NavList:
A Community Devoted to the Preservation and Practice of Celestial Navigation and Other Methods of Traditional Wayfinding
Re: Advice on Sextant
From: Greg Rudzinski
Date: 2009 Aug 3, 16:19 -0700
From: Greg Rudzinski
Date: 2009 Aug 3, 16:19 -0700
When bidding for a sextant on ebay be sure that it is complete (box,scope,filters,index mirror adjustment tool) and that the index mirror and horizon mirror are pictured in good reflective order along with a picture of the arc free of corrosion. Double check the cost of shipping because sometimes it is excessive. On Aug 3, 12:32�pm, Greg Rudzinskiwrote: > Peter, > > Try ebay if you are on a tight budget. The best deal I have seen > recently is $300 for a Freiberger in very good condition. If you plan > on only observing the sun then plastic will probably be good enough > although I wouldn't expect more than two minutes of precision. The > optics on plastic sextants are disappointing for star observations > during early twilight. If money isn't an object then get a new whole > horizon Cassens & Plath with adjustable polarizing filters. Used > Russian sextants in good condition are worthy instruments as well but > use caution when bidding on one outside of the U.S.. I have seen some > used Tamaya deals on ebay too. Chinese sextants are the best way to go > if a good value new sextant is desired. For practice on land there are > several options besides bubble attachments. I prefer working from the > shore of a body of water then applying dip short of the horizon while > getting as low as possible. If the sextant is going to be primarily > used aboard small craft then I recommend the whole horizon option > because of the expanded field of view. > > Greg > > On Aug 3, 9:21�am, "Peter Hollings" wrote: > > > I am looking for some advice on choosing a sextant for present use (within a > > city) refreshing my skills and later for navigation aboard a yacht. Cost is > > a factor and, given that I would be using it for navigation offshore only, > > an accuracy within a minute or so should be sufficient. An artificial > > horizon (bubble) would be necessary for me to practice in the city. I think > > it would also be valuable at sea because it would enable sights when the > > horizon was obscured and, if the bubble were illuminated, at night. I've > > looked at WW II aviation sextants. Also, I have seen artificial horizon > > attachments for marine sextants for sale on eBay. (Unfortunately, the ad for > > the attachment did not specify which make/model of sextant it was designed > > for.) > > > What sextant would you recommend and what further factors should I consider? > > Also, are there any issues when buying this sextant that I should be looking > > out for? > > > Thanks, > > > Peter Hollings > > > Atlanta, GA USA --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ NavList message boards: www.fer3.com/arc Or post by email to: NavList@fer3.com To , email NavList-@fer3.com -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---