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GPSGPS is great, but it's not everything it's cracked up to be. We are personally acquainted with three people who have had groundings due to placing too much faith in their GPS positions. Two of them lost their boats. GPS should not be used for precision navigation if you haven't previously verified its accuracy by actually transiting the area in your boat or dinghy. Basic navigation skillsLearn to navigate without your GPS and computer charts (we still use only paper charts). You'll find that computer charts (and paper ones, for that matter) are often off by quite a bit outside of the First World, and if you become too reliant on your chartplotter you'll come to grief one day. Believe me, several boats are lost each year because of blindly following computer charts. The basic rule in navigation has always been to seek at least two independent sources of data. That means your GPS and a buoy, range, bearing, or radar data that confirms what the GPS is telling you. Entering harbors at night or in difficult conditionsIn the old days, sailors would generally avoid night entries into harbors, especially if they weren't familiar with the area. These days, neophyte sailors often enter strange harbors at night, relying completely on their GPS and chartplotter. This is not a good idea, and is definitely poor seamanship. You're safer if you stand off until daylight when you can see what's around you. Here's our rule: "If you don't feel competent to undertake a navigational challenge without relying on GPS and/or computer charting, DO NOT do it just because you happen to have that equipment on board." Caveat emptorBlind reliance on GPS and computer charts makes you unobservant and lazy (you fail to notice or question things around you) and also encourages you to do things you would not otherwise do - such as, enter strange harbors at night, or travel in reef-strewn areas at night or in poor visibility. That's a great way to lose your boat. GPS and computer charts are just another tool in you bag of navigational tricks. Topics |
