Charts and Compass vs GPS / Chartplotter

[Ziggy]

Sounds like you're in great shape. Fair winds!

[Not Sure]

There is no substitute for good navigation/map reading skills. With that said, however, there is also no substitute for a gps/chartplotter for accurately knowing exactly where you are on a continuous basis with relation to the map/chart and your surroundings. The two are not mutually exclusive, and when used in combination offer the mariner the best opportunity to avoid mishap. In other words, use both paper charts and gps/chartplotter, unless you sail on a little puddle where neither is necessary.

[Not Sure]

Originally Posted by kcmarcet

..... but could never get the mapping software provided by Magellan to work properly on my PC. But if I remember right it had a nice lat&long screen that might work well in conjunction with the paper charts.

Yikes. That's pretty scary that you couldn't get the Magellan Mapsend software to work, since it's pretty basic as mapping software goes. It's also rather scary that you would apparently 'forget' that there is a lat/long screen on your gps. I think I'm going to have to retract my former comment or at least amend it to say that anyone using a gps/chartplotter should first have a good working knowledge of compass and paper maps before relying on a gps/chartplotter for anything other than entertainment.