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    Re: Which Method do you prefer using and why.
    From: Gary LaPook
    Date: 2013 Apr 3, 21:48 -0700
    I am going to take this opportunity to put in a plug for my backup celestial navigation method consisting of my flat Bygrave and the long term almanac from H.O. 249.  The whole thing takes only five pages plus the two page flat Bygrave itself. All the information needed to create your own is available for free on my website at:

    https://sites.google.com/site/fredienoonan/other-flight-navigation-information/self-contained-long-term-celestial-navigation-system

    https://sites.google.com/site/fredienoonan/other-flight-navigation-information/modern-bygrave-slide-rule

    gl



    --- On Wed, 4/3/13, Lu Abel <lu@abelhome.net> wrote:

    From: Lu Abel <lu@abelhome.net>
    Subject: [NavList] Re: Which Method do you prefer using and why.
    To: garylapook@pacbell.net
    Date: Wednesday, April 3, 2013, 10:22 AM


    Brian:

    I totally agree that a good navigator uses input from as many sources -- especially independent sources -- as possible.   So while GPS is fantastic, a wise person going offshore knows celestial, too.

    But you seem to imply that calculators are somehow less reliable than other methods of sight reduction.  A copy of HO 229 can go into Davy Jones's locker as easily as a calculator (assuming you are using the two in the same place, eg, a contained bridge, and not waving the calculator about as you roam the rails).  

    Another thing that is often overlooked is the cost.   I purchased a solar-powered scientific calculator ("if you can see the numbers, it's getting enough light to run," no need for batteries) for $10 over a decade ago.   A copy of HO 229 for a single band of latitudes costs more than twice that, and you need HO 229 for six latitude bands (okay, lets be practical, few of us will sail north of 60 deg, so maybe only four).   So I could hermetically seal a half dozen of these calculators and store them in a protected location for less than the cost of the four copies of HO 229.

    I'm not at all implying that I'm right and you're wrong.   But I am saying that one needs to look at both the quality and cost of alternative solutions.   And be willing to admit that "paper good, electronics bad" feelings (as some on this list have espoused) are personal, not universal.

    One more thing -- if I have a copy of the Nautical Alamanac, I also have a copy of the NA Sight reduction tables.   Do I need more??

    Lu


    On 4/3/2013 8:29 AM, Brian Killian wrote:

    Oh yaaaa I forgot about that method. The Calculator works well, but being a captain, I always plan for the worst and hope for the best. If your calculator decides to go south or into Davie Jones locker, what would be your back up? Do you know how to use a slide rule, or use Natural Log and Trig Tables? I am still learning the Slide rule. Trig Tables are fairly easy to use. Peace
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