|
|
|
|
|||||
|
||||||
Subject: Re: TWL: Re: Nav software recovery
Albin43Tr@XXX.XXX
Date: Thu Jan 03 2002 - 12:51:04 EST
Frank, Ross and all,
<< I have repeatedly taken the position that a dedicated chartplotter solves
nearly all of the issues related to PC navigation-stability, power,
readability, connectivity, etc. There are no doubt other with this opinion.
The only downside is the cost of the chart cartridges which, I believe,
exceeds the cost of charts on CD Rom. Not many members of TWL have spoken
up to agree with me, so perhaps I'm alone (with you) in this position. >>
The Celestial came with a Garmin 210 chartplotter. I like it and find that it
meets my requirements, which are admittedly simple. I have no valid basis of
comparison to operation with a computerized nav system. (In this post, I make
a distinction between chartplotters and computerized nav systems. Obviously,
chartplotters have imbedded computers.) I have looked at computerized nav
systems coupled with GPS and autopilots and liked them, but they were
overkill for me and my budget, especially since I already had the
chartplotter. I have never run a boat equipped with a computerized nav
system. I do have the chartplotter interfaced with the autopilot, but other
than testing it, I never use the GPS to navigate the boat directly via the
autopilot. I use the autopilot about 99.9% of the time, but manually make all
corrections using a handheld remote control that I put in my lap. Cross track
error is also displayed on the radar. I enjoy piloting the boat, so that is
my choice.
I was following a boat in The Ditch last fall. It was traveling west at the
same speed as I was, so I was able to observe it over several hours. The boat
occasionally wandered over to one side or the other of the channel, but in
general stayed near mid-channel. I observed that all of the courses were
basically straight lines, so I assumed it was following a series of
waypoints. All of a sudden, the boat stopped in mid-channel. It had rammed a
partially submerged tree trunk. While the boat apparently was not damaged,
the skipper was somewhat agitated when I asked him if all was ok. The
skippers only comment was that he was learning how to run his new computer
nav system and didn't see the tree....... <sigh>
For anyone running "The Ditch" between Ft. Walton Beach, FL (Choctawhatchee
Bay) and Panama City, FL (West Bay), be aware that there are always trees and
other debris in the channel, especially from the middle to the west end.
Because of this, I would not recommend running this channel at night, even
though lots of folks do.
To each his own. Your mileage may vary.
Wayne
M/V Celestial
Albin 43 Sundeck
|