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Hi,
 I am sure that one good reason for skeletonized frames is to
reduce wind resistance.  Holding something up steady in a 15 to 20
knot
breeze is more difficult if it catches more wind.
 This was a major issue very early in Renaisance navigation when
solid
disk astrolabes gave way to the marine astrolabe.
- GM

George Huxtable wrote:
>
> A few years ago I read a letter in the Journal of Navigation from a
> merchant sea-captain of many years experience, who explained that he
> cherished his old sextant because of its very weight, which he explained
> gave it stability when used on the bridge in windy weather. One has to
> respect the voice of experience.
>
> On the other hand, if weight was such an advantage, why do sextant makers
> go to such trouble to use lightweight materials, and skeletonize the frames
> to leave the minimum of material behind?
>
> And if weight was such an advantage, it would be an easy job to "improve"
> an over-lightweight sextant by clamping on lead ballast to the frame, in
> appropriate places. I have never heard of such an "improvement" being made,
> even by the crustiest old salt. Has anyone else?
>
> My conclusion? That in reality, other things like rigidity being equal, the
> lighter a sextant is, the better it will be. Just my opinion, for what it's
> worth.
>
> George Huxtable.
>
> ------------------------------
>
> george@huxtable.u-net.com
> George Huxtable, 1 Sandy Lane, Southmoor, Abingdon, Oxon OX13 5HX, UK.
> Tel. 01865 820222 or (int.) +44 1865 820222.
> ------------------------------

--
---------------
Gerard Mittelstaedt    mitt@hiline.net
McAllen, Texas
USA

   

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