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Mike,
A major news magazine (Time I believe) wrote an article about Capt.
Simonsen's success in his navigation business in the very early 70s.
According to the article, he retired from the Merchant Marine and went to
work for Sears selling shoes. This got old in a hurry, and he became
nostalgic for involvement in navigation. He decided to place an ad in
Yachting Magazine (I think) which said "Learn Celestial navigation at home..
$35".  When the first check came in the mail he told his wife "well I guess
we have to write the first lesson".  He did, and she mimeographed it for
him.  When the results came back, he wrote the second lesson, and so forth.
This led to the formation of Coast Navigation School which later opened
offices in Brazil, and I think Sydney. He added his own private branded
Simex sextants, and became very successful.  When he died, things slowly
declined, and the busness inventory was sold to I think Bacon & Associates
in Annapolis. They slowly sold everything off, and that was the end of. At
about this time Joel started Nautech with an improved version of the Tamaya
sextant.  Maybe he can add to this recount, or correct it.
Ken
----- Original Message -----
From: "MIKE BURKES" 
To: 
Sent: Tuesday, January 31, 2006 9:11 AM
Subject: Simex, Coast Navigation and Captain Svend T. Simonsen


> Hi Frank yes my Simex Mariner is equipped with polarized shades and is
> certainly a nice feature!
> Very cool u have autographed copy and any additional info on him and
> school
> would be appeciated!
> Thanks much!
> Mike Burkes
>
>
>>From: FJones 
>>Reply-To: Navigation Mailing List 
>>To: NAVIGATION-L@LISTSERV.WEBKAHUNA.COM
>>Subject: Simex, Coast Navigation and Captain Svend T. Simonsen
>>Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2006 18:57:55 -0500
>>
>>Captain Svend T. Simonsen should be referenced and not
>>Sorreson.  Svend autographed a copy of Blue Water Navigation,
>>(Cornell Maritime Press, 1947) for me in 1969.  Thumbing through
>>the yellowed pages bring back memories from long ago.
>>
>>I also remember purchasing one of the Simex sextants from Coast
>>Navigation (Santa Barbara, CA) then and discovered it was made by
>>Tamaya.  I don't recall it being equipped with polarizing shades
>>however.
>>
>>Frank Jones
>>Rochester, NY
>
>

   

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