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Old 14-10-2015, 10:26   #1
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Sextant Types

Anyone ever used a pocket drum sextant? Wondering how they compare in terms of ease of use and accuracy to a traditional style.
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Old 14-10-2015, 11:46   #2
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Re: Sextant Types

This sort of thing?
Vintage Nauticalia Brass Pocket Drum Sextant SN 97550 | eBay
I owned one for a while , never used it in anger as the optics were seriously poor.
A lot of the ones on the market are Indian 'knock offs' good for nothing but the mantlepiece.

What you do see out there occasionaly are (genuine) 'half sized' sextants which are easier to stow on the yacht than full size ones. I have one branded 'Inglis Smith' ( an old Australian chandlery) but made by Tamaya.
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Old 14-10-2015, 12:19   #3
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Re: Sextant Types

Thanks Pinguino. Do you think the optics problem with the one you had was a function of design, or was it the one you had in particular? The example you posted looks very much like the one I was looking at.
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Old 14-10-2015, 13:45   #4
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Re: Sextant Types

I never figured out if mine was a knock of or not but the problem was twofold... poor glass which could have been an age thing and very small field of view. I think it would have been very difficult to use at sea... on the High Veldt during the Boer War maybe it would have been ok.
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Old 14-10-2015, 15:55   #5
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Re: Sextant Types

I've been using a sextant since the 1960s. With a full sized sextant I can get within a mile on a stable platform like a ship. I have two of the small ones I use for decoration. I tried one at a dock with a clear horizon, I can only get about a 3 mile circle in good viewing conditions. I was told the small ones were made and sold to meet a personal equipment requirement in some merchant services.
I suppose 3-5 miles would be ok in the middle of the ocean. Even with a good sextant, you need to practice to get a decent fix.
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Old 14-10-2015, 16:54   #6
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Re: Sextant Types

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lepke View Post
I've been using a sextant since the 1960s. With a full sized sextant I can get within a mile on a stable platform like a ship. I have two of the small ones I use for decoration. I tried one at a dock with a clear horizon, I can only get about a 3 mile circle in good viewing conditions. I was told the small ones were made and sold to meet a personal equipment requirement in some merchant services.
I suppose 3-5 miles would be ok in the middle of the ocean. Even with a good sextant, you need to practice to get a decent fix.
I thought they were designed for land based explorers hence my reference to the high veldt..... there is a nice one here complete with box and artificial horizon https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item...sextant-outfit
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Old 14-10-2015, 17:07   #7
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Re: Sextant Types

Holy crap! $425? I think I'll stick to my $40 one.
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