Trust your GPS

[stripersnipr]

Have you ever suffered a dose of spatial disorientation and no matter what that GPS or compass say's your head and body say's no way? It's happened to me more than once, especially when the haze or fog blend the sea with the sky and you lose the horizon. I've been with people who've needed a lot of encouagement to overcome it and trust the navigational tools.

[MAC]

GPS is an awesome tool. And with the advent of WAAS it is even better than it was 8 or 9 years ago. Most units will store 500 waypoints and are accurate to within 3'.

The only thing I can stress to some of the newer users though is always carry a compass too. GPS can go down at the drop of a hat or rather the flip of a switch. It very seldom happens but better to be prepared just in case. Heavy cloud cover can make it difficult sometimes too. As the unit (most units) need 3 good signals from sattelites to triangulate your position.

[numbskull]

Fog and dark is a lethal combination without radar as well. GPS will get you home............ unless someone else crosses your path.

[MAC]

Originally Posted by numbskull

Fog and dark is a lethal combination without radar as well. GPS will get you home............ unless someone else crosses your path.

Especially if you get into the shipping lanes....

[piemma]

Originally Posted by numbskull

Fog and dark is a lethal combination without radar as well. GPS will get you home............ unless someone else crosses your path.

I don't have radar and that's what I worry about. I see stuff floating in the Bay all the time. 4x4, 6x6s telephone poles just junk. Joe P and I actually saw a partially submerged 8' pram in the middle of the Bay without a soul around one morning last year. You hit that baby at even 15kts you got problems

[Clammer]

WHAT PROBLEMS ??????????

YA JUST BOUNCE OFF ??????????

[parker23]

Electronics make a world of difference. This year I installed a C-120 display w/chartplotter and radar. Split screen radar and chartplotter w/ radar paint overlay. Very cool. I still have my chart and compass.

I have used radar for years while sailing. Totally different feel at 6 knots compared to 15 knots. I rarely increase speed over 15 knots at night in the bay. The best feature is being able to see the idiots flying blind at 30 knots, half in the bag.

[Smokey14]

Originally Posted by stripersnipr

Have you ever suffered a dose of spatial disorientation and no matter what that GPS or compass say's your head and body say's no way? .

That's happened to me twice. I think it's worse when your in water that you know like the back of your hand. When I'm in Boston Harbor at night, even if I can only see the lights of one building I know were I am but when the fog rolls in you got nothing to go by. Then your mind starts telling you were to go. The GPS was right when you could see and it's right when you can't. And a compass is a must for back up. even if your going the wrong way at least your going in a straight line. have a chart and try to find a land mark. ie a beach, a buoy, look for sholes on the FF (shallow water = not a shipping lane).

[parker23]

I use my radar every time I am out. Interpreting the image is much easier on a bright clear day. The chart plotter split screen is a great tool. The most important tool is still the operator. Better to error on the side of caution.