"Capt.Mooron" wrote

"Bart Senior" .@. wrote

My point regarding electronic equipment aboard a wet, corrosive
environment is based on the time honoured tradition of belief in Murphy's
Law

And you would be right about that. Given a choice, I'd still
perfer to have things that work on-board instead of pulling
out the astrolabe.

thoughtful design--otherwise the stuff won't work. If you
install it yourself, your chances of being able to repair it
yourself are greater.

One cannot "repair" modern circuit technology if your mutli data bank
connected with the latest seatalk kacks on you mid trip.....

I've found most problems lay with sensors or wiring,
not PCB's. Perioding inspections, cleaning, and re-terminating
wire usually keep them working.

If you haven't fiqured that out long before glancing at your instrument
array... you are in dire straits when coastal sailing. I can tell you
within the hour how long a passage will take based on fixes updated and
plotted.... without the use of a nav array that would make a starship
captain blush with envy.

Ok. what about navigating tight passages, with numerous shoals
in fog? I've felt my way though difficult situtations with nothing
but a compass, depth sounder and my ears, taking when I heard
the birds get particularly loud. I'll gladly use a chart plotter hooked
up to WAAS GPS for this, with radar too, given a choice. For
one thing it is safer. For another, it is another skill to master and
something new is always interesting.

It's also worthwhile to learn new systems on the computer at
home before installing them in the boat. Radios, radar, and
some navigation and computer programs can be studied
and tested on shore, until the operator is 100% comfortable
using them, before installation in the boat. Trying to learn
how to operate a radio or something complicated while
underway is much more difficult than when standing still
without distractions.

You needn't learn underway... but you won't get past "theory 101" doing
navigation at home on a laptop.

It is true there is no substitute for experience. There are,
however, numberous cases where prior planning prevents
poor performance--the five P's.

How about figuring out how to program a strange radio?
Once I've mastered the operation of the radio over weeks
of playing with it at home, I can operate it by reflex when
mobile or maritime mobile. I've found it nearly impossible
to learn how to operate a new radio while driving or sailing.

I've also built and test custom wiring for different navigation
systems and made sure they worked before installing them in
the boat. It made it all a breeze when the time came to install
in the boat. I could then focus on refining how to use them.

I like being able to program my navigation software to
broadcast my course--when I'm off watch, I still have an
idea of what is going on with the other watch.

Yeah, it's sick, sick, sick.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"Bart Senior" .@. wrote in message ...
It looks like a number of people agree on this point.
And for a change the consensus is bipartisan.

"Capt. JG" wrote
I hate to agree with Dave, but he's right. US corps are by far more honest
and open about their dealings than foreign corps.

"Dave" wrote

"tom" said:

Americans and their corporations are soooo honest.

Yes, Tom. They are. Particularly when viewed on a comparative basis. I'm
sure you feel oh so clever and worldly in suggesting the contrary, but
the truly clever and worldly see through such silly games.

That's true. I typically choose the "fill" option when tracking as opposed
to "wrap"
Even though it would eventually run out of memory, an astute user could see
where I've been.

I wonder if anyone else here saves their tracks to hard drive?
Scout


"Bart Senior" .@. wrote in message ...
Good point.

Also, if you leave your GPS on and someone goes
overboard, you can reverse your track exactly.

"Scout" wrote

"Bart Senior" .@. wrote
I agree. Most people rely to heavily on these things.
It is important to confirm your position by other means.

Also, most people, I find don't know how to use their
navigation electronics except in a very limited way. For
short trips in known waters it's unnecessary. For more
complicated situations and longer passages, it is a
God-send.

and MOB functions.

"Scout" wrote in message
. ..
That's true. I typically choose the "fill" option when
tracking as opposed
to "wrap"
Even though it would eventually run out of memory, an
astute user could see
where I've been.

I wonder if anyone else here saves their tracks to hard
drive?
Scout


Knot me, I have a bunch of my favorite anchorage's saved, in
case I need to find them at night.

Scotty

Capt.Mooron wrote:
Kind of like Bobsprit..... has the latest and greatest electronic gizmos,
but no clue of the basics and no idea how to use the information provided.
It's a symptom suffered by many Power Boaters. I remember when handheld GPSs
came out and the majority of users had no idea what NAD27 was... never mind
that you had to have a start waypoint to return to.


Sure. Lots of folks can screw up a peanut butter sandwich.
Remember, half of all people are below average intelligence.
Is that the GPS's fault?


The "Spaceship" bridge phase of sailing will hopefully be a short one.....
otherwise many people will go broke updating electronic equipment every 2
years.

Sure. It's all about toys.

....Massive amounts of the latest electronic navigation equipment for a
coastal sailing vessel generally indicates the level of incompetence of the
owner. That kind of stuff belongs on a power boat.


I can show you at least one power boat with a scarcity of
electronic gizmos at the helm. OTOH we do have... and use...
radar.

It's a mistake to assume you can estimate a sailors
competence by the toys he likes & owns. Reverse snobbery,
sort of like the way the Crapton hates roller furlers.


BTW- I have found out that people who do not use their sounder very much
while sailing ...generally are much more attentive to their chart and
charted soundings.. ergo less likely to hit bottom as often. It's just a
personal observation.


It's not a personal observation from around here, that's for
sure. Generally when you have less than 2 feet of water
under your keel, it's a good idea to keep at least some
peripheral attention on the depth sounder.

DSK

I don't see much point in saving tracks except
while underway. Those who stand watch alone
on the ocean can appreciate it more. Just think
if you went over in that sitution and it was some
time before someone realized you were gone.

At least with a track, there is a chance they'd
find you. Without one, you're lost.

"Scout" wrote
That's true. I typically choose the "fill" option when tracking as opposed
to "wrap"
Even though it would eventually run out of memory, an astute user could
see where I've been.

I wonder if anyone else here saves their tracks to hard drive?
Scout

"Bart Senior" .@. wrote
Also, if you leave your GPS on and someone goes
overboard, you can reverse your track exactly.

"Scout" wrote
and MOB functions.