Google Earth

[FourPoints]

Sometime recently I noticed Google updated the satellite imagary for my area, and captured my boat sitting at the dock. I decided I wanted to see how accurate the measureing tool in Google is. Since I know the exact LOA of my boat according to Hunter is 26' 7" or 26.58', I used the measuring tool in Google Earth (if you don't know what it is, or think it's the same as Google Maps, Google it) and took a screen shot of the results.

Lets just say I'm a little scared at the thought of how accurate Google is able to measure my boat from outer space...

edit, looks like the image got overly compressed when uploading, in case you can't read, Google is saying my boat is 26.55'

 

[jdratlif]

big brother is keeping an extra close eye on you

 

[Allan12210]

And now with cell phone tracking I even know when you are on the boat.

Big Bro

 

[CalebD]

From that scale image it would be easy for you to leave off < .5" from either side of your drawn measurement line. Ain't trigonometry grand?
How'd the mast raising at City Island go last Saturday? Sorry I could not be there to help out.

 

[Johnb]

Maybe 5 years ago I checked out the length of football fields around the country and they were dead on.

 

[caguy]

If you want to see some mind blowing resolution on Google Earth, try the trial version of Google Earth Pro. You can use it for a couple of weeks, there are some really amazing tools available too.

 

[kloudie1]

Really a nice tool to play with. I use it a lot to see a destination and what the banks and the anchorage will look like .. It is a great trip planning aid..

 

[Roger Long]

Fun after the trip too. If you record your GPS tracks, they can be imported into Google Earth with a bit of fiddling. There is a feature where you cans set an altitude and speed and it will fly along your track.

http://www.cruisingonstrider.us/GEfiles/Passamaquoddy Bay.kml
http://www.cruisingonstrider.us/2010July.htm
Click the little folder icon in the lower right of the middle box on the left that says "Places".

The topography can be shown in 3D and the depth data of many places here in the N.E. were included.

 

[FourPoints]

From that scale image it would be easy for you to leave off < .5" from either side of your drawn measurement line. Ain't trigonometry grand?
How'd the mast raising at City Island go last Saturday? Sorry I could not be there to help out.

The full size image is large enough on the screen that when I remeasured 3-4 times, I was always within 0.10' of the actual measurement!

Launched Friday around 3:30, Got the mast up around 5:30 or 6, the guy next to me on the hard came down to help as I've been giving him lots of advice on his boat, it's his first spring with the boat. Won't ever try stepping the mast with only 2 people on the mast again (had a third on the winch). It is amazing we didn't get hurt or break something, but it turned out well in the end and the she is ready to bend on the sails and sail back to stamford tonight, if I can get someone to join me for the trip...