Open sea, what do you use for Navigation?

[s/v Beth]

OK, you have left the coastal waters for a 2000 mile journey. You are out of the shipping lanes. What equiptment do you keep on?
Depth finder? Don't need it
Chartplotter? you just going to see how deep the ocean is?
Radar? AIS? Probably at night or when you are napping. Otherwise?
VHF? waste of electrons unless you are close enough to talk to someone...
How about an delorme inreach? At least you would have fixes every few hours...
So what do you leave on?
Autopilot?
Inquiring minds want to know!

[donradcliffe]

I leave on the VHF on Ch 16 (0.25 amps for Icom), AIS (0.2 amps), autopilot (2.5 amps), and GPS (0.1 amps). The radar goes on if I see something I want more information about.

[conachair]

Ais & gps usually. Log entry every 6 hours. And a kindle

[boatman61]

Autopilot... Fridge...
Laptop CP twice a day... Second time for movies

[roverhi]

The
garmin plotter, AIS,Knotmeter/Log and Auto pilot on standby for the compass. Turn on the Ham radio as necessary along with the Pactor Modem and lap top if they are needed. Have self steering so don't use the A/P except under power.

[Dockhead]

Radar with guard zones on, 24/7 - invaluable aid to watchkeeping offshore. Depth alarm set at 100 meters or whatever. AIS with alarms. You can switch off the plotter PROVIDED you're absolutey sure there are no hazards anywhere near - keep in mind the race boat which smashed into an island in the middle of the Indian Ocean this year.

Sent from my SGP521 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[atoll]

first thing I switch off is the electric pressurised water pump,and just use the hand pump,amazing how much water you save!

[conachair]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

Radar with guard zones on, 24/7 - invaluable aid to watchkeeping offshore.

Solo the radar gets a lot of use, but assuming open sea is well off the shelf, there's hardly anything there and anything that is will almost certainly be transmitting AIS. Radar is great for picking up squalls though, so you can get the shampoo out
If "open sea" means not too far from the coast then maybe different.

I forgot to add twice daily weatherfaxes to the previous post, IMHO invaluable. And free

[conachair]

Originally Posted by atoll

first thing I switch off is the electric pressurised water pump,and just use the hand pump,amazing how much water you save!

And throw a fishing lure out the back

[Neptune's Gear]

Same as Dockhead,

PC (which is Plotter, radar and AIS) VHF, Mostly AP, Instruments . Radar guard zones, often turn off one of the PC screens, sometimes both, or set them to auto power save...

[hooligan6a]

AIS and chart plotter on All the time. No autopilot, I have a wind vane. VHF is a good idea
But I don't most of the time, offshore

[Jim Cate]

Hmm, are not folks supposed to maintain a radio watch on 16 when under way? We do... wouldn't want to miss a mayday from a nearby mariner.

So for us, VHF, AIS, wind instrument, gps, autopilot. Occasional HF, computer (OPCN).

Jim

[Delancey]

Turned off everything including nav lights for about three or four days when had some engine problems. Got boarded and soaked the ignition. Eventually got it sorted. Didn't really miss any of it at the time.

[El Pinguino]

Instruments ( raymarine) are all on the same switch so they stay on....VHF, AIS...thats it.
Off soundings the PC with the charts goes on at noon, goes on as required for sailmail... same with the HF...turn on for news broadcasts etc.
Pressure water goes off except for the monthly shower....

[Benz]

VHF only if other shipping is in sight. GPS gets switched on whenever a quick position fix is required.
Ben
zartmancruising dot com