NavList:

 

 

In a message dated 5/23/2008 6:22:57 A.M. West Pacific Standard Time, bruce.hamilton@shaw.ca writes:

 

I have done this too, especially when breaking a ship out of layup and I had to start the gyro compass from a stand still.  It also works well when aligning all of the repeaters etc when getting underway.  Unfortunately, we need to keep a record of gyro error during the entire trip, and this is done mostly with Azimuths.  I will use a range when I have the chance, but usually this is during a port arrival and there are a great many other things to do, not the least of which is making sure the helm and engine orders are answered promptly and properly.

 

It is an annual requirement to make a new deviation (sri abt the earlier gaff) table on merchant ships.  It is also required when substantial steel work is done as that will affect the magnetic compass.  The last time we "swung the ship" we didn't even use a range.  We just calculated gyro error from an Azimuth and than the captain did a round turn.  When we passed the various points of the magnetic compass, (10 degrees if i remember correctly) he would call out the magnetic heading.  I recorded the gyro heading at each mark and he constructed a graph and table from the numbers once Variation was factored in.  I had never seen it done that way, but it is his ship.