Marine Toilet Experts Helps Equip You With the Best Navigational Aides

Your Marine Toilet Professionals Discuss the Most Reliable Navigational Equipment 

Raritan Engineering Company your marine toilet dynamos would like to share with you these topics we thought would be of interest to you this month regarding being properly equipped with the best navigational aides.

Marine Navigation Equipment

Your marine toilet specialists know that the most important computer on board is a skilled human navigator, and that person should be suitably skilled when all the marine navigation instruments on board fail.

All modern marine navigation tools depend on electricity, and are susceptible to shorting of current by seawater or lightning strikes. Even with the elaborate backup systems and rigorous insulation, there is a risk of water shorting out the electrical system.

Chart Table

A secure place to work on navigation is to have a permanent [ chart table ] with a horizontal surface large enough for a chart to be laid out at one fold. A chart table should either have a lifting top with chart storage space underneath, or a drawer allowing the charts to be stored flat.

Some navigators prefer to stand at a chart table arranged fore and aft, but commonly chart tables are place athwartships with a seat. The chart table should be situated near the companionway, where boat motion is at its least and the seat facing forwards. 

A shelf space for reference books and bulkhead space for marine navigation instruments and communication equipment completes the design. 

Logbook

For recording position, course, distance run, and other crucial information, a logbook is used. There is a requirement to keep one by maritime law, because it in the event of an incident at sea, it may have to be produced.

There is no necessity to buy a printed logbook as there is no standardized format. Experienced navigators produce their own by ruling a few columns in a notebook or loose-leaf sheets with the column headings that suit individual needs.

Record key data at half-hourly or hourly when close to shore and less often when offshore. Information recorded in a deck log by the crew on watch can be transferred at regular intervals to the main logbook.

Plotters

A plotter achieves the same result as a parallel ruler and easier to use on a small boat. Plotters are used in conjunction with the latitude and longitude grid lines marked on the chart, rather than using the compass rose.

The plotter has a compass rose and grid of lines engraved on which are lined up on the latitude or longitude lines on the chart orientating the plotter with true north. The plotter's straight edge is then lined up with the bearing to be measured, and is read off from its compass rose. 

A plotter has no need to be used in combination with a compass rose, and is not moved across the chart, making it easier to use and more accurate than parallel rulers. 

Nautical Publications

Pencils – The use of soft pencils, such as 2B, on charts prevents permanently marking them. Hexagonal pencils resist rolling off the table when the boat heels. 

Nautical Almanac – Your marine toilet analysts feel that the principal reference book is a current copy of the nautical almanac covering the sailing area which provides tidal information, harbour plans and details.

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Pilot Books – There may be a need for pilot books that cover the area being cruised. These vary from publications specifically for yachting, to those by hydrographic agencies and intended for all craft.

Lights and Radio Signals – If sailing long distances, it is advisable to carry published references for lists of lights and radio signals, especially if a range of large-scale charts for the area is not available.

Marine Binoculars

A pair of marine binoculars suitable for marine use with a 7 x 50 (7 -times magnification, 50 mm object glass) is recommended as a steady view with more magnification than this is hard to get. Also a wide field of view as well as water-resistance along with being rubber armoured.

Conventional Compass

The [ conventional boat compass ] has two or more bar magnets attached to the underside of a circular card and this card has marked in degrees around its edge.

As the boat heels, internal or external gimbals keep the card level. When the compass is turned, the bar magnets align with magnetic north and south. A reference mark, called a lubber line, is marked on the inside of the bowl.

Fluxgate Boat Compass

Fluxgate boat compasses use an electronic circuit to sense the lines of magnetic force and the reading is displayed as a [ digital readout ] to the nearest degree. Treat with caution the implied accuracy of the digital readout. Fluxgate boat compasses must be kept horizontal, or errors can result that are not obvious from the display.

Hand Bearing Compass

When using a hand bearing compass, line up the lubber line with the object for which the bearing is being measured and read off the bearing.

The three types of hand bearing boat compasses are the traditional bowl compass held at arm's length, a smaller mini compass held close to the eye and the fluxgate compass, also held at arm's length.

So don't forget to keep some of these pieces of valuable navigational equipment on board, 1) chart table;  2) log book;  3) plotters;  4) nautical publications;  plus much more.

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via Marine Navigation Equipment