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Subject: TWL: RE: Tenn-Tom and Tennessee River Electronic Charts
From: BellSouth email (ganor@XXX.XXX)
Date: Fri Aug 02 2002 - 21:17:31 EDT
Gary and Vanette wrote:
Are you really sure you need the electronic charts? All you have to
do is keep it between the banks and remember "Red right returning".
Rich responds:
Well, the way I see it is this: if I have an electronic chart system, why
short change myself? No navigator worth his salt willingly gives up a
method of determining his position. I spent way too many transits in the
1970s and 1980s US Navy sometimes relying solely on celestial nav when the
finicky LORAN "A" and or goofy Omega crapped out to let modern e-charting
slip through my fingers. Were we to have run aground back then, we would
have been roundly castigated (and fired right out of the service) for not
"using all means available to accurately determine the position of the
ship." Besides, I fully expect to end up running some stretches of this
trip in bad or less than optimal weather - to do otherwise is, to my way of
thinking, short-sighted (pun intended). I have run winding stretches with
radar to keep myself in the center and the plotter to keep me advised of
where in the world I really was, but it can be TOTALLY confusing to try to
figure out which way a tight turn is going solely by looking at the radar
(try it some time for six hours, like I did, with the compass spinning, zero
visibility, and NO chart - not my boat). I need a chart to put the whole
picture together, and an e-chart is LOTS easier to handle than the
alternative. I have transited lots of water in wonderful weather using
little but eyeball navigation, but I am all too well aware of how it can all
go to crud in a hurry.
You wrote:
I looked into buying the chart kit before cruising up to Kentucky Lake
and understand that the Softchart package is a duplicate of the USCG
paper charts. I decided against the purchase and therefore saved the
$500. If I were a tug traveling at night, I would consider the
electronic charts very helpful in knowing my position.
Rich responds:
I have the paper set and now the e-charts - FREE. The rest of your
paragraph makes my point for me.
You wrote:
For the Lower Black Warrior and Tenn-Tom, the USCG charts at $40 each
are black and white showing only the two river banks, the locks, and
mile markers. At least the USCG charts for the Tennessee ($20) are in
color and do show some bottom contours. The Tennessee charts also
have "Lat" and "Lon" which was helpful except on chart 26 which I
found the "Lon" to be off by 8 minutes.
Rich responds:
Good info, thanks. I have the Corps of Engineers booklet for the Tenn-Tom
and Tennessee - didn't realize USCG printed any charts at all, maybe NOAA,
but I didn't think they did river charts.
You wrote:
Besides needing the chartbooks, be sure to get Fred Myers' cruising
guides to fill in the details. These books are very informative.
After traveling up the Tenn-Tom to Pickwick Lake, we were fortunate to
talk with Fred, who is docked nearby at Grand Harbor Marina. He tries
hard to keep things up-to-date and takes his books very seriously.
Rich responds:
Also good info - I have it from others that Ferd'd book is the best. I will
also keep up with his website where he post the latest stuff.
You wrote:
Turn off the chart plotter and enjoy the scenery which has much more
to offer than a computer screen.
Rich responds:
Nope, won't turn off the e-charts. That chart plotter will be the first
thing turned on before getting u/w and the last thing secured when mooring.
If #### happens, and we lose the bubble, that plotter will be there and
running to give me some peace of mind. That said, I fully expect to do
little more than glance at it once in awhile just to make sure we are both
on the same page (literally) of the COE chart booklet. I hope to sit back,
steer with my feet, and enjoy the scenery with the peace of mind the
e-charts backed up with paper gives me.
Enjoy the trip. We did.
Good advice!
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