Knowing Where It’s At
Reading Time: 5 minutesWe start this book by looking at the most important aspect of good and safe navigation. More important than fancy electronics. More important than paper charts. More important than radar. Situation awareness—knowing where you are at all times.
Members
Three Electronic Charting Dangers That Can Wreck You
Reading Time: 3 minutesAlthough we are not Luddites bemoaning the take over of electronics and warning of the dire consequence of over reliance on them, we are aware of several dangers in their exclusive use:
Members
Keeping Safe From Chart Inaccuracies
Reading Time: 4 minutesHere’s one simple tip that can save you a huge amount of grief…and possibly your boat:
Members
You Still Need an Accurate Compass
Reading Time: 2 minutesWhat if your plotter dies, or the datum is way out on the chart against the GPS, or you are navigating an intricate passage? These are just a few situations when an accurate compass is vital.
Members
Chart Plotters And Autopilots, Never The Twain Should Meet
Reading Time: 3 minutesThe dangers of interfacing a boat’s autopilot and navigation plotter.
Members
Do You Still Need Paper Charts?
Reading Time: 4 minutesPretty near all of us are now using electronic navigation systems, that’s a given, but can you safely dispense with paper charts altogether?
Members
Backup Systems, Do We Need Paper?
Reading Time: 9 minutesFor many navigators the idea of going to sea without any paper charts aboard at all is pure heresy. But is that really true? Are we just hanging on to paper charts because we are stuck in our ways? Is there a viable all electronic backup?
Members
11 Tips for Safe Navigation With Phones and Tablets
Reading Time: 8 minutesNavigating with tablets and phones is here to stay, but what are the dangers? And what can we do to make sure we don’t have an iThing-assisted wreck?
Members
12 Electronic Navigation Tips From a Cruise on Someone Else’s Boat
Reading Time: 6 minutesJohn has decades of navigation experience, much of it in fog, but there is always more to learn, particularly when single-handing an unfamiliar boat.
Members
Marine Electronics System Recommendations
Reading Time: 4 minutesUp to this point in this Online Book we have been writing about good navigation practices. Now let’s turn our eyes to the cool electronic toys we all love.
And since I’m an electronics technician by trade and have spent most of my working life in high tech fields this is going to be leading edge stuff and way cool!
Members
6 Tips To Stop Marine Electronics From Ruining Your Cruise
Reading Time: 7 minutesMarine electronics are great but they can also make you crazy. Here are some tips to keep you sane.
Members
Marine Electronics Recommendations—Communications
Reading Time: 6 minutesRecommended, VHF radios, satellite phones, AIS, Navtex and Weather Fax equipment for cruising boats
Members
HF SSB Radio or Iridium Satellite Phone?
Reading Time: 6 minutesWhat hardware should you buy for receiving weather information and other communications? In this chapter I take a look at the two main options, HF SSB and satellite phone, and make some recommendations.
Free
Marine Electronics Recommendations—Radar
Reading Time: 6 minutesWhen radar really matters, what unit should you buy? John has the answer based on 30 years of radar experience, much of it in places where reliable radar is vital.
Members
Which is Best For Navigation: Plotter, Computer or Tablet?
Reading Time: 11 minutesHow do we decide between the three options for electronic navigation? John provides a logical framework to make that easier.
Members