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From: Bryan Genez (no email)
Date: Mon Jun 21 2004 - 10:28:48 EDT
Margo Dollan wrote:
> For the sailing purist (which you seem to be, Robert), sailing without
> superfluous equipment is a fine personal choice. Other folks are
> technophiles and love all the fancy gadgets, which is fine too. I myself (a
> sailing novice and not afraid to admit it) kind of straddle the fence on
> this issue. I would feel more comfortable with my family on board if I had
> some of the electronic niceties (GPS, EPIRB, laptop for writing and
> schoolwork, and yes, that slow old calculator). This does not mean that we
> would not also have non-electronic navigational gear like a sextant (I just
> like 'em!) and such. Every boat should have backup options, IMO.
>
> I personally appreciate the opinions of both sides on this issue. The
> purist can teach me more about what I can do if my electronics go out and
> the technophile can alert me to new useful 'toys' I might be interested in.
> So thank you both for your insight!
I agree with you, Margo. The bottom line for me is KISS. If there's a high
probability that a piece of equipment will fail, then I must either be
prepared to fix it, replace it, or live without it.
One area where I've modernized is in navigation. I learned how to use a
sextant some 35 years ago, and still carry one today. But even in the most
perfect circumstances - which never happen on a moving sailboat - a
celestial fix is far inferior to a GPS fix. My responsibility as a
navigator is to get the best possible information about the boat's position.
GPS wins every time. I have four. So far, none have failed me. And my
sextant is always available, should it be needed. Hopefully, never.
I don't have a TV aboard. I did once, but it took up too much room. I'll
probably get another for coastal cruising, as TV weather seems to reflect
reality, while weather from NOAA is - ummm - suspect. If the TV fails, I
can live without it.
-- Best, Bryan Genez (KB3HMZ) "Capella" Valiant 40 #158 Annapolis, MD ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Make a clean sweep of pop-up ads. Yahoo! Companion Toolbar. Now with Pop-Up Blocker. Get it for free! http://us.click.yahoo.com/L5YrjA/eSIIAA/yQLSAA/A1TolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/world-cruising/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
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