Re: [Paddlewise] GPS, charts, headlamps

I love compasses and charts, too.  I love my dog-eared copy of
'Fundamentals of Kayak Navigation'.  It's been a year...I need to
re-read it.  I love gadgets, but I just haven't gotten that excited
about GPS.  I think it would be a cool (and cheaper) alternative to a
knotmeter, especially for flatwater forward stroke training.  I guess I
haven't needed a device to tell me where I am, when I usually know
where I am.  I think they'd have a great use for big, open water
crossings (especially like the Channel Island crossings Duane did),
where lines of position could be sketchy, and you've paddled a bearing
long enough that your DR gets questionable.

I like Rob's laminated chart idea.  I had the pleasure of a night
paddle with him on his home turf, and he had an extra laminated map of
the Tacoma Narrows for me to borrow.  (Well, along with his wife's
kayak, skirt, PFD, and a paddle!)  Color copying is getting affordable,
and charts aren't getting any cheaper, so no reason not to.

Speaking of "DIY charts", anyone know what happened to the NOAA
Mapfinder website?  They used to have 72dpi "Not for Navigation" chart
scans of all their charts...made for great research/study material. 
Anyone ever download any of these charts?  I saved most of the Puget
Sound charts in .gif format.  (about 5mb each)

Princeton Tec makes two "submersible" headlamps--the Solo and the
Vortec.  I have the Vortec, and it seems to be reasonably waterproof. 
It has good gaskets around the battery doors, and a good gasket on the
lens.  Its headband is removable, so it's easy to lash to a plastic
helmet with zip ties.  (If you capsize, a waterproof headlamp isn't of
much use if it comes off your head and sinks).

Shawn


		
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