Piloting Course Chapter 1

Introduction to Navigation

United States Power Squadrons ®

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The Piloting Course

Based on Electronic Navigation

Aimed at the Recreational boater

Hands-On practice throughout

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Electronic Navigation

Fundamentally Different!• Traditional:

Most of workload just finding where you are

• Electronic: You know where you are Emphasizes need for planning

Must Understand basics: Charts essential Check the Electronics Be prepared to navigate using traditional

means – In event of a failure

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Piloting Course Content

Piloting• Local waters• Emphasis on Planning, Plotting, Tools• Electronic Navigation - GPS primary• Compass as key navigation tool• Pre-plan, follow the plan• Staying on course• Checking• Navigating in the event of a failure• Overview – digital charting

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Advanced Piloting Course Content

Advanced Piloting• Extended Coastal/Inland Cruising• Advanced positioning techniques

Accuracy Cross-checking

• Electronic Navigation Chartplotters, Computers, Digital Charts Radar Sonar, etc.

• Tidal Effects Depth, Clearance Current effects

• Adjusting for effects of winds or currents

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Course Format

IN CLASS• 1/3 - Background Material• 1/3 - Skills & Techniques• 1/3 - In-Class Exercises

HOMEWORK• Reading• Homework Questions• Cruise

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Included Material

Student Guide• Targeted directly at skill-building• How-to information on each technique• Exercises, Cruises

Text• “The Weekend Navigator,” 2004

USPS Digital Chart CD• Chart Navigator Software• Training Charts – Bowditch Bay, 1210tr• Sample Charts – not for navigation

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Define “Piloting”

Traditionally• Navigation with the aid of landmarks

and navigation aids

• Performed near land (coastal & inland)

• Where navigation is most challenging

Today• Navigation using electronics as well

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Basic Piloting Skills are Necessary

Provides answers to:• Where am I?• How do I get to where I want to go?

Need Piloting skills to:• Navigate with Electronic tools• Check the tools• Navigate when the electronics are not

working

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Overview – Basic Concepts

Course• The line that you are on (line of motion)

Bearing• A line of observation to a known object

(line of position

Fix• A known position• The intersection of 2 or more bearings• GPS

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“Seaman’s Eye”

Informal concepts

Means of staying in touch with surroundings

Used to crosscheck navigation

Simple tools to help you out

Supplement, NOT substitute for formal navigation

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Introduction to Navigation

© 2003, R J Sweet, “GPS for Mariners.” Reprinted with permission© 2004, “The Weekend Navigator”

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Steps in Navigation

planning navigating checking

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Traditional Navigation

Significant Emphasis• Techniques to locate where you are

Dead Reckoning Bearings Fixes

Plot to where you want to go

Maintain “DR” plot of current position

© 2003, R J Sweet, “GPS for Mariners.” Reprinted with permission© 2004, “The Weekend Navigator”

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Navigation Electronics

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Electronic Navigation

You know where you are• GPS Tells You that

You know exactly how to get to your destination• GPS gives you bearing and distance

You navigate from point-to-point• Along straight-line paths• Pre-qualified for clear navigation• Between points – called “WAYPOINTS”

© 2003, R J Sweet, “GPS for Mariners.” Reprinted with permission© 2004, “The Weekend Navigator”

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Waypoint Navigation

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Navigation Tools - Introduction

Charts• Scaled representations of boating

waters Chapter 2

Plotting Tool• Many devices available• USPS 4x15 Rectangular Plotter

Plot & Measure Courses & Bearings (direction)

Dividers• Many types available

Measure Coordinates Measure Distance

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Tools

© 2003, R J Sweet, “GPS for Mariners.” Reprinted with permission© 2004, “The Weekend Navigator”

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Rectangular Plotting Tool

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Plotting Techniques

Pencil• Sharp point – medium softness• Eraser (eliminate unneeded lines)

Labeling• Means of interpreting navigation• Hand-off to others (long-cruise)

Accuracy• Courses, Bearings to nearest 1°• Distance to nearest 0.1 nautical mile• Speed to two significant digits (3.4 Knots, 22

Knots)

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Nautical Units

What?• Nautical Mile = 6076 feet (approx)• Knot = 1 nautical mile per hour

Why?• 1 Nautical Mile (nm) = 1 minute of Latitude

(exact)• Easy to measure

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Latitude & Longitude

Your ‘street address’ – location• The sole information provided by GPS

Latitude & Longitude, plus: Altitude & Time

• Must relate this to a Chart Only way to see where you are on the Earth And… to see what is around you And… what is between you and your destination

• Grid on Chart must match grid in GPS Most Charts WGS 84 (more on this later)

© 2003, R J Sweet, “GPS for Mariners.” Reprinted with permission© 2004, “The Weekend Navigator”

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Latitude and Longitude

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SKILL – Measure Coordinates

In order to use a GPS receiver to navigate• Must enter coordinates of waypoints

Coordinates• Come from a chart

SKILL• Measuring coordinates

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Measure Latitude

N

NW

NW

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Measure Longitude

NW

NW

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Exercise 1-1

Measure Coordinates

Get out Dividers

Use Blank Chart from Book

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Solution: Exercise 1-1

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SKILL – Measure Course

In order to know which direction to steer• Provided by GPS• But,… an essential plotting skill

Draw Course Line• Starting point to Destination (Waypoint)

Use USPS Plotting Tool• Takes a little practice

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Draw Course Line

© 2003, R J Sweet, “GPS for Mariners.” Reprinted with permission© 2004, “The Weekend Navigator”

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Reading a Course

Read 077°

Align withGrid line

© 2003, R J Sweet, “GPS for Mariners.” Reprinted with permission© 2004, “The Weekend Navigator”

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Reading a Course Direction

Read 077°

Align withGrid line

Align withcourse line

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Measure Course

plotter demo

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Sense of Direction

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SKILL – Measure Distance

In order to determine how far, how long?• Provided by GPS• But,… essential skill to learn

Get out dividers

Use distance (or latitude) scale

© 2003, R J Sweet, “GPS for Mariners.” Reprinted with permission© 2004, “The Weekend Navigator”

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Measuring Distance

1 nm

4.6 nm

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Labeling

C 070D 4.5

Start

Destination2. Label COURSE near starting point “C” (direction – 3 digits)

3. Label DISTANCE near mid-point “D” (nm + tenths)

1. Draw & Measure COURSE LINE carefully between points

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Exercise 1-2

Plot, Measure & Label• Course & Distance

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Solution: Exercise 1-2

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Measuring Long Distances

When the dividers cannot reach…• From start to destination

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Measure Long Distance

Select a convenient distance on dividers

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Measure Long Distance

Start at one end of the course line…

Pivot the dividers and count the No…

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Measure Long Distance

For the final increment, set the dividers to reach the end…

Measure the final distance and add the prior increments.

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Questions ? … Comments