Learning to navigate

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I've read enough threads about falling back on your non-electronic navigation skills to make me realize mine aren't as good as I would like them to be. I'm thinking about taking some sort of course on navigation. Right now the front runner for me is an online / text course from boatsafe. Anyone have any experience? Anyone have a suggestion for a different class?

Thanks
Ben
 
As a backup to the course, and the best overall reference for boating, get a copy of "Chapman Piloting".
If you have local Coast Guard Auxilliary, they offer excellent navigation classes.
 
your area Power Squadron or Coast Guard Aux. offers several types of courses. I would not do an online course because the charting portion of a class is much better in a group with an instructor.

Our power squadron does several courses a yr. ranging from 2 hr. classes on Basic Nav, weather, boat handling as well as several others to 6 week courses that will tune your skills as needed. I recommend something like that. Also it is a great social organization that will help keep your skills sharp once learned.
 
Google: Coastal Navigation Course and "Basic Coastal Navigation" by F. Larkin
 
Once you find out there is "Tidal Flow" involved, which is a very large book, just for your area, you can start making mental notes on your area.
Then it gets a little easier to wind up in the right place.
 
+1 on the book work and the classroom work.

But you really won't get a handle on it till you are "far out", place a cover on the GPS, then DR home. The sweat factor really teaches. Experience counts.

---

And here is where I ( again ) shamelessly plug one of the better, complete books on the subject ( and downloadable for free ): The American Practical Navigator" aka: "Bowditch". If you understand this, the only thing you will be missing is the practical experience.

Note: This is a "zip" file, containing PDFs of each chapter.
 
I felt the same way and took an navigational course this past winter put on by Sea Tow. The admiral did also. I think they called it "The Cruising Couple"
 
Online and book learned knowledge will only carry you so far. There is nothing like hands on experience to truly put that knowledge to work. You won't put it all together until you are out there working a chart, plotting a course and then running that plotted course to make it all come together.

I was totally confused by it all after the classroom portion. When I got on a boat, in unfamiliar waters, and actually did it, that it made sense to me. I was also surprised how much I knew, but didn't realize I knew it. Now I am more confident of that knowledge and skill.

And then practice, practice, practice!!!
 
New boaters today think GPS is navigation it's not. Some people don't have to navigate, depending where you are and what you do.
The only way to be safe is to know how to navigate, your compass, watch, speed, and chart is the most important, GPS should be considered a help.
Good for you to realize that.
 
I'll put in a plug for the Power Squadron courses, the class work is more fun in groups. Don't stop with just the basics, take advanced piloting and junior navigation(celestial nav.) I plan to take JN as soon as I can find the time, its about a five month course.
Chris
USPS advanced pilot.
 
Chapman's is great. I have read it several times. I am sure other books and classes are great as well.

I make it a habit of navigating by chart, probably half the time I am out. Two purposes, gives me something to do while piloting, and sharpens the navigation skills.
 
I'll add one more tidbit about 'hands on' part of learning to navigate. You need a Heavy Boat.
I had a SLOW Chris Craft and that's where I learned to navigate.
If you have a light (top water) boat that can go pretty quick in almost any kind of water, you wont learn much at all.

If you pick a spot in the water as a destination.
Going slow, you should arrive at that spot at the time you figured you would on paper! :)

Look at the Error you wound up with. (GPS or Hand compass Cross lines)
Now you have something to analyze that will show you why you need that Book Learnin!
 
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