Two On A Big Ocean The Story of the First Circumnavigation
of the Pacific Basin
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Re: Sextant lubrication and protection

From: Joel Jacobs (no email)
Date: Mon Aug 02 2004 - 20:33:30 EDT

  • Next message: Herbert Prinz: "Re: Mendoza's method for clearing lunars."

    Hello Doug,

    Your silence made me think you were at sea.

    I did think of RainX just after I hit the send key in the message where I
    was talking about washing a sextant after use. I even recalled that you had
    gone into quite a detailed explanation about how you took care of yours.

    Sorry about that because it was a worthwhile suggestion.

    Ugh to STCW. At least your on the receiving side rather than the paying
    side,

    Joel

    ----- Original Message -----
    From: "Royer, Doug" <>
    To: <>
    Sent: Monday, August 02, 2004 7:00 PM
    Subject: Sextant lubrication and protection

    > All,
    > I've been following the discussions with interest on a belated basis.I've
    > been quite busy since the new security regs came into being in July.
    > I took a post instructing and certifying mariners in STCW.Also the theory
    > and hands-on training in the new shipboard securuty procedures for
    U.S.M.M.
    > personnel.
    >
    > To belatedly put in my $0.02 on a few subjects:
    >
    > 1. I found one of the very best lubricants/film protectants to use on a
    > sextant subjected to use at sea is a product known as NYOIL.
    > It's not that expensive,relative to the cost of a sextant,around $9.00 for
    > an 8 oz. bottle.That 1 bottle will last years.It has about the same
    > charactoristics as the old Sperm Whale oil except the smell.If this is
    > unavailable in your area a high quality Jajoba oil should be.This natural
    > oil has the same charactoristics as the shark liver lubricants used in the
    > past.
    > 2. I wrote of this in the past.Perhaps some of you missed it: protect your
    > sextant mirrors before you go to sea by applying a product known in the
    U.S.
    > as RAINX to both surfaces of the Horizon mirror,the Index mirror and glass
    > surfaces of the optics.It really retards any corrosion of the glass
    surfaces
    > in the event you are negligent in the maintanance of your sextant for what
    > ever reason.
    > 3. Something Joel wrote about 7/8 size(yatch)sextants vs full
    > size(metal)sextants I'd also like to comment on:I've used full size
    sextants
    > exclusively in my career.I've never used a 7/8 size sextant on either a
    > small or large vessel.I do know I,personaly,like the heft of a full size
    > metal sextant over a full size plastic sextant for the simple reason I'm
    > used to useing one.
    > Now take the following with a grain of salt as I'm not a small boat
    driver:
    > It was taught to me and practiced by myself and other professionals to
    > discipline one's self during sighting procedures to take 1 cut of a body
    and
    > move on to the next one,get it done and move on to the next duty.A
    > proficiant mariner should be able to accomplish this with practice.That
    said
    > most of you know my background in larger vessels and my lack of time on
    > "yatchs".
    > As for Joel's comment on heavier rifles vs lighter rifles and the inherant
    > ease of holding a heavier rifle on target over a lighter rifle it is
    > true.One learns to use a heavier rifle's weight to advantage and one
    doesn't
    > get beat up by recoil as much as with a lighter rifle useing the same
    > rounds.I'll take an M1A1(M-14) over an M-4 carbine(M-16 variant)any day
    > because of the ease of holding it on target.
    > I feel the same about sextants.
    > Take care all.


  • Next message: Herbert Prinz: "Re: Mendoza's method for clearing lunars."



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