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Old 16-10-2020, 23:55   #16
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What if a lightning strike destroys instrumentation?

When was that photo?

I can say its old... they haven’t wore those uniforms in a long time.

But, that is my chart table. That sextant never came out of the box for navigation for November Mike Tango Zulu between 1994-1997.

And my seat is right to the right behind the camera...

Funny when people can just Google stuff...
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Old 17-10-2020, 00:15   #17
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Re: What if a lightning strike destroys instrumentation?

More frustration... ask for an opinion... then attack that opinion...
My opinion, then don’t ask.
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Old 17-10-2020, 00:20   #18
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Re: What if a lightning strike destroys instrumentation?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Fortytwo View Post
More frustration... ask for an opinion... then attack that opinion...
My opinion, then don’t ask.

Is that comment meant for me? If it is then I point out I'm not attacking anyone's opinion!!
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Old 17-10-2020, 00:23   #19
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Re: What if a lightning strike destroys instrumentation?

we carry paper charts although they haven't been updated in ages...i can live with that

we don't carry sextant etc (also don't carry spare horseshoe nails or hoops for the water barrels or other museum items) but we do carry 2 or 3 spare GPSs

(and yes, i have taken ships around the world using celestial nav long before gps...even before loran)

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Old 17-10-2020, 00:29   #20
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Re: What if a lightning strike destroys instrumentation?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Fortytwo View Post
When was that photo?

I can say its old... they haven’t wore those uniforms in a long time.

But, that is my chart table. That sextant never came out of the box for navigation for November Mike Tango Zulu between 1994-1997.

And my seat is right to the right behind the camera...

Funny when people can just Google stuff...

It came from this article

https://www.usni.org/magazines/proce...ctronics-alone

But th US Navy does have sextants as backup in the event the GPS satellite becomes inoperable.
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Old 17-10-2020, 00:36   #21
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Re: What if a lightning strike destroys instrumentation?

I drove the USS November Mike Tango Zulu... you read an article.
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Old 17-10-2020, 01:12   #22
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Re: What if a lightning strike destroys instrumentation?

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Originally Posted by Fortytwo View Post
I drove the USS November Mike Tango Zulu... you read an article.
Whatever.......
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Old 17-10-2020, 01:24   #23
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Re: What if a lightning strike destroys instrumentation?

We had paper charts and Mary Blewitts celestial navigation book. The reason is were long distance sailing and a lightning strike would have wiped out a chartplotter and everything eletrical. One thing you can do is the oven acts a Faraday cage so put everything electical in there. We were sailing in the Caribbean and had a lightning strike 40 feet in front we had Elmos fire in the rigging
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Old 17-10-2020, 06:57   #24
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Re: What if a lightning strike destroys instrumentation?

we lost all our instruments ot lightning - fortunately we had put PCs, small radios with GPS and other things in the oven. But we do carry paper charts and yes - a sextant

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Old 17-10-2020, 08:10   #25
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Re: What if a lightning strike destroys instrumentation?

I carry a sextant and sight reduction tables because I enjoy using them. I am not, however, conscientious about a timepiece. If it hits the fan I’m stuck with noon shots and “running down a westing/easting” because the method of lunars is above my pay grade.

If you carry the old tools because you’re worried about lightning killing all electronics, do you have a mechanical chronometer that is kept set and for which you know the rate?

On a passage our phones, the handheld VHF, and the handheld GPS are all off and stowed (usually in different locations) and all have the capability of telling us where we are (and what time it is).

I do carry paper planning level charts, again because I enjoy them, and a very good paper atlas of the world, but I no longer carry much in the way of paper coastal or harbor charts.

YMMV
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Old 17-10-2020, 16:20   #26
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Re: What if a lightning strike destroys instrumentation?

Quote:
Originally Posted by coopec43 View Post
Is that comment meant for me? If it is then I point out I'm not attacking anyone's opinion!!


No.

And you are correct. The US Navy still carries sextants.
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Old 18-10-2020, 16:32   #27
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Re: What if a lightning strike destroys instrumentation?

Have GPS, Digital Charts, and Radar Replaced the True Art of Navigation?

https://www.practical-sailor.com/saf...oatMaintenance
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Old 18-10-2020, 17:23   #28
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Re: What if a lightning strike destroys instrumentation?

26 replies and no one has pointed out that pilotage and dead reckoning are primary skills that are more important than celestial navigation.


You use celestial navigation to find, say, Bermuda or the Marquesas if you lose all your electronics on a passage to one of those places.


You use pilotage and dead reckoning to find your way to the harbor at Luperon or to get through the Exumas on your way to someplace where you can get parts.
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Old 18-10-2020, 17:37   #29
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Re: What if a lightning strike destroys instrumentation?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Fortytwo View Post
More then one GPS... “just in case”... and always paper charts...
Agree!

We have four GPS devices on board and a spare bare basic old charter.

You can buy a couple nice hand helds for the cost of a sextant. Keep them in a safe place. Also, disconnect both positive and negative leads to any important device before a storm. I installed double pole switches on all and pull all antenna leads.
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Old 18-10-2020, 17:41   #30
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Re: What if a lightning strike destroys instrumentation?

Electronics failing during lightning strikes, how about LED lights they are all electronic and I don't put my cabin or nav lights in the oven. Any first hand experience from Florida or Panama sailors?
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