Speedmeters!!

Both?

Does anyone (in this thread) really rely on their electronic aids to navigation to the exclusion of all manual piloting techniques?

I came up with bearing compass, ruler and chart.

I ALWAYS have the appropriate chart out and on the nav table or in the cockpit while under way.
I consult my visible clues and compare to chart as a matter of routine and make my way along.
The GPS is plugging along giving the days course but this can't get me to drop my habits of looking about with a critical eye to my position and progress.

If I had a chart plotter of sufficient size I suppose I would drop the deployed paper chart but continue to do the visible checks.
I suppose I just like the process: look at chart- look out and about and see if I understand where I'm at.

I am betting everyone does it if they realize it or not- look up: "OK, there is that headland on port, channel light, etc"... back to drinking coffee.

 

If you are working commercially you must carry paper charts or be ECDIS equipped and licensed. Expensive proposition . Paper is the way to go.

http://www.ecdis.com/home.aspx

http://ecdis.org/training/stcw_1.27_generic/

 

Yes, operating commercially, you are required to carry both. The paper charts remain in some place, stowed away, collecting dust and turing yellow, in my experience.

Visually, there is absolutely no difference between using paper charts and electronic ones. The electronic ones (if using raster charts) *are* the paper ones, scanned into the computer. It's the same chart. At least it is in the USA. The only difference is you can get up to the minute charts from NOAA here:

"Updates for NOAA ENCs
NOAA’s goal is to provide weekly updates for each ENC it makes available. Update cells are posted on the Internet for download. When downloaded, these update cells can be applied to the base ENC cell to produce an up to date ENC
"
http://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/mcd/enc/

But I agree with bntii....

You always use more than one source of data when navigating. For me, it goes:

1) Visual (channel markers, lighthouses, heads of land, surface of water, color of water, vessel traffic, etc...)
2) Chartplotter (which is a big screen computer) with GPS / MacENC, both ENC and raster charts
3) Radar (if required), which can be overlaid onto the big screen over the chart
4) Magnetic compass (ship's built in unit)
5) Depth soundings

I look at all 5 of those things in a circle while navigating. I jump from 1 to 2 to 3 to 4 to 5 and then back to 1 again in a loop the entire time I'm underway. More than 20 years on the water and not a single grounding, except once in a channel inside the Intracoastal Waterway. There was a pile of sand in the middle of the channel that was unmarked. I hit it, then backed off and went around it. Other than that, 20 years of *major* time at sea without a single grounding. I'm talking enough time to maintain a 100T master, enough time to run a charter business and a full time, 24/7/365 liveaboard at anchor amount of time.

A GPS chartplotter with good charts, like MacENC is the best thing to use, after your eyes and can replace your eyes when the fog rolls in. (but not your ears!!!)

There's just no contest in primary navigation. You have all that information right there in front of you. No spending time carefully plotting things out on paper while a situation develops. It's already done. You have more energy and more speed to react because you aren't using a hand bearing compass to sight things or drawing intersecting lines on the chart, or keeping a DR, other than copying down your coordinates to a log book at periodic intervals in case all else fails.

As a matter of fact, I also copy my headings and current info down to my log book between various waypoints so if I were to somehow lose 3 GPS units and my paper charts, I'd still be able to use a magnetic compass to find my way back, using a reciprocal route.

I'm very *very* anal when it comes to navigation, and I still say a good chartplotter (big screen) with proper charts in it is far more safe as your primary navigation system than paper is.

Paper is a backup.

I would hope everyone does exactly what Bntii says when he talks about understanding where you are by looking at markers, headlands, etc... to just have a visual idea of where you are on the chart. Surprisingly, I see many people not doing this with their heads buried down in the electronics (or possibly drawing lines on paper charts), nearly colliding with other vessel traffic!

 

I navigate with electronics, but plot it on the paper chart every so often. If every electronic piece of equipment fails, like with a lightning strike, I can go back to my last position and plot from there.

 

The same holds true with pocket calculators. One needs to know how to do math without one in case the batteries are dead.

 

True Hoyt.

-Tom

 

I did a navigation course around 30 years ago.

We had to plot a course on a chart.

When I drew in my final bearing, it went straight through the middle of a lighthouse.

If my GPS gives up guessing would be better than me plotting a course.

Poida

 

Maybe you should go back to school. Another option is to carry a navigator that can tell you where you are and how to get to your destination.

 

Poida - Gonzo must have a hand held compass that doesnt vary by 3-7 degrees as the boat pitches and rolls.

Its an art to be able to spot the correct bearing out of the range. Even the sighting across, through or between whatever sighting method they use can change it by a degree or two.

Its worse too, when the distance to the object is fairly long, or the edges of the object are obscured or indistinct.

Every school will tell you, that if you get a fairly regular triangle from the bearings, you can pick the middle - thats how innacurate manual sightings are.

Getting your position calculated by computer to within 2-3 metres is waaaay better, especially when their are no distinct landmarks.

 

Without paper you will surely run into trouble navigating. With electronic charting people simply click to the next chart....they never check chart datum , only assume that the new chart is WGS84. The difference is enough to put you on the wrong side of a reef. Also when navigating digitally , because of the size of a chart plotter screen, you are always navigating with a snap shot...you cant visualize were you are or appraoching dangers on your course.
When navigating in local waters, local charts are superior in detail and scale. Many of these charts are unavailble to electronic navigators.

A new chart plotter onboard uses Navinics charts. There were so many errors on the charts that as soon as the voyage was over I reloaded the most recent chart package. The errors are still there...

 

This is true. The expensive, tiny chartplotters like RayMarine sells are sketchy and difficult to use.


Regular computers are the only way to get a decent display and good, up to date charts.

I don't think anyone is suggesting leaving without some paper charts aboard, are they?

 

Nefinitely Dot. You have to have the big picture.

But I guess not paper, laminated charts with a wipeable surface to remove the felt tip marks with metho make it easier.

 

Not sure what US chart portfolios cost but Admiralty paper or digital portfolios are expensive. It would be wise to spend the money on paper then economize on digital gear.

There can be no doubt that digital chart plotters are worth while. They really save time and give a first class reference when approaching a danger in poor conditions. As is always the case...user beware. As a matter of fact when my cheap Navionics plotter boots up , a message balloon appears. Do NOT RELY ON THIS EQUIPMENT FOR NAVIGATION.

Does anyone know if useful pilot books from authors like Rod Heikell are available digitally for display with common chart plotter programs like SIMRAD.

 

Electronic US chart portfolios are free in the States. That may be the big difference. The paper charts are printed up (at an expense) from the free electronic ones.

This means the electronic charts are more up to date than paper here.

Socialism and a large government making charts for you. Lets hope the "tea party" types don't shut NOAA down with the rest of the cuts, or no more free charts.

 

It is unique that the US government gives away hydrographic data to the world at taxpayer expense. I wonder for how long ?