It's been said that most recreational sailors either don't have charts, or what they do have is so out of date they're useless. In this age of reliable aid to navigation (GPS, plotters, buoys, lights, etc.) is paper really necessary? And if so, is it still important to plot a course before you slip your lines? Have you ever been put in a challenging situation by taking a casual approach to navigation? How do you prepare for a cruise into local waters, and does that preparation differ when you venture outside of it? Share your navigation tales here, then vote in the Quick Quiz at the bottom of the home page. (Quiz contributed by Bob Early, Hunter 27 "Second Nature")
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Paper
Ever use a flashlight and you need new batteries? Just when you need it the most, the batteries are gone? Same with chart plotters being used as the ONLY means of navigation. Small screens, lack of the "BIG" picture. Like a video game. Give me a paper chart and a simple GPS or Loran or even simple plotting tools. I fear the "traditional" and tried and sure navigation tools are going the way of the do-do bird, which will make life easier for a lot of people to end up being lost a lot faster than if they had done some planning. Life, and navigation, are not computer games. What's next, pop up ads on chart plotters? Stu "Grizzled Veteran" Jackson
Ever use a flashlight and you need new batteries? Just when you need it the most, the batteries are gone? Same with chart plotters being used as the ONLY means of navigation. Small screens, lack of the "BIG" picture. Like a video game. Give me a paper chart and a simple GPS or Loran or even simple plotting tools. I fear the "traditional" and tried and sure navigation tools are going the way of the do-do bird, which will make life easier for a lot of people to end up being lost a lot faster than if they had done some planning. Life, and navigation, are not computer games. What's next, pop up ads on chart plotters? Stu "Grizzled Veteran" Jackson
Reminds me of the line about....
two kinds of sailors: those who admit they've hit bottom at least once, and those who lie about it. Works the same way with the GPS: either you admit you've "Lost Fix" at least once, or you're lying about it. All you need is to see that dreaded "LOST FIX" once when you most needed it to teach you to always know where you are on a paper chart too. I always have the backup paper chart nearby in the cockpit, turned to the appropriate page.
two kinds of sailors: those who admit they've hit bottom at least once, and those who lie about it. Works the same way with the GPS: either you admit you've "Lost Fix" at least once, or you're lying about it. All you need is to see that dreaded "LOST FIX" once when you most needed it to teach you to always know where you are on a paper chart too. I always have the backup paper chart nearby in the cockpit, turned to the appropriate page.
Don't put all your eggs in one basket
How many guys would have their tit in a wringer if all the fancy stuff didn't work?
How many guys would have their tit in a wringer if all the fancy stuff didn't work?
Both
I always plot cruises on paper charts before leaving to get the "big picture".Then I use GPS to plot and update my position.I don't think its one or the other.Both are important aids but I'd give up the GPS before the charts if I had to make a choice.
I always plot cruises on paper charts before leaving to get the "big picture".Then I use GPS to plot and update my position.I don't think its one or the other.Both are important aids but I'd give up the GPS before the charts if I had to make a choice.
The good thing about GPS is...
that it will help you get lost faster than any other means! Reliance on any electronic gadget is a bad habit to get into. It always seems that their ability to fail is proportional to had badly you need it at any given moment! (remember, Murphy was an optimist!)Now, don't get me wrong, I love my GPS, but there's no way I would count on it as a sole means of navigation.
that it will help you get lost faster than any other means! Reliance on any electronic gadget is a bad habit to get into. It always seems that their ability to fail is proportional to had badly you need it at any given moment! (remember, Murphy was an optimist!)Now, don't get me wrong, I love my GPS, but there's no way I would count on it as a sole means of navigation.
None of the Above
I agree totally with Stu. I tried to answer the survey/quiz but my answer (and probably for many of You) isn't there. I have complete paper charts for my area (all current) and gps (chartplotter as well as non charting) I use my paper charts for finding details and my electronics for support and displaying position to relate to the paper charts. Your paper charts and plotting tools are your most reliable form of navigation aid!!! Learn to use them!! Your electronics WILL FAIL !!! Fair Winds Dave
I agree totally with Stu. I tried to answer the survey/quiz but my answer (and probably for many of You) isn't there. I have complete paper charts for my area (all current) and gps (chartplotter as well as non charting) I use my paper charts for finding details and my electronics for support and displaying position to relate to the paper charts. Your paper charts and plotting tools are your most reliable form of navigation aid!!! Learn to use them!! Your electronics WILL FAIL !!! Fair Winds Dave
Give me Electronic
I have paper charts for my crusing grounds, Florida and Bahamas. I use the Captain on a PC and have a Raynav chart plotter as a backup as well. I never get the paper out. I still know how to use if I need to, but, why? The electronic hasn't failed in 6 years of use. I am going to get another laptop as a backup this year. I do carry a couple of backup GPS's and still know how to do dead reckoning. It's nice to put a route on the PC and have the autopilot follow it to the destination. Within 15 miles of home, I never seem to look at the charts at all. Bill
I have paper charts for my crusing grounds, Florida and Bahamas. I use the Captain on a PC and have a Raynav chart plotter as a backup as well. I never get the paper out. I still know how to use if I need to, but, why? The electronic hasn't failed in 6 years of use. I am going to get another laptop as a backup this year. I do carry a couple of backup GPS's and still know how to do dead reckoning. It's nice to put a route on the PC and have the autopilot follow it to the destination. Within 15 miles of home, I never seem to look at the charts at all. Bill
Use both... always!
We always use both our GPS (a main one at the nav station and handheld backup) AS WELL AS paper charts (both large and detailed ones depending on the area). As it has been said before, you get the BIG picture with the paper, don't have to worry about batteries or faulty satellites HOWEVER by the same token our GPS has saved our hide a couple of times. I believe that we should NEVER rely soley on one method of anything... ALWAYS have a backup, ALWAYS have too many spares...
We always use both our GPS (a main one at the nav station and handheld backup) AS WELL AS paper charts (both large and detailed ones depending on the area). As it has been said before, you get the BIG picture with the paper, don't have to worry about batteries or faulty satellites HOWEVER by the same token our GPS has saved our hide a couple of times. I believe that we should NEVER rely soley on one method of anything... ALWAYS have a backup, ALWAYS have too many spares...
Electronic with paper backup
I use the Fugawi program which combines raster charts and a navigation program that shows my position as I move on the chart in real time but like others I carry my paper charts ready to use when my electronics arent working, which has happened occasionally. I really like the planning aspects of this nav program when plotting my route. I have to admit I am a sucker for the E Chart and clarity of either the laptop or IPAQ 2215 PDA which is used in the cockpit...and I can load all of the Lake Huron and Georgian Bay charts with routes on the 256 meg card plugged into the expansion slot in the PDA, which is super, and as I move from chart to chart it auto loads to the next chart, BUT...I still make sure there is a paper back up which I also refer to, which confirms my location as I travel! Ken
I use the Fugawi program which combines raster charts and a navigation program that shows my position as I move on the chart in real time but like others I carry my paper charts ready to use when my electronics arent working, which has happened occasionally. I really like the planning aspects of this nav program when plotting my route. I have to admit I am a sucker for the E Chart and clarity of either the laptop or IPAQ 2215 PDA which is used in the cockpit...and I can load all of the Lake Huron and Georgian Bay charts with routes on the 256 meg card plugged into the expansion slot in the PDA, which is super, and as I move from chart to chart it auto loads to the next chart, BUT...I still make sure there is a paper back up which I also refer to, which confirms my location as I travel! Ken
Belts and suspenders
I have continuously upgraded my navigation systems over the years and now in addition to paper I have Loran, DGPS and now WAAS. The later two have chartplotter capabilities. My friends ask why redundant electronics? My answer is they all are functional so why remove them? Well it turns out that the WAAS is in the binnacle and available 24/7, the DGPS is mounted in the cabin well protected from the elements. The Loran,in the binnacle, always works when switched on and stores valuable waypoints in addition to providing sanity checks on the GPS units... handy in fog or at night.
I have continuously upgraded my navigation systems over the years and now in addition to paper I have Loran, DGPS and now WAAS. The later two have chartplotter capabilities. My friends ask why redundant electronics? My answer is they all are functional so why remove them? Well it turns out that the WAAS is in the binnacle and available 24/7, the DGPS is mounted in the cabin well protected from the elements. The Loran,in the binnacle, always works when switched on and stores valuable waypoints in addition to providing sanity checks on the GPS units... handy in fog or at night.
Both paper and GPS, Coastal and offshore
Whether moving a 40' cat from Miami to Boston, roaming coastal LI Sound or NY to Maine, or over a year around the Atlantic to Africa and back via Carib, I use the best paper or plasticized charts along with 2 GPSs in parallel (my sextant has been quiescent for decades), plus a forward looking sonar (esp. in Bahamas), with a plot every 4h offshore, 1h inshore, and more often as warranted. Whether motoring out of Charleston SC at night, or in deep fog and rain in Fisher Island Sound, the combination is as necessary as it is powerful. I have no intention to set up an integrated GPS mapping system on my Allied SWII 32' ketch.
Whether moving a 40' cat from Miami to Boston, roaming coastal LI Sound or NY to Maine, or over a year around the Atlantic to Africa and back via Carib, I use the best paper or plasticized charts along with 2 GPSs in parallel (my sextant has been quiescent for decades), plus a forward looking sonar (esp. in Bahamas), with a plot every 4h offshore, 1h inshore, and more often as warranted. Whether motoring out of Charleston SC at night, or in deep fog and rain in Fisher Island Sound, the combination is as necessary as it is powerful. I have no intention to set up an integrated GPS mapping system on my Allied SWII 32' ketch.
Electronic Mostly but Moving to Paper
Electronic is definitely easier when you're starting out (although we still have to figure out who to plan a route using our chart plotter). Long run though I'd like to transition to paper because it's more challenging which is why I got into this activity in the first place.
Electronic is definitely easier when you're starting out (although we still have to figure out who to plan a route using our chart plotter). Long run though I'd like to transition to paper because it's more challenging which is why I got into this activity in the first place.
Love my Chartplotter
I have paper charts for my sailing area but honestly have never used them. I have a Standard Horizon color chartplotter and a Garmin Handheld as a backup. I love my chartplotter and have become dependent on it. I really like having a picture of my boat with the current position constantly updating I save all of my tracks and favorite anchoring spots, and we return to the exact same spots time and time again. After reading the other posts I feel I must add that my wife and I took a class in navigation and have all the tools aboard should they be needed but for several years now they have not. I'll stick with my electronics until they go bad and then replace them asap.
I have paper charts for my sailing area but honestly have never used them. I have a Standard Horizon color chartplotter and a Garmin Handheld as a backup. I love my chartplotter and have become dependent on it. I really like having a picture of my boat with the current position constantly updating I save all of my tracks and favorite anchoring spots, and we return to the exact same spots time and time again. After reading the other posts I feel I must add that my wife and I took a class in navigation and have all the tools aboard should they be needed but for several years now they have not. I'll stick with my electronics until they go bad and then replace them asap.
The difference is incredible!
The difference between our sailing and flying when it comes to charts is amazing. I would never think of taking off in our Piper without current approach plates, low altitude enroute charts and up to date sectionals. Yet, when we pull the Beneteau out of the Marina, we rarely flake out our six or eight year old charts. Mostly we wing it with the GPS.
The difference between our sailing and flying when it comes to charts is amazing. I would never think of taking off in our Piper without current approach plates, low altitude enroute charts and up to date sectionals. Yet, when we pull the Beneteau out of the Marina, we rarely flake out our six or eight year old charts. Mostly we wing it with the GPS.
Have fun with both
I have a "Richardson's" and use those paper charts to study the cruising area before I set off. I then use a Navman 5500i to give me accurate positional fixes and area data until I have a "line-of-sight" bearing. My only complaint about Chartplotters is that unless you have extremely accurate VISION, you have a hard time seeing all the data. That's why I always reccommend to people to get the largest screen they can afford. That being said, Chartplotters are awesome! Bill on STARGAZER
I have a "Richardson's" and use those paper charts to study the cruising area before I set off. I then use a Navman 5500i to give me accurate positional fixes and area data until I have a "line-of-sight" bearing. My only complaint about Chartplotters is that unless you have extremely accurate VISION, you have a hard time seeing all the data. That's why I always reccommend to people to get the largest screen they can afford. That being said, Chartplotters are awesome! Bill on STARGAZER
safety first
We use both the GPS and charts. On long trips we plot the course updates to paper every 4 hours. For harbors the Chartpacks are great. We have a Std Horizon 150 with Reg 3 C-Map but electronics are always a weak point. I even plot ahead on my PC with MapTec.
We use both the GPS and charts. On long trips we plot the course updates to paper every 4 hours. For harbors the Chartpacks are great. We have a Std Horizon 150 with Reg 3 C-Map but electronics are always a weak point. I even plot ahead on my PC with MapTec.
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