Re: [Paddlewise] Navigation - Piloting and Dead Reckoning

From: Fred T, CA Kayaker <cakayak_at_mindspring.com>
Date: Fri, 06 Oct 2000 10:21:40 -0700
In addition to reading Burch's book I would recommend that you go out and 
spend less than $ 15.00 and purchase a hiking compass with a rotating card 
and at the same time pick up a topographic map or marine chart for your 
local area.   I think you may find it initially easier to practice on land 
without having to worry about boat control, etc.

There are numerous books available at your outdoor store, book store or at 
the library on navigation with map and compass or books on 
orienteering.  Having taught land navigation in the military most people 
had a hard time understanding magnetic variation/declination and how to 
compensate for it for E or W and how it impacted orienting a map so you can 
make a course on the ground/water as laid out on a map or vice versa.

Learn how to orient a map/chart so that the map is laid out in keeping with 
what you see from your current position = True North/Grid North vs Magnetic 
North.

Learn how to read longitude and latitude and today, UTM

Learn how to plot your location using two known and easily recognizable 
landmarks and your bearing to and back course from. (you have to make sure 
the map is oriented properly) to find where you are.  You can do this with 
a compass and be very, very accurate!

Learn the difference between Piloting and Dead Reckoning

Accomplish these and you are going to be well grounded in basic navigation 
skills, which can be translated easily on the water, on land or from a plane.

Fred










At 07:15 PM 10/2/2000 -0400, Craig MacKinnon wrote:
> > Can anyone recommend a good resource for learning about tides, currents,
> > navigating with a compass, etc etc?
>
>Fundamentals of Kayak Navigation by David Burch

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Received on Fri Oct 06 2000 - 10:22:43 PDT

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