Re: [Paddlewise] GPS Errors Summary

Michael Daly wrote:
> 
> Even at SA levels of error (<100m, 95% of the time), that's still a
> lot better than what you can do with a sextant, so error
> interpretation is relative.


When I was practicing daily and using a $1000 sextant and artificial
horizon I could get to about 1/4 mile radius. 

Using normal gear on a sailboat I was more than happy if my 'triangle'
was only 2 miles across.

These days, with GPS in use I am more concerned about errors on my
charts as most have not been updated in many years and when they were
done much of the better position fixing systems did not exist.

I was on RV Hero in 1984-85 and we found Chiloe Island to be almost
3 miles from the charted position.
The charts of the Antarctic Peninsula were really interesting. Lots
of hand drawn updates and corrections, mostly from our own observations.

Remember, that there at least two positions that are important, yours,
and
that of land and obstacles on the chart. Both are subject to error.

michael (still more of a sailor)
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