NavList:
A Community Devoted to the Preservation and Practice of Celestial Navigation and Other Methods of Traditional Wayfinding
From: Brad Morris
Date: 2015 Jul 11, 14:08 -0400
Hanno
You may wish to examine Mr. LaPook's version of the Flat Bygrave. The mechanical objections to the cylindrical Bygrave you raise are obviated.
If there is a choice between a series of hand and paper calculations or some manipulation on a Bygrave (of either cylindrical or flat type), hands down the Bygrave wins, IMHO. Its far superior to a series of computations performed by hand, as arithmetic errors are all but eliminated.
The Bygrave is accurate and fast. 1'-2' accuracy in less than 2 minutes of time? Combine with low chance of arithmetic error? No contest.
I've not seen any disclosure or publication of the time it takes to perform Hav-Doniol. Perhaps the more experienced practitioners would divulge the elapsed time??
Of course, I am biased. I have an MHR-1. That's superior to the Flat Bygrave as the angle between the scales is automatically maintained, just as in a Fuller or Otis cylindrical rule. The MHR-1 also has a superior locking mechanism to a cylindrical Bygrave. Beautiful instrument but an expensive device. (The expense has driven the reproduction effort and indeed Gary's inventiveness).
This isn't a knock on the Hav-Doniol reduction method. In a recent note, you compared Hav-Doniol to the Bygrave, and came to what I feel is an erroneous conclusion. I herein question that conclusion.
Brad
Hanno,
re: Bygrave etc
As you know from my Fuller 2, I am no mechanical engineer! However, I found the Bygrave replica relatively easy to build, using ready available precision plastic pipes, ordinary domestic ink jet printer/gloss photopaper/+felt friction brakes/water proof paint spray. Easier than the Fuller (no clumsy brass cursers to adjust).No engineering skills required.Only real skill was the scales,(in my case, courtesy Wayne Harrison).
I've used mine satisfactorily at sea for 5 years. Totally seawothy, waterproof and consistently accurate to 1-2'. Never had a "slippage" which is the main design problem. Only maintenance is annual service of the felt pads to prevent slippage. I think my replica could easily be built commercially at very litte cost, but again, I'm no expert on that.
The basic Brown-Nassau even easier. My polycarbonate replica is good at sea too.
Obviously, not necessary pieces of kit. I just use them because it is fun (for me anyway).
The calculator is better, but boring, and anyway, if calculator, why not smart phone/tablet with easy celnav /LOP app for pennies? In rough weather, any "calculation" is likely to be error prone just because of the rocking and rolling! Also, how many of us consistently get sextant readings to 1' in the back yard? Now how about in a 35ft boat in a seaway? Umh! Not easy! So total error likely to be mostly sextant readings in my experience.
Hav Doniol best manual back-up for me, but I just like to use slide rules too.
I'm hoping to test and compare different methods at sea in the next few weeks, health/doctor/children/weather and wife allowing!
I still owe you some emails on the various Hav-Doniol and BN adaptations.(which, thanks again for your help, and Greg)
Many thanks and keep up the great work.
Francis
