Navigational Aids are a Waste of Money !

[daddle]

Most of the world does not have the resources to maintain virtual marks. Moving a simple channel marker to the typhoon-moved channel is simpler.

Also in the big picture virtual marks probably cost more. The expense moves from the government to all the private parties buying a gazillion gizmos. Certainly the gizmos are far more unreliable.

I didn't vote as your options are biased...

[Adelie]

Originally Posted by sneuman

Ok, let's hear it!

How about traffic signs and stoplights?

[Adelie]

Originally Posted by ActiveCaptain

Like the electronic ignition system in your car? Or how about the electronically controlled engines that dominate diesel production today?

Not good analogies, either of those fail you coast to the shoulder and call AAA.

[jackdale]

Originally Posted by zeehag

if your flashlight is not strong enough to see outside cockpit-- get a rechargeable million plus candlepower search/flood light from ace hardware and look at the stuff yer gonna hit.....is less than 20 dollars and lasts thru quite a lot of abuse.

Like others I am hesitant you use search because they do destroy night vision. My crews are instructed to use red flashlights and red headlamps; no white lights.

I can avoid unmarked reefs using danger bearings; the depth sounder also works.

[Hydra]

Yesterday, I read a story in a magazine about those 2 USN warships that scrambled GPS signal tens of miles around San Diego when trying a new communication system. I just hope that lighthouses were lit that night around San Diego.

Sometimes, a GPS satellite is not operating properly. In that case, you would be happy to have other navigating tools.

Alain

[zeehag]

DONT look into the searchlight..LOl
god made charts of paper for a reason....
red ones donot make a good display on th emain sail when approached by another boat

[Pblais]

Lighthouses are pretty much dead these days. They have sold off a bunch here on the Chesapeake to private buyers. Most of the rest are now fully automated and of the rest just are decommissioned. Ironically better nav aids have allowed this to happen. Marked channels replaced lights on the shoals and points. Lighted nav aids now allow better marking.

It is possible down the road we could have virtual nav aids but not anytime too soon. It took a long time getting the light houses sorted out. Radar refelctivity already aids commercial vessels. Make no mistake recreational boating needs are constrained to day marks only with a few lighted ones thrown in at key points.

[jackdale]

Originally Posted by zeehag

DONT look into the searchlight..LOl
god made charts of paper for a reason....

Even a reflection off the rigging is too bright for comfort. Rod rigging reflection is brutal.

[jackdale]

Originally Posted by Pblais

Make no mistake recreational boating needs are constrained to day marks only with a few lighted ones thrown in at key points.

So true.

In the PNW, those areas frequented by cruisers have far fewer aids to navigation than those where you find commercial traffic and cruise ships.

[zeehag]

LOL never use a light to show anyone what or where you are?? you realize those lil red and green lites that are sooo very cutesie on yer boat essentially do not show anyhting?/ the best way to show self is with a bright light on the sail. rofl. ye dont use it for long periods of time--just long enough to show what ye are...LOL....ye do no t shine in th e cabin of the other boat or the bridge of the other boat-- ye shine it on yer sails.

[jackdale]

zeehag - yes I do shine a regular (white) flashlight into the sails, if necessary.

We were discussing using search lights to search for hazards such as reefs.

First, I would give them five short blasts, or contact them on the radio.

[zeehag]

first i shine light as they may still be too far for the ear ringing noise of a horn. they CAN see he sail, however, when lit.
ye can also see the unlit buoys you are about to hit with em also without ruining your night vision, i know, as i did this already....

[Noname]

I like them on the waterways and use them all the time. But didn't Christopher Columbus do okay without Navigational Aids (bouys, etc not the sun and moon). He did find his way to India? didn't he??

[zeehag]

did they place a marker on the edge of the earth??? mebbe we need one now so no one falls off......

[Therapy]

Originally Posted by boasun

David is correct here. Plus those aids let you know where the deep and not so deep waters are at. Navigation is an art that sadly is poorly practiced because of those who depend 100% on the GPS. What will they do if a solar flare or someone is jamming the GPS? Yes Major solar flares can knock out the satellites, Yes the GPS can be jammed locally or even turned off by the Military. Who would jam it? Those who don't like you or your life style.
The ATNs are necessary, needed and can help you keep your boat afloat.
The horror stories abound of those naviguessers who run outside the Red or Green line.

I don't think I am going to go through four pages of this stuff.

But as a good CF person I will make a comment.

Pray tell us how in the world anyone navigated before there were buoys and such? Didn't happen right?

I'll tell you what I think. I think that when the newfangled poles, sticks and floating glass balls and other things started appearing that many said they were unreliable and one must use the old ways and actually know how to navigate.

LOL