Being a psuedo-Luddite who still has a slide rule (and knows how to
use it), I still use paper charts and think that navigation and
position plotting is aesthetically pretty, but I also admit to being a
geometry/trig geek. For the last 13 yrs, I have had a Loran that I
sometimes trust when it agrees with my plotting. I used to rely on a
"knotstik" to get my speed and then when I got the loran started using
its stated speed. Far from any recognizable markers or shore
features, I reluctantly rely on a Loran position but check it with
dead reckoning. I spose I just have a fetish about my hand compass.
I am planning to go to he Bahamas where Loran supposedly dont work so
am considering GPS but will still use my beloved paper charts so dont
need a chart plotter. All I really want is position and speed.
Waypoints just get me screwed up because I can never remember if I
really entered the correct coords last night or if those coords for
WP5 is for my last trip. Considering that my wants are few, which GPS
would be best? Do I get one that works off of the boat 12V? Do the
hand helds have that option as well as batteries? Most of the hand
helds look too much like my cell phone that I purposefully leave at
home. I have even been tempted to forego GPS completely but I spose
it is a safety thing. Any ideas?