NavList:
A Community Devoted to the Preservation and Practice of Celestial Navigation and Other Methods of Traditional Wayfinding
Re: Artificial horizon question
From: J Parsons
Date: 2009 Apr 21, 12:33 -0700
From: J Parsons
Date: 2009 Apr 21, 12:33 -0700
By George, I've think I've got it. And by Brad, too! The explanation that I am not keeping the sextant vertical sounds like exactly the problem. Now that it is suggested, I realize I am not taking particular care about the instrument being vertical, and the motion that seemed maddeningly random to me is quite possibly the direct reaction to small tilts and wobbles, as I pay too much attention to everything except keeping plumb. I can't wait to get out again tonight and try again. Through this thread of conversation I've also picked up several other hints and tips about artificial horizons that should lead to better results. I know there have been past discussions about the best purpose of this list; for my part being able to bring my puzzlement to you all has proven the greatest help I could imagine. I don't think there are many people around Eugene Oregon I could get this type of advice from, or at least none whom I could find this conveniently. Now that I have joined the list, I'd like to offer more by way of introduction. I'm a 54-year old civil engineer and (non-practicing) surveyor, living inland. I have a 22-foot sloop on a nearby lake that is barely large enough to furnish a natural horizon in certain directions (the lake, not the sloop). I did some extended offshore sailing as a youth, and though I diligently read the boat's copy of Dutton's, navigating was not among my duties. (I also couldn't get past the logarithms, but college cleared that up years later.) Now I am attempting to learn CN simply because it has been a life-long goal (thanks to C. S. Forester), and I finally decided to get serious about it. I hope to get the chance to at least practice on the open sea, and ideally to undertake a voyage and put it to real use. Again, thank you all for your advice. I expect I'll be coming back for more on a regular basis. -John Parsons --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Navigation List archive: www.fer3.com/arc To post, email NavList@fer3.com To , email NavList-@fer3.com -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---