that one needs some basic understanding of charts and
coordinates to make sense of GPS and radar.


You can do far better with a 20 dollar chart and handheld compass
than you can with a 500 dollar GPS.

You can do very little without a chart and compass, other than sail by sight
and play guessing games with the rocks. GPS is still a much easier way for a
newbie to triangulate their position.


--
Wally
www.makearatherlonglinkthattakesyounowhere.com
Things are always clearer in the cold, post-upload light.