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A Community Devoted to the Preservation and Practice of Celestial Navigation and Other Methods of Traditional Wayfinding
Re: beginner
From: Willem Piccer
Date: 2005 Sep 19, 11:56 +0200
From: Willem Piccer
Date: 2005 Sep 19, 11:56 +0200
Fred Thank you for your reply. I did understand that a replica is what it says it is: a replica from something original without the features. What triggered my question in the first place was the weight of the replica. Weight is something which plays a minor role in the discussions we see here about the plastic sextant but to me it is important. If you use your sextant on a platform which is not stable than a sextant which has a certain weight will help you to obtain a more accurate observation because it is more stable. I know there is a sextant from John Bird ( around 1770) which has a "stick" on the backside to make it more stable. I suppose there is an optimum weight for a sextant : on one side not too heavy to handle and on the other side heavy enough to obtain a good observation. I remember when we started to use these light East German sextants that this was exactly what was noticed: easy to lift but more difficult to make a good observation Willem Piccer ----- Original Message ----- From: "Fred Hebard"To: Sent: Friday, September 16, 2005 4:06 PM Subject: Re: beginner > Willem, > > My understanding is that the replicas are not accurate and are not > suitable for any sort of measurement whatsoever. > > The box sextant was an angle-measuring device used by explorers on > land. It was used as one might use a transit or theodolite, where it > was impractical to cart those heavier instruments --the box sextant > could be carried in a pocket. I don't believe the accuracy was high > enough for use at sea, except perhaps in emergency situations, more on > the order of degrees than arcminutes. > > Fred > > On Sep 16, 2005, at 9:59 AM, Piccer wrote: > > > I followed the dicussion on the plastic sextant with a lot of interest. > > > > At home I have a replica of what is called a " box" sextant. > > I never tried to use it, but can somebody tell me if this is a serious > > instrument? > > > > The only reference I have found is on the website of Stanley, London : > > they sell the replica's > > > > Many thanks > > > > Willem Piccer >