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From: Rick Morel (no email)
Date: Thu Nov 04 2004 - 16:47:30 EST
I wrote:
>Why would you need paper charts? (Okay, here come de
> flames!!)
At 09:53 AM 11/4/2004, Wally <> wrote:
>Whew, is it getting hot in here?
Little bit :-)
Okay, reading through all the thoughts, (Warning Will Robinson! Sarcasm
mode - with a smile!) it seems that anyone who uses electronic charts, and
GPS connected to same, doesn't have enough sense to actually look at the
real world. Really, guys and gals, that's what all the words boil down to.
A chart on a glowing screen is no different than a chart on an ex-tree.
Really. In fact most electronic charts are from the mylar or whatever stuff
they use as masters.
So please don't assume that someone who buys electronic charting/tracking
is a dufus, while assuming that someone who buys paper is a brilliant
navigator.
Yes, there are errors. I don't remember where, but I do remember reading
about five years ago that "they" ("they" being whoever cartographers) found
errors from years ago that were found out by GPS. Yes, I remember on
occasion seeing my little photon boat happily powering across dry land next
to the canal my EYES, and ears by lack of crunching sounds, told me I was
in. Heck, I've even anchored a few times a ways up on dry land. Well,
"Photon" has; 'Final Step' was in 8-feet of water at the time. However, I
have always found repeatability to be the case. i.e., the channel I
transited that was "right on" the first time was "right on" the second and
sometimes third and fourth or even fiftieth, while the canal that was off
200 feet to port was 200 feet to starboard on the return trip. Sometimes
months and even a couple years later. I'd have to say "right on" occurred
99.99% PLUS of the time. Reason I know (oh-oh, here comes that sarcasm
again!) is that I WATCH the world around me :-)
Remember, my question was "Why would you need paper charts?". I did not
add, "Just move the little red boat where you want to go."!!! Perhaps I
should have added that one needs to learn navigation, pilotage, etc., but
that seems an awful lot like a put-down.
Computers and GPS's and microwave ovens (and cars, planes, trains and
boats) are not magic. Nor are they intelligent. They are all simply tools.
Complex and costly tools, to be sure, but tools nonetheless. You can use a
ratchet or even impact wrench with the proper size socket, a box or open
end, a crescent wrench or a pair of pliers. Chances are they'll all do the
job, but some do it better than others.
So, all good points, but a bit too much focus on the negative for my taste.
Sounds a lot like suspicion of dem new-fangled gadgets! Hmmmm... Not all
that new-fangled. I seem to recall using a mapping GPS around 1995 or so? I
do know life became a lot easier than in the 60's through 80's! I never
want to see another sextant as long as I live! If I'm in the middle of an
ocean and the satellites go dark and/or every GPS and computer suddenly
quits working, I'll just follow the jet airliner contrails as they zig-zag
through the sky, the co-pilot feverishly tapping the nav screen while the
pilot yells, "What happened!? Where the heck are we?!". Co-pilot, "Hey! We
can keep that round thing there with the numbers and dash marks on the last
one. I think it was 250-something or another." Scratches head....
Lightning!!! Grandma Rosalie pointed out that having something electronic
physically disconnected does not guarantee lightning will not damage it.
True, I suppose, there are no 100% guarantees in life. However, if it is
damaged by lightning I'm pretty sure the owner will also be beyond caring.
25 years of broadcast engineering in the number 2 lightning strike area of
the country has taught me a whole lot more than I ever cared to know about
lightning and its aftermath!
Rick
S/V 'Specter'
http://www.morelr.com/specter
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