Select to expand quoteSectorsteve said..sirgallivant said..
It is my subjective opinion, but l would not go cruising - especially amongst reefs where Steve is planning to go - with only l-gadgets and Navionics on my boat!
Not without proper paper charts, hand held compass, plotting aids (perhaps even a sextant) and marking my way on the paper charts at regular intervals, either.
I consider a chartplotter with WGS-84 based charts like C-Map a good start.
I am in no way against the new technology of l-gadgets and Navionics which l don't like much. I use an Android tablet with MemorMap and it saved us running on sandbanks, from my bed, a while ago!!!
So there is nothing wrong with modern technology as long as one got something to fall back on in case of total electronics failure, or a lightning strike.
Even if there is a Faraday cage on board, ones gadget -electronics going to be used and not stored away in the cage. In case of a fitted chart plotter, back up phones, tablets may be!!! The paper charts and the sextant still would get you to shore, unless they are burned, eventually.
To me those 'old ways' are as necessary to a peaceful mind and successful trip as an EPIRB, and a top quality PFD with harness (!worn 24/7!) a PLB attached, strobe light and spray hood. Or a well provisioned grab-bag.
Mate, do not worry about the ropes, l just 're-rigged the boat. I got ropes galore.
It is my humble contribution to your successful trip. Enjoy. Come back safe!
I agree with all that. Chart plotting on the paper charts is something i love doing. i just hope i have all the charts, ill need alot.
I will have the handeld garmin which is waterproof. Do have a built in compass on board and will have handheld as well.
ill figure it out. After you buy all these gps pucks , and maps etc a plotter doesnt seem to be that expensive
You said you were heading for the Louisiades, maybe. Do not rely on paper charts there. They are wildly out in the eastern islands, about 1/3 mile longitude, ok latitude. The electronic charts, particularly cmap, are accurate.
Sextant? What, and Bowditches tables? And you know how to use log haversines? If you can get within 5 miles of your position using an observation from a small yacht you are a genius. If all you want to know is if OZ is on your left or right, you can do a sight reduction without a sextant using timed sun rise, sun set, moon rise moon set. Is surprisingly accurate.
Put a hand held GPS in alfoil and ground it.
That region is the main drag for ships going to and fro from OZ to Japan, China, Hong Kong, South Korea so an AIS receiver might be a good investment.
Hi, I have a Lowrance plotter at the helm with navionics - I use this for inshore and tight navigation. I also have Open CPN on my laptop (and a GPS plug in for the laptop) and have paid for and use the electronic charts available from the Australian Hydro office - these get fortnightly updates, and are legally able to be used in lieu of paper charts in a commercial vessel (not that my 34 yacht is a commercial vessel by any stretch of the imagination). The Open CPN on my laptop also integrates radar and AIS targets - I have this on the chart table in the cabin - but I can see it from the cockpit. The laptop is an essential planning tool - the Lowrance is used as a check in the cockpit. Also, because it is always useful to have a backup - I have Navioics on my Iphone and Ipad - and carry them onboard too (I also have a full series of Australian paper charts, and a separate GPS unit similar to the one that Noah used). You can never have too many ways to verify where you are, where you should be, and how to safely get from where you are to where you need to be.
If you like to DIY things, a cheap and low consumption solution would be:
Homemade chartplotter + AIS station with a raspberry pi3 running opencpn:http://www.sailoog.com/en/openplotter
Plus handed-gps for back-up
GC
