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From George, with claws showing ever so slightly:
>
> I don't pretend that such sextants are perfect, and we have discussed some
> defects more than once on this list. But Peter Fogg's comments read more
> as
> a rehearsal of prejudice than a reasoned evaluation.
>
There was no claim to a "reasoned evaluation", just a report of my limited
experience, given somewhat reluctantly after being specifically asked. Yes,
it was a Davis, I don't know which model - grey with a solid arc of plastic.
I'm prejudiced about very little and certainly not sextants - the doors of
my mind are blocked eternally wide open!

However, what I've just read here inspires even less confidence; it all runs
too much along the lines of: ' yes, they may have this and that and the
other shortcomings, but they're really not so terrible after all; given
this, that, and the other caveats'.

Much too defensive. Nevertheless, I'm not really all that into sextants as
such, and think it entirely appropriate that each navigator choose his own
instrument after careful reflection.

If I needed a hammer I would probably buy the cheapest on offer, why pay
more? If a carpenter chooses a hammer it is done with considerably more
care, and he may pay several hundreds of dollars. It makes sense from his
point of view; such things as the balance and the composition of the steel
are very important to him - just as a crude blunt instrument is all I need
from the same tool.

   

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