Sailing without a depth finder

[dLj]

Correct you are about my home marina, channel and where I am day sailing. The channel is heavily traveled and like you mentioned well marked.

On the other hand i have a good friend that can only leave and return on high tide.

I may well have given your friend a different opinion.

You had stated your boat, draft and sailing area - my opinion was directed only at your and your circumstances.

I run a depth finder in my boat as well as carrying a lead line. But my boat has 6 feet of draft and I'm further north on the Chesapeake than you are. I am not opposed to using different equipment - I just feel there has to be a need.

dj

 

[Crusty Ol Salt]

I carried a lead line for years. Its best use was for sounding the Mystic Seaport anchorage. But we would dink around doing soundings in other areas to get an idea of what was possible even if we were already anchored. A better spot was only minutes away. I regard it as an instrument.

I think about that a lot. After shopping for electronics I can see why NOAA is eliminating charts.

Then I think about what an EMP would do to shipping in the Chesapeake Bay....

 

[dLj]

I think about that a lot. After shopping for electronics I can see why NOAA is eliminating charts.

Then I think about what an EMP would do to shipping in the Chesapeake Bay....

OpenCPN is free, and you can download all the NOAA charts for free. Doesn't get you around the EMP issue - but you can get excellent navigation abilities for pretty much free. You do need some sort of computer system, but there are very inexpensive ways to do that also.

dj

 

[jon hansen]

i like depthsounder navigation. good tool