- Joined
- Nov 22, 2005
- RO Number
- 19626
- Messages
- 1,074
We boat up and down the James and Appomattox Rivers. We are planing our first trip North on the Chesapeake to Solomons Island. "We" means us and another couple. Both boats are 33 foot crusiers with Garmin GPS, no radar.
We are both a bit nervous about navigating the Chesapeake for the first time. We are also nervous about not having radar and getting caught in a storm andor rough seas.
Our GPS has a track to Solomons, MD from the previous owner so I feel a litte better.
We are also concerend about knowing where to turn to find marinas and other points. I know, sounds like we are idiots. We have GPS because we knew at some point we wanted to make some long trips. We really do not need them to go up and down the river so honestly we probably do not know how to use them to their potential. I have taught myself a little about waypoints, tracks, etc from messing around with the GPS.
All this set, how should we prepare? Take a navigation course (how to read charts, GPS, etc)? Pick up a good book on how to read charts, GPS and the like? Should we not go out on the bay without radar? Other suggestions?
We are both a bit nervous about navigating the Chesapeake for the first time. We are also nervous about not having radar and getting caught in a storm andor rough seas.
Our GPS has a track to Solomons, MD from the previous owner so I feel a litte better.
We are also concerend about knowing where to turn to find marinas and other points. I know, sounds like we are idiots. We have GPS because we knew at some point we wanted to make some long trips. We really do not need them to go up and down the river so honestly we probably do not know how to use them to their potential. I have taught myself a little about waypoints, tracks, etc from messing around with the GPS.
All this set, how should we prepare? Take a navigation course (how to read charts, GPS, etc)? Pick up a good book on how to read charts, GPS and the like? Should we not go out on the bay without radar? Other suggestions?