Why Serious Mariners Continue to Carry Paper Charts to Complement Digital Navigational Tools
Mariners are increasingly relying on digital navigation tools to guide them through the open seas. With GPS, radar, and AIS systems readily available, it’s easy to forget that paper charts have been a part of the seafaring tradition for centuries and still play an integral role in modern day navigation.
We hope that this post has helped you understand why seamen still rely on paper charts and digital tools alike to guide them through their voyages, both as a backup plan in case of a frustrating malfunction or as a means of navigating with precision when conditions aren't ideal.
When creating your own charts, we advise you to use as many of the available sources as possible, including open source software programs like OpenCPN and SailPlotter. In addition, NASA's Earth Observatory has a great collection of historical charts that are free to use.
Happy charting!
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Title: Journalist: How I Was Sabotaged by a GPS Navigation System in My Role as a Sailor
Title: Google Maps and GPS Navigation Fail at Sea (There is no excuse for failure)
Classifieds are the information gold mine central to any successful expedition. When it comes to cruising, if you don't have a classified ad, you do not have a cruising business. Owners are looking for people, who will help them travel the world, and older people want to see the world again. The challenge of finding suited candidates is significant and can only be solved by smart selection.
Here are some tips:
- Read the blogs of fellow sailors who have been successful in their own sailing campaigns; remember that everyone has different needs and requires different levels of support; some may require more help than others; search on forums such as SailNet's Cruising For Couples or SailNet's New Sailing Member Forum and search in general forums on sites like Yahoo Groups.
- Read the classifieds of the sailing magazines.
- Send a message to your email list and ask people to forward it on.
- Attend local sailing groups and post flyers in restaurants, stores, and cafes throughout the area where you are publishing your ad.
- If you already have a crew, don't forget to replace them when their contracts expire (heck! Why not get a temp replacement for when they go shopping or to the hairdresser?) And if you are a crew member thinking of leaving, don't wait until your boss is out shopping!!!!
Well, I hope that this post has provided some food for thought. I think that the main key for success is perseverance, and in the end, everything is possible!
- Photos by Jack Bowly , Author of "How to Buy a Sailing Boat" and "How to Buy a Powerboat"
Title: The Dreaming Sea (Dr. Charles Smith)
I was born during World War II , in New York City. My father was an Air Force pilot who flew in twenty-two missions over Japan. After the war he encountered tough economic times, so he went to work for Bristol-Myers as a pharmaceutical salesman. He traveled all over the country, usually by car. My mother stayed home with me and my younger sister until we were nine or ten years old.
- Photos by Jack Bowly , Author of "How to Buy a Sailing Boat" and "How to Buy a Powerboat"
Title: How an English-Speaking Lady in Florida Was Able to Sail Around the World After Finding Her Dream Boat on the Internet
Title: Leaving San Diego, California (Dr. Charles Smith)
By now, I had decided that I was going to sail around the world, but I had not shared this with anyone. At thirty-two years old, I had no savings and no real job prospects. I did not have sufficient funds for the deposit on a boat or even for living expenses while doing the necessary maintenance work in preparation for a voyage around the world.
- Photos by Jack Bowley , Author of "How to Buy a Sailing Boat" and "How to Buy a Powerboat"
Title: How I Found My Dream Sailboat (Dr. Charles Smith)
I had read enough about sailing around the world that it was only logical for me to look for a boat. The Internet is an amazing tool, and I spent several hours searching the web for sailboats that were available and at what price. I had no idea where to begin, so I just started searching. By using websites such as Realtor.com and YachtWorld.com, I was able to search for boats by location, price, and year of manufacture.
Finally, I came across a beautiful Cal 27 sailboat named Mystified . She was berthed in Marina Del Rey , California . The asking price was $10,995. She was in great condition, and the seller seemed honest (although I could not verify his honesty). He sent me large photographs of her on e-mail, which I printed out and showed to friends.
I made an offer of $10K cash on the spot (which he promptly accepted). Consequently I had a boat! All that remained was to do the maintenance work that would allow me to take her to sea safely.
- Photos by Jack Bowley , Author of "How to Buy a Sailing Boat" and "How to Buy a Powerboat"
Title: Leaving San Diego, California (Dr. Charles Smith)
I bought my boat in June 2002 and spent the next several months doing all the repairs necessary before I could safely leave. I had to replace the propeller shafts, both steering cables, and all of the running rigging. Many of my boat's instruments were unreadable and had to be replaced.
My parents helped me find new sails from Hinckley Americas , which is based in Rhode Island . The sails set me back about $2,000. I also needed anchors, which cost about $100 each. My father took me to a local sailmaker named Mark's Boathouse to have the main and jib sheets replaced.
I also went with my dad to buy two new toilet-hanging kits and two life jackets that were required by law in California. I also bought another set of sails because the original ones had broken in multiple places. These sails cost $200 each.
Reaching the Bahamas :
- Photos by Jack Bowley , Author of "How to Buy a Sailing Boat" and "How to Buy a Powerboat"
Title: Leaving San Diego, California (Dr.
Conclusion:
I have been interested in sailing since I was a child, and I loved growing up around boats. Cruising the Bahamas and beyond on my own boat is something that has been in my mind for a long time. The more I thought about it, the better it sounded. I hope to find an attractive woman with whom to enjoy life on the open sea. If you want to see our world from a different perspective, and you want to see what a wonderful place our planet is, consider joining me on my voyage around the world. Good luck!
Tomorrow we'll be leaving Marina Del Rey, California at one p.m., bound for Fort Lauderdale , Florida .