Great Marine Navigation Tool-Saved Our Rears!

[EHostic]

Last week I made the voyage from Toronto to Kingston, Ontario on my old C&C 30. We hit a pretty heavy fog and had to rely on instrument navigation. My 5 year old son accidentally dropped the handheld GPS into Lake Ontario shortly after we departed so I had to rely on my phone's GPS app. I was scared s***less. The navigation app that saved us is called Polaris Navigation System. I got it for my Galaxy S3 android just before we set sail (good thing I did). The software has a nice waypoint targeting system and is simple to use. Of course, I didn't let my son touch the phone! Anyway, thought I would share that.

[Cormorant]

We had a similar foggy passage in Maine, using MX Mariner on my Droid 3.

Got to use (for the first time in actual fog) the foghorn I bought a few years ago, too.

[S/V Alchemy]

Toronto to Kingston even in fog should not be that daunting. You simply keep a running fix based on your bearing and speed as there isn't a lot of current and no tide.

I can understand how it would be disconcerting, but if you were so close to shore as to get cell reception, the solution is to plot in a direction that keeps you clear of PE county, Scotch Bonnet, etc.

I recommend the CPS Coastal Pilotage course.

And buy two GPSes and make sure your compass is properly swung and get a paper chart and/or a Richardson's for planning your directions.

[onestepcsy37]

i just stand on the bow with a sack of potatoes. every minute i throw a potato as far forward as i can. if i don't hear a splash i yell 'TACK!'.

[delmarrey]

Originally Posted by onestepcsy37

i just stand on the bow with a sack of potatoes. every minute i throw a potato as far forward as i can. if i don't hear a splash i yell 'TACK!'.

[denverd0n]

Originally Posted by onestepcsy37

i just stand on the bow with a sack of potatoes. every minute i throw a potato as far forward as i can. if i don't hear a splash i yell 'TACK!'.

Now that there is funny, I don't care who ya are!