 Check out the bookstore at IRBS.com |
|
|
|
|||||
|
||||||
Subject: Re: U.S. government sextant specification
From: Jared Sherman (jared.sherman@XXX.XXX)
Date: Thu Jan 09 2003 - 18:12:14 EST
Very interesting, Paul.
In my limited experience I have never met a sextant that provides for a means of disengaging the gear rack while in storage, as this spec calls for.
The requirement for accuracy of +-8 seconds along the entire arc would seem to exceed that guaranteed by any manufacturer, even C&P only guarantee 9 seconds for the Horizon Ultra.
They don't offer LED illumination, either, they still use a tungsten bulb.
For what it is worth, the Annapolis (USN) 44's specify a Cassens & Plath Horizon Ultra as a standard piece of equipment carried on board.
I wonder if any commercial sextant can actually meet the specifications. If none can, then any manufacturer with any instrument can obtain a special contract as the "sole available source" with the standard itself actually waived, I believe.
|