tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580987459140037495.post995514187269725697..comments2024-03-18T10:29:20.125-08:00Comments on TriloBoat Talk: Lord of All I Survey: Notes on the ChartDave Zhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13241033623115158564noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580987459140037495.post-2282313527266110402012-02-26T11:30:46.865-09:002012-02-26T11:30:46.865-09:00Schweet!Schweet!Dave Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13241033623115158564noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580987459140037495.post-67697216262363921202012-02-26T11:30:02.803-09:002012-02-26T11:30:02.803-09:00A pelorus is nothing more than a sighting notch al...A pelorus is nothing more than a sighting notch along a rotating dial (like the spinning arrows of chance one flicks in a kid's game), mounted over a rose oriented to the boat's centerline (which can be painted on a hatch, say).<br /><br />It's used for taking relative bearings off the boat's heading (compass or otherwise). Simple, compact, DIY and fun, not to mention useful, and salty as heck.<br /><br />8)Dave Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13241033623115158564noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580987459140037495.post-47172740167188149472012-02-26T08:06:25.900-09:002012-02-26T08:06:25.900-09:00The gulf of mexico is our old cruising grounds and...The gulf of mexico is our old cruising grounds and we have fine memories of those waters. Indeed warm waters and sandy bottoms, sometimes glowing green on white limestone sand bottoms. Some days spent sheltering under a bimini with side panels then sultry nights sailing in a long sleeved t-shirt under a startlingly crisp milky way. The big bend portion is so shoal that crap trap buoys get thick miles offshore. Unfortunately we didn't have a shoal draft boat to get up some of the smaller rivers to their crystal clear springs origins. Barrier island, shoal bay sailing is a whole nother scene. Warm water..... hmmm hmmmm hmmmmmmm.Gomeznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580987459140037495.post-50404454834189429062012-02-26T03:12:45.381-09:002012-02-26T03:12:45.381-09:00The compass is perhaps my most important navigatio...The compass is perhaps my most important navigation tool while in Florida. I've a small battery powered GPS. To save battery power, I'll find a waypoint, note the compass bearing, and then turn the GPS off. Of course, I'm aware of how wind and current are behaving so that's allowed for. Once in a while I'll turn the GPS on to see how I'm doing. <br /><br />I've never even seen a pelorus and there's only so much one can mount on a 19 foot boat. Now I'll have to investigate them . . .<br /><br />Thanks for the book recommendation. <br /><br />My wife and I have only been sailing for little over a year, so we are on a crash course to learn all we can. We actually taught ourselves to sail in the Gulf of Mexico with a borrowed GPS and a donated compass. At least we have our own now.Sixbearshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15572224383041421400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580987459140037495.post-46523588670760645152012-02-26T00:42:43.078-09:002012-02-26T00:42:43.078-09:00Hi Sixbears,
My hat's off to you lowland navi...Hi Sixbears,<br /><br />My hat's off to you lowland navigators! Pretty easy in my neck of the woods.<br /><br />Most of what I know of your area comes from THE COMMODORE'S STORY by 'Commodore' Ralph Monroe and V.Gilpin. Some great reading, that, and sets one longing for warm breezes and sandy bottoms!<br /><br />Do you ever use a pelorus, or feel like one might be helpful? Seems like they'd be a great companion for sailing by bearings.<br /><br />We've been carrying a full, mountable, swingable compass for two decades, now, still in the box. One of these days...<br /><br />DaveDave Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13241033623115158564noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3580987459140037495.post-13170678911229533652012-02-25T18:53:35.501-09:002012-02-25T18:53:35.501-09:00For me, profile sailing, watching the hills, nooks...For me, profile sailing, watching the hills, nooks and crannies, has worked best in the big lakes I've sailed in New England.<br /><br />Along the Nature Coast of FLorida, it's not so helpful. There might be the occasional water tower, smokestack, or airport beacon that sticks out, but much of the coast is a long thin line in the far distance. Often I'm 5 - 8 miles out to get deep enough water to drop the 4'4" swing keel. <br /><br />The chart and GPS have been pretty good at nailing down my location. However, mostly I sail by compass bearing. My landmarks are channel beacons, rock and shipwreck markers. <br /><br />The ICW is well marked, and often there's not a lot of water outside the channel. We pay close attention to the chart to find water deep enough to tack against the wind. With any sort of draft, you might as well be running on rails. <br /><br />It gets interesting when I lift the keel and rudder and cut across the skinny water. Often we pull it off. Sometimes we are stopped and make chicken soup while waiting for the tide to give us a few more inches.<br /><br />It's been an interesting learning experience.Sixbearshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15572224383041421400noreply@blogger.com