How do you navigate

[tim griffin]

Do you rely on .
GPS
Chartplotter
Trad Nav
A mixture of both
Or I know my area like the back of my hand so don't bother.

[nugent]

chart plotter for me,
but my two main stomping grounds i know real well,,, but if the weather is wrong guess i could be in trouble, relying on visability

[roycruse]

In my opinion paper charts are as much use as a chocolate tea pot on an open RIB.

I use a Garmin 178C chartplotter and I have a Garmin Foretrex 100 wrist mounted GPS as backup. So if im venturing out of an area that I know like the back of my hand at least I have a completely separate backup way of finding a safe haven should my main chartplotter fail.

This of course will not help if the GPS system its self (ie the satellites) goes down (im not sure how likely this is to ever happen) but if it ever sould i still have a console mounted Plastimo 75 compass and also a Plastimo Iris 50 handbearing compass so that I at least know which direction I'm travelling - but this obviously is reliant on you having a good knowledge of where you were when the GPS went down.

[Swifty]

Except for trad nav:- all of the above. Ribs are not the best place to do EP's or DR. Though I do mark last confirmed position/next route using chinagraph pencil on the chart cover.
I tend to use the GPS to get me started, then read off a mag bearing and follow the compass for passages, rather than just the plotter.
At night though I tend to follow the plotter as my compass is a bit difficult to read at night.

[Mark Halliday]

1. Eyes.
2. Local knowledge.
3. Chart plotter.
4. Memory. (with route plan and chart handy by).
5. Hand held GPS.
6. Fixed Compass.
7. Hand bearing compass.
8. Water resistant charts & portland plotter. (No dividers on the tubes)

In roughly that order. As one fails, I move down the list.

[ashbypower]

Chartplotter & Trad Nav
H/H GPS (Backup)

In that order + Always carry a passage Plan Which we update with chinagraph.

Brian.

[Matt]

Sextant

[Andy Gee]

Local Knowlege, and if its somewhere new I usually have a quick look through the Almanac or Sailing/Cruising directions to get an idea of any dangers/marks and then use the plotter/charts.
I will usually have charts for the area handy, as sods law dictates the plotter will have a "funny turn" just when you need it the most.
Andy

[Jimbob]

whilst i know the Solent quite well

1) Charts + Plan (written down in big letter/numbers). Both in the plastic thing you would get with the small charts. On the Scorpion there is a small gap between the console and the screen, so i shove it down there
2) Chartplotter to check, while i'm zipping along
3) Handheld GSP, with spare batteries if chartplotter fails.

4) Chartplotter + sextant when i went across the pond

[Mike B]

Local Area - chart plotter and knowledge
Backup - Charts and H/H GPS

If in new area tend to go over prepared
Charts for visual reference and prior planning
Plot routes on laptop against Memory Map charts and upload to Plotter and H/H GPS
Chart Plotter
H/H GPS as back up
Pocket PC with Memory Map charts and CF GPS in pocket (for detail as chart plotter only B&W)

[Mollers]

On a longer trip ie. The Scillies, I'd use local knowledge to get me to Penzance. Nip into the Dolphin pub (owned by Jethro's brother) opposite the quay where the Scillonian docks. Wait until the Scillonian leaves, then hop in the Rib and follow it all the way to the Scillies,piece of cake. Obviously I'd take my AA map of great Britain as back up.

[ADS]

[Rogue Wave]

Interestin question!

When I am driving the tug I nearly always use the chartplotter!, it's quicker an easier than planning CTS etc.

when I am on a rib or sailing I prefer a routemap and compass, I never used the chartplotter on my Scorpion apart from as a speedo. However, I would have plotted a course if I was going somehere strange, like Wolverhampton or Dublin

[Jimbob]

Interesting about CTS

When i'm on the my mates old nelson (on-board) we do 8 knts and i always do CTS, as much as anything to keep my hand in and i like the navigation , i find it interesting

When i'm on the rib doing 25knts i dont usually bother in the solent as the difference is small e.g 1 knt in 2.4 minutes, if the tide was 3knts an hr then if it was 90 degrees to my course then i would be about 1/2 a cable out (ish)

Also mine is a black and white plotter, so its not as visual as the colour,,,but it does us

[The Jackeens]

Originally Posted by Rogue Wave

if I was going somehere more civilised than Southampton, like Wolverhampton or Dublin

It's all been said really.
Except we are a bit too blasé about the Solent at times navigating from memory.

The weather sometimes catches me out and suddenly I'm paying close attention to the gps.

missus

[tcwozere]

I rely on following ^^^^^.. (Well, Kathleen anyway.. )

[Chopppywaters]

knowing area and eyes

[Hightower]

Study the chart at home, Chartplotter whilst underway and HIM upstairs at every other time.

[prairie tuber]

Charts & compass.

[Jon Brooks]

does a wing and a prayer count?

Compass, GPS/Plotter.
Local knowledge.
Have been known to use charts.

Regards