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A Community Devoted to the Preservation and Practice of Celestial Navigation and Other Methods of Traditional Wayfinding
From: Bob Goethe
Date: 2019 Sep 2, 23:26 -0700
I got my Tamaya 35 years ago, when I was living in Japan. I knew nothing about brands of sextants then, and the Yamaha salesman from whom I bought my dinghy recommended it, and I purchased the Tamaya purely on that recommendation.
Here in the past 5 or 6 years I have been able to take sights with a couple of Astras and compare them to sights taken with my Tamaya. I could discern no difference in accuracy between the Astras and the Tamaya.
However, the Tamaya has a bit better fit-and-finish. It is a little more fun to use. That is, it feels better when you hold and use it.
If I were starting over today, buying a sextant for the first time, but knowing what I now know, I would buy an Astra, no question. Terrific value for the dollar.
However, if money is no concern of yours, then go ahead and buy the Tamaya. Just holding a Tamaya will brighten a cloudy day, and taking a sight with one will add a couple of years to your life.
Bob
