[Public-List] Electricity Consumption

Tue Mar 28 09:53:02 PDT 2017

Ah – so I’ve already divulged our little adventure involving a dead reckoning error…  hmm.  I hate losing the moral high ground, even when I have it only in my imagination… hmmph.

With regard to your ‘mental dead reckoning’ – that’s what good seamen do.   In the RCN they call that ‘situational awareness’.   

I’ll look forward to seeing you out there too, Rod.  Just a few more weeks.  

Gord #426 Surprise

From: Rod Symmes <weatherhelm at hotmail.com>
Date: Tuesday, March 28, 2017 at 12:32 PM
To: Gordon Laco <mainstay at csolve.net>, George Dinwiddie via Public-List <public-list at lists.alberg30.org>
Subject: Re: [Public-List] Electricity Consumption

Ha ha, Gord  -  absolutely none taken.  I thank you for  the compliment and I hope you won't be around when I do something that might diminish your exaggerated opinion.  (-:

<<One day that screen will go blank… what then?>>

I realize that was a rhetorical question, but I can't resist answering it anyway.  Here is my strategy :

     Whether using paper or electronic charts, in open or more confined waters,  I glance at the chart and then look around and try to picture where the features I noted on the chart would be located under the surface.  How frequently I do this depends on proximity of danger.  I maintain this mental image and so it is a form of "mental dead reckoning".  Should the chart plotter go blank, I instantly know where the danger lies and can "picture" my escape route. 

     Forgive if I have described what everyone does - I thought it might be food for thought for the less experienced.

The hardest part is staying alert when our electronics is SO darned reliable.  There is the source of over confidence in electronics.

The most common problem I have while gunkholing, is not the chart plotter but the depth sounder.  With certain bottoms and especially with weed, once the depth is less than about 10 feet, the sounder stops displaying correct depth.  I have not been able to figure out what setting to change to get it reading reliably in the shallows.    Has anyone solved this problem ?

And Gordon - I can not resist this parting shot :

                       If you had been sailing in company with me that day when the fog closed in on you on the way to Minnicog channel,  it would not have been nearly as "exciting".

But maybe that is how you like your sailing.   I can hardly wait to meet you out on the Bay.

Cheers,     Rod

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From: Public-List <public-list-bounces at lists.alberg30.org> on behalf of Gordon Laco via Public-List <public-list at lists.alberg30.org>
Sent: March 27, 2017 12:21 PM
To: Stephen gwyn; George Dinwiddie via Public-List
Subject: Re: [Public-List] Electricity Consumption 

We carry a hand held GPS which is mounted over the chart table/icebox top.  

I always feel nervous when I read or hear of people going into places using their chart plotter which they wouldn’t go near using paper charts.  One day that screen will go blank… what then?

I am not a luddite to the point where I don’t believe people should use modern navigation systems, but I do feel uncomfortable that use of GPS and other devices sometimes encourages sailors to go where they otherwise wouldn’t.   Our routine aboard SURPRISE is to navigate and/or pilot traditionally (for us, that’s one of the pleasures of cruising) and use the GPS to confirm our dead reckoning or piloting positions as required.

Rod, please don’t take offense, I know you’re a good seaman.

Gord #426 Surprise

On 2017-03-27, 12:11 PM, "Public-List on behalf of Stephen gwyn via Public-List" <public-list-bounces at lists.alberg30.org on behalf of public-list at lists.alberg30.org> wrote:

    Also, a small chartplotter will use less power. Or you can go to
    handheld GPS, which will run for 24 hours on a couple of AA batteries.

    SG

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