That obviously wasn’t my point. Of course everybody should have a good set of charts. My questions regarding Backup of a fixed GPS.I couldn't agree more.
The GeoNav 4C WAS A bit of a unicorn, a technology demonstrator created to show the world that a handheld platinum chart capable device could be built. It was very expensive, and rather short-lived.That there is a pink unicorn!
Why can't I find the GeoNav 4C for sale?
Not even listed on the Navionics website.
I have an iron rule when it comes to tech stuff - robust phone support.
Not real happy with some of the Garmin product support, but I have had a number of their handheld marine GPS. The GPS Map 76 sits in my ditch bag, but the Garmin88 was killed by alkaline battery leakage this year - 8 bells old friend.
Have a backup Garmin beast - GPSMap640. battery, hardwired, land and sea. Robust and easy to use. Sits in a cradle at the nav station, ready to go on deck as plan B. Garmin did not make it easy to update charting.
Support for the Map76 is done, even though it works just fine. Planned obsolescence I suppose. Big investment in proprietary Garmin chartography - up in smoke. Unacceptable.
Finally, I have an independent (has it's own antenna) Raymarine fixed mount at the nav station, about 12 years old and workable, but it is some clunky software. At least it works, but nobody I sail with that hasn't used a 12 year old computer would know what to do with it.
I'm shopping. Even if I have to learn a new system. Already know navionics (Navico) and own it, so this is a possibility.
Scott I couldn't agree with you more on the bay.Actually, where we sail, I feel less comfortable with a non-functioning depth sounder than I do with navigation not on. We basically can tell by sight where we are anyway. I generally know by sight where we are in the bay and can relate it to probable depth without really looking at the chart. But if I don't have that visual aid that tells me I'm in 9' of water (comfortable) vs. 5' of water (uncomfortable) … I'd be sweating for sure!
Celestial navigation is not a good back up for GPS. To be halfway proficient, one must use it every day, several times a day. It is not something one can just pick up and do at the drop of a hat, even if one is quite familiar with the method. Getting a proper site on a moving small boat at sea is one of the most difficult things one can do on a boat. And in order to actually have a fairly accurate position, one must have three fixes (reduced sites which give you LOP's) as far apart as possible, usually around three hours.Has anyone taken the ASA 114 Celestial Navigation course? I've been considering it because I think it would be really interesting even though it's probably not necessary with the litany of other tools available these days.
If you're talking about finding a position in the ocean out of sight of land, then yes. However, triangulation on a chart with known landmarks is about as accurate as you will ever need. Dead reckoning will get you most places within a hundred mile track. I've come within 10 feet of the can I was sailing for in a fog that wouldn't let you see twenty feet, after sailing (rowing with 14 other rowers on a pulling boat) 4 miles up a channel without seeing the land.you could still get a fix that was more accurate than dead reckoning