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Subject: Re: Digital Sextant
From: David Weilacher (daveweilacher@XXX.XXX)
Date: Tue Apr 02 2002 - 22:05:36 EST
> [Original Message]
> From: Trevor J. Kenchington <Gadus@XXX.XXX>
> Dave Weilacher, echoing others, wrote:
>
> > I would like an electronic sextant that ... [much snipped]
>
> Accepting that anyone can want whatever they want, I just don't understand
> what is motivating you guys.
>
I'll attempt to defend myself. I own two Tamaya sextants, and two Davis
sextants; the cheap one and the good one of each. I'm fairly proficient
with these.
I hold an ASA (American Sailing Association) Celestial Navigation
instructor certification. I've successfully taught the class and can
actually dig up a reference or two from folks who were students in my
classes.
Perhaps, even more to the point; I've actually successfully fixed my
position at sea, this way.
I own 3 GPS's. All Garmins. I like them. I like Garmins.
I have more trouble with the horizon part of sights than I do with the star
part.
If I had a "sextant" that didn't need a horizon, it would work at night; or
when the horizon is otherwise obscured.
A GPS has failed me twice when I really wanted it to work. On one of those
occasions, a sextant would have been useless and likely so the other time
too.
The differance in what I propose and a GPS, is that all of the gadgetry
I've proposed would be central to my boat and not require multiple external
systems to be working.
It really ends up being an argument similar to the powerboat, sailboat,
auxcillary camps.
If you can just turn on a key and go where you want, why sail?
Or... If you are a true sailor. why clutter your life with an engine on
the boat.
Or... If all you want to do is turn a key and go like hell, just take a
car.
BTW - If the military has GPS and sextants, why are they wanting something
else.
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