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Re: Did chronometers introduce economics to navigation?
From: Brad Morris
Date: 2018 Mar 18, 11:17 -0400

Hello Ed

The book makes an assertion

"that chronometers were the first devices to introduce economics and cost/benefit to navigation. This is quite an assertion and though simplistic, is an interesting statement about navigation."

That seems wrong to me. Metal sextants provided a distinct benefit to the navigator, that being precision. Precision that a wooden sextant could not provide simply because of the instability of wood. Obviously, a metal sextant would cost more than wooden one. I believe Frank has indicated metal sextants were made to get the precision necessary to perform lunars.

So there it is, a more expensive instrument which provides a distinct benefit to the navigator, used to perform a new task, to wit, lunars.

Every navigator would have to weigh the benefit (longitude by lunars) against the cost (metal sextant and appropriate tables). Ergo: cost benefit analysis.

Brad

Williams argues that chronometers were the first devices to introduce economics and cost/benefit to navigation. This is quite an assertion and though simplistic, is an interesting statement about navigation.

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