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    Re: Advice on Sextant
    From: Greg Rudzinski
    Date: 2009 Aug 3, 12:32 -0700

    Peter,
    
    Try ebay if you are on a tight budget. The best deal I have seen
    recently is $300 for a Freiberger in very good condition. If you plan
    on only observing the sun then plastic will probably be good enough
    although I wouldn't expect more than two minutes of precision. The
    optics on plastic sextants are disappointing for star observations
    during early twilight. If money isn't an object then get a new whole
    horizon Cassens & Plath with adjustable polarizing filters. Used
    Russian sextants in good condition are worthy instruments as well but
    use caution when bidding on one outside of the U.S.. I have seen some
    used Tamaya deals on ebay too. Chinese sextants are the best way to go
    if a good value new sextant is desired. For practice on land there are
    several options besides bubble attachments. I prefer working from the
    shore of a body of water then applying dip short of the horizon while
    getting as low as possible. If the sextant is going to be primarily
    used aboard small craft then I recommend the whole horizon option
    because of the expanded field of view.
    
    Greg
    
    
    
    On Aug 3, 9:21�am, "Peter Hollings"  wrote:
    > I am looking for some advice on choosing a sextant for present use (within a
    > city) refreshing my skills and later for navigation aboard a yacht. Cost is
    > a factor and, given that I would be using it for navigation offshore only,
    > an accuracy within a minute or so should be sufficient. An artificial
    > horizon (bubble) would be necessary for me to practice in the city. I think
    > it would also be valuable at sea because it would enable sights when the
    > horizon was obscured and, if the bubble were illuminated, at night. I've
    > looked at WW II aviation sextants. Also, I have seen artificial horizon
    > attachments for marine sextants for sale on eBay. (Unfortunately, the ad for
    > the attachment did not specify which make/model of sextant it was designed
    > for.)
    >
    > What sextant would you recommend and what further factors should I consider?
    > Also, are there any issues when buying this sextant that I should be looking
    > out for?
    >
    > Thanks,
    >
    > Peter Hollings
    >
    > Atlanta, GA USA
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