NavList:
A Community Devoted to the Preservation and Practice of Celestial Navigation and Other Methods of Traditional Wayfinding
Re: Navigation Survey
From: Michael Wescott
Date: 2001 May 25, 10:31 AM
From: Michael Wescott
Date: 2001 May 25, 10:31 AM
> Navigation-L Survey > > a) Dead Reckoning > > What is the method used most? > Mid-Latitude-----: yes > Mercator Sailing-: occasionally > Rhumb Line-------: > Other(Name?)-----: sailings tables (Bowditch Vol 2) Choice of DR method depends on circumstances with mid-latitude preferred since it is quite easy with a simple scientific calculator. > b) Sight Reduction > > Which is your primary Sight reduction method? > Computer Program(Name?)--------: > Calculator(Name?)--------------: yes (varies) > Short Navigation Tables, > H.O. 211 etc.(Name?)-------: HO 211 and variations > Standard Navigation Tables, > 229, 214 etc.(Name?)-------: > Other(Name?)-------------------: I use several calculators that can handle Deg Min Sec input but are not otherwise programmed especially for navigation. If I weren't so lazy I'd avoid using electronic aids altogether and stick to pencil'n'paper methods. I will also use a star chart program (xephem) to print sky charts for particular times and locations. It is also convenient for double checking sight reductions. > c) Plotting > > How do you do your plotting? > Computer Program(Name?)---: xfig (occasionally) > Universal Plotting Sheets-: yes > Maneuvering Board---------: > Radar Plotting Sheets-----: > Home Made(Describe)-------: > > d) Navigation Manuals > > Name your main reference manual-: APN (Bowditch, the 2 vol version) > Name a manual/book that helped you the most-: APN (Bowditch) > e) Do you use the Nautical Almanac? > Commercial-: yes > USNO-------: -- Mike Wescott Wescott_Mike@EMC.COM