NavList:
A Community Devoted to the Preservation and Practice of Celestial Navigation and Other Methods of Traditional Wayfinding
Sextants
From: Barry Hudson
Date: 2002 Jun 13, 16:07 -0700
From: Barry Hudson
Date: 2002 Jun 13, 16:07 -0700
I own two, one 1942 Husan, the other Frieberger. I use them for passing out students in the practical sextant unit for Marine Safety Astro. I have on a number of occasions taken them out on the Straits of Georgia to get a sun sight so that they will have some idea of the practical application. They are quite pleased to see their P/L at the end. For students living within easy reach I offer this. As for the sale of sextants I know of a person in Campbell River with a Tamaya for sale at a price I consider a steal but no takers. I know of quite a few deep sea ships where the Captain requires at least one sight per day from all officers and stars/planets in the morning and evening . Two sextants were in a conspicuous place on the bridge on the last ship I visited. So commercially the sextant is still alive however in the yachting industry there is little interest except for a small number of the more intellectually inclined. The majority carry a number of GPS's they seem to have complete faith, in spite of the recommendations by experienced sailors to always have a sextant , reliable time piece and tables at least as a backup. Barrie Hudson International Navigation School 3794 Meredith Dr. Royston, B.C. VOR 2V0 Canada. Phone: 250 703 0364 Fax: 250 703 0348 www.learntonavigate.com
