RE: [Paddlewise] Dead Reckoning Accuracy

From: PeterO <rebyl_kayak_at_iprimus.com.au>
Date: Sat, 5 Jun 2004 19:48:04 +1000
Steve wrote:
>but 900 meters is a little more than 1/2 mile.

G'Day Steve,

Quick response - Thanks! Missing small landing sites/islands was our
concern. The instructor described just such a situation as you referred to.
A situation where at the end of a long days paddling in Tasmania, with only
one possible landing spot, a very small and somewhat hidden beach.

It was the first time most of us had tried ded reckoning. Things I think
could improve my accuracy are: -

1. Select bearings which were likely to be clearly defined i.e large objects
such as points, light houses, water towers,  with high contrast in the line
of sight. A point covered in trees against a backdrop of a coast covered in
trees was one of the poor selections I made, it was almost invisible in
fact.
2. Take a hard surface on which to put the map for plotting bearings, if
possible do most of the plotting in advance at home
3. Use a portland square rather than protractor and setsquare.
4. If using laminated maps take a fine water proof pen (and some alcohol as
an erasor).
5. The theory looked easy, putting it into practice on the water was hard.
6. Work out in advance which direction to paddle if bearings aren't quite
right.

These all seem to be minor embellishments except for 1. I'ld appreciate
thoughts on better technique - particularly accurate reading of a compass on
the water.

All the best, Peter
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Received on Sat Jun 05 2004 - 02:50:18 PDT

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